Regional rivals San Diego FC and the Los Angeles Galaxy will meet Saturday for the first time this season with both intent on staying within reach of the playoff line.
The rivalry carries an added edge following a recent transaction between the teams that sent disgruntled forward Hirving “Chucky” Lozano on loan from San Diego FC to the Galaxy earlier this month.
Lozano was expected to be at the center of the San Diego attack when the club debuted last season, but the relationship began to sour before the year was over. In October, he was suspended for a halftime confrontation with head coach Mikey Varas. This season, he did not play until he made his Galaxy debut on Aug. 15.
Los Angeles (6-8-8, 26 points) has found some life of late, going 1-1-3 (6 points) since July 25, with Lozano playing in each of the past three matches. Lozano has not recorded any goal contributions, but the club has an even goal differential (4-4) over those past five matches.
Los Angeles played to a 2-2 draw at Montreal last Saturday, even as goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski was sent off with a red card in the 68th minute. It was Los Angeles’ third red card in the past three matches.
“If you had said we took three red cards, but we managed to take four points (from three matches), you probably wouldn’t bat an eye at that,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “But we’re at that point, especially (at Montreal) by being up a goal, where the three points was the mission.”
San Diego FC (7-8-6, 27 points) are slightly ahead of the Galaxy in the Western Conference standings and just one point below the playoff line, though four teams enter the weekend with 28 points.
In a 3-0 home victory over the Colorado Rapids last Saturday, Onni Valakari scored the opener in the first half, his fourth goal of the season. Marcus Ingvartsen leads the club with 11 MLS goals but has not scored in his last 10 matches across all competitions.
Ingvartsen’s league goal count already surpassed Lozano’s total (nine) from last season. And San Diego’s Anders Dreyer has eight goals.
“I had a lot of good memories with (Lozano) last season,” Dreyer said. “I have nothing bad to say at all. It’s going to be interesting (Saturday) and I’m looking forward to it.”
–Field Level Media
