Chucky Lozano scored the decisive goal early in the second half as host San Diego FC notched a 1-0 victory over Nashville SC on Friday night.
Anders Dreyer set up the tally to raise his MLS assists lead to 16 while helping San Diego FC maintain its hold on first place in the Western Conference.
San Diego FC (14-7-4, 46 points) halted a three-match home winless stretch (0-2-1).
The offense never got untracked for Nashville (14-6-5, 47 points), which remains tied for second in the Eastern Conference with the Philadelphia Union. The two clubs are one point behind East leader FC Cincinnati.
Lozano’s goal in the 53rd minute was a backbreaker for a Nashville squad that lost for just the second time (10-2-4) over its past 16 MLS matches.
Joe Willis kept Nashville in the match with glove saves in the 80th and 83rd minutes.
First, Willis used his hand to knock a close-range right-footer by San Diego’s Luca Bombino over the net.
Dreyer then stood at the penalty kick spot in the 83th minute and the San Diego star attempted a left-footed shot on a slow approach. Willis anticipated correctly by diving to his left and easily making the save.
Dreyer appeared to score an open-net goal in the ninth and final minute of second-half stoppage time. But the referee ruled he called the match over after San Diego FC cleared a last-gasp corner kick in which Nashville had Willis stationed in the line of players in front of the San Diego net.
San Diego’s Pablo Sisniega had four stops for his first shutout of the season.
San Diego outshot Nashville 10-9 and both teams placed four on target.
San Diego FC’s goal included a contribution from all three of its All-Stars.
Jeppe Tverskov delivered a pass up ahead to Dreyer, who tapped the ball with his left toward Lozano. The wide-open Lozano then drilled a right-footed shot into the net that also marked San Diego’s first shot on target.
Four minutes later, one of Nashville’s three All-Stars had a strong opportunity. Sam Surridge was in position for a close-range header but Nashville’s first shot on target was gobbled up by Sisniega.
Hany Mukhtar, another Nashville All-Star, took a right-footed shot from just outside the box in the 61st minute that Sisniega stopped.
Andy Najar was Nashville’s other All-Star in the game played Wednesday night.
–Field Level Media
