San Diego FC star Chucky Lozano was a one-man wrecking crew last weekend and is intent on doing more damage.
Lozano will try to build on the impressive two-goal, two-assist performance when San Diego FC visit St. Louis City on Saturday night.
Lozano’s explosion led San Diego (5-4-2, 17 points) to a 5-0 home win over FC Dallas.
“It’s important to have confidence,” Lozano said of his exploits. “It’s a plus for a player and the club, the players and the coach have given me confidence and let’s take advantage of it.
“I am happy to help my teammates and the team. Hopefully, we can continue this path for the club.”
Lozano has four goals and four assists over the past five matches. He is tied with Anders Dreyer for the team lead in goals.
Lozano’s season was interrupted when San Diego and visiting St. Louis played to a scoreless tie on March 1.
Lozano injured his left hamstring while making a run down the left side. Trainers evaluated him on the sideline before he was subbed out in the 31st minute.
He missed the next three matches and entered as a reserve for 18 minutes in the fourth game before being back in the starting lineup.
That St. Louis City match was frustrating for San Diego. It outshot St. Louis 16-2 but placed just one shot on goal.
St. Louis (2-5-4, 10 points) has been unable to get its attack moving this season. The club has just eight goals — San Diego has 21.
St. Louis is buried in a seven-match (0-5-2) MLS winless streak after falling 4-1 against the host Seattle Sounders last week. The match was tied at the half before Seattle scored three second-half goals.
Now St. Louis is considered the underdog at home against expansion San Diego, but coach Olof Mellberg expressed that he isn’t concerned.
“We are really trying to plan to win the game each week,” Mellberg said. “Most games we’ve given ourselves a possibility to do so. Most of the games we’ve played have been really tight.
“We don’t spend time on being underdogs or favorites. We’re trying to get points.”
Marcel Hartel scored his second goal of the season in the Seattle match. He is tied with Cedric Teuchert for the team lead.
St. Louis posted a 2-0 win over Union Omaha on Wednesday night to reach the U.S. Open Round of 16. Joey Zalinsky and Joao Klauss scored the goals.
–Field Level Media
