It’s mid-July and expansion San Diego FC leads the Western Conference, not the spot first-year franchises are typically found.
Yet the surprise factor has long since evaporated and San Diego FC has proven to be a scary team entering Wednesday night’s home game against Toronto FC.
San Diego FC (13-6-3, 42 points) certainly has the attention of Toronto FC coach Robin Fraser.
“They’re very, very good,” Fraser said of San Diego during Tuesday’s media availability. “I do think the feeling that expansion teams are at a disadvantage is not necessarily the case. They had a long lead-on time and they could afford to get some players and I think San Diego has done an excellent job in putting their team together.”
San Diego took a hit to the roster Tuesday when forward Milan Iloski was returned to Danish side FC Nordsjaelland after his loan was mutually terminated.
The club and Iloski attempted to reach a permanent deal but negotiations didn’t pan out.
Iloski was second on San Diego with 10 goals despite playing just 471 minutes.
“We worked diligently to make it long-term and we couldn’t come to an agreement,” San Diego coach Mikey Varas said during Tuesday’s media availability. “Our focus is on the guys in the locker room. We wish him the best.”
Iloski had eight goals over his past five appearances, including a mammoth four-goal game against the host Vancouver Whitecaps on June 25.
San Diego still features one of the better one-two punches in MLS in All-Star forwards Anders Dreyer and Chucky Lozano. Dreyer had 11 goals and a league-best 15 assists, while Lozano has six goals and eight helpers.
Dreyer had both goals in San Diego’s 2-1 road victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
Toronto (4-11-6, 18 points) is coming off a hard-luck 1-1 tie with visiting Atlanta United. Deybi Flores scored on a header in the 48th minute but Atlanta knotted the score in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time on a penalty kick by Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Toronto of the Eastern Conference is unbeaten (2-0-2) against teams from the West and is opening a four-game road trip. Toronto captain Jonathan Osorio, the veteran midfielder, is making progress to rejoin the squad. He sustained an injury during training with Canada’s Gold Cup squad late last month.
“Oso is very, very close,” Fraser said. “Not sure yet if he’ll be involved (Wednesday) but I think he will definitely see some action before we get back to Toronto.”
–Field Level Media
