San Diego FC shows world-class potential in 3-0 victory over Mexico city team
SDFC striker Milan Iloski celebrates File photo by Chris Stone Times of San Diego During its first season as a Major League Soccer franchise San Diego FC has proven that it belongs in the MLS But during its first-ever friendly match against a Mexican soccer club SDFC also proved that it belongs on the world stage During a friendly match against the club that was the runner up in the Mexican soccer league s championship tournament last season San Diego more than held its own and won against Liga MX franchise Club Am rica by a result of - Club Am rica based in Mexico City was founded in and is the majority of decorated organization in Liga MX history with league titles Liga MX is the top-tier professional soccer league in Mexico a sort of equivalent to Major League Soccer in the U S Club Am rica played in the Liga MX championship battle on May losing to Deportivo Toluca F C - During the friendly which took place at Snapdragon Stadium SDFC forward Milan Iloski who grew up in Escondido scored twice once in each half During the rd minute of challenge time he connected with a kick going that was launched from the right side of the goal and landed in the bottom left portion of the net with teammate right-back Oscar Verhoeven being credited with the assist Iloski s first half goal came via a left footed kick during the th minute Teammate midfielder Jasper L ffelsend picked up the assist After his two scores San Diego forward Tom s ngel also exposed the back of the net with is goal coming during the th minute Since this was a non-MLS match the outcome played no part in league standings SDFC still sits in second place in MLS Western Conference standings with a - - record The friendly was the first of two friendly matches scheduled between the clubs the partnership was declared in January The two clubs are scheduled to play again in also at Snapdragon Stadium SDFC star sportsman Chucky Lozano a Mexico City native who also plays for the Mexican national squad was unable to participate in Saturday s match due to an apparent reoccurrence of a left hamstring injury that flared up during San Diego s previous match on May Lozano originally injured the hamstring during SDFC s first-ever home match on March and missed the club s next scarce matches while recovering It is achievable that he could miss additional time There was a much heavier police presence than usual outside the stadium for the match with San Diego State University police officers selected with dogs casting a watchful eye on fans as they entered the stadium before the challenge Inside the venue s private assurance looked to have been beefed up from the number of people working a typical SDFC match The precautions were in part due to the match being against a storied geographic rival albeit a much more distant one than the MLS teams in Los Angeles Police took no chances due to the fact that the last time each of LA s MLS clubs played at the Dragon fights erupted leading to skirmishes in both inside the stadium and in the parking lots There were no communicated violent incidents during the match however Although a group of San Diego fans were seen taunting a section filled with Club Am rica fans as time expired nothing physical came of it inside the venue Next up for San Diego FC three consecutive road matches The first is against Minnesota on June Then the club takes on the best company in the West the Vancouver Whitecaps on June After that it s on to face FC Dallas in Texas three days later SDFC s next home match is scheduled for July against the Houston Dynamo
