San Diego FC beats Portland Timbers for first playoff win in franchise history

San Diego FC’s dream season continued Sunday night with a 2-1 victory against the Portland Timbers in Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round Major League Soccer playoff series on a festive, star-studded night at sold-out Snapdragon Stadium.

Just without the face of the franchise.

Mexican star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano didn’t start or play – or suit up, for that matter – in the latest indication that the rift with coach Mikey Varas has not fully mended. So was the dismissive, drive-by handshake between the two on the field after the game, as well as Lozano’s muted celebrations with his teammates.

ot having Lozano flying down the left wing, though, does not equate to unproductive or losing soccer for SDFC, at least not lately.

ince Lozano was subbed at halftime of the penultimate regular-season game, SDFC has three convincing wins and outscored opponents by a combined 10-2. Sunday night’s win, while not nearly as convincing as the 4-0 drubbing at Portland eight days earlier, was its first in three months on a field where it has surprisingly struggled.

Tom Krasovic: San Diego FC proves again that it can win without Chucky Lozano

Game 2 is Saturday night at Portland’s Providence Park. Game 3, if necessary, is back here on Nov. 9. Ties are decided immediately by a penalty shootout.

The winner advances to the Western Conference semifinals – a one-game affair hosted by the better seed – against either Minnesota or Seattle, which open their first-round series Monday night.

“When we were compact and played at a high tempo, I think it was very difficult for Portland,” Varas said. “Even in tight spaces, we were able to generate really, really good chances early on. Overall, it was a really good game.

“Of course, you play against a good team and good players fighting for their lives, so there are moments you have to withstand during the game and I think the boys did that as well. This was a good first step.”

SDFC, the top seed in the Western Conference, went up 2-0 on goals by Onni Valakari and MVP candidate Anders Dreyer in the opening half hour as Alex Morgan, minority owner Manny Machado and Padres teammate Jackson Merrill cheered from luxury boxes (Merrill chugged his drink when shown on the video board).

Portland’s Kristoffer Velde pulled a goal back in the 36th minute, and the Timbers probably should have equalized – and gone ahead – with a pair of golden chances moments apart in the second half. The first came when Antony was one-on-one with SDFC goalkeeper CJ dos Santos and pushed his shot wide left, the second when David Da Costa sent a free header from close range over the crossbar.

The game turned in the 66th minute, when Portland left back Jimer Fory was issued his second yellow card for an off-ball incident and ejected, leaving the Timbers 10 against 11 for the remainder of the night. SDFC controlled possession against a short-handed opponent that had a midweek play-in game and then traveled, salting the clock away for the first playoff win in club history.

“It’s to manage the game a little more,” midfielder Luca de la Torre said of the strategy after Fory’s dismissal. “The goal difference doesn’t really matter. It’s just winning the game and seeing the game out. The red card definitely came at a good time.”

That Varas opted to start left wing Amahl Pellegrino, who had three goals and three assists in his previous three halves, over Lozano certainly made sense in terms of continuity. Not including someone of Lozano’s quality and experience among the nine allotted bench players for a game of such import, though, suggests deeper issues with Major League Soccer’s fifth-highest paid player this season at $7.63 million.

Lozano did not make the trip to Portland for the regular-season finale last weekend after what Varas described as “a situation in Houston.” Lozano was subbed at halftime of the Oct. 4 game at the Houston Dynamo, the height of indignity for a player of his stature, and threw a locker room tantrum, according to multiple sources not authorized to speak on the record.

During Friday’s practice, Lozano’s Instagram account posted an apologetic message in English, a language he rarely speaks, without a Spanish translation.

“I’m a passionate and competitive person who always wants to give everything for the team,” the post said. “Sometimes, that same intensity can lead to reactions that don’t reflect who I am or the respect I have for everyone around me. I didn’t react in the right way, and I’ve already taken responsibility, addressed it and moved forward.”

After training, Varas declined to confirm whether Lozano would play in Game 1 but hinted that a resolution was nearing.

Just apparently not Sunday.

“We said we would take it day by day, week by week,” Varas said after the game. “We think Hirving’s response has been really positive in the training. He’s working really hard, showing a lot of commitment to getting back in the team. We had already communicated to him before this game that as long as there are no setbacks this week, then he’ll be back.”

Asked if he’s surprised someone of Lozano’s stature was left off the team again, Dreyer said: “Chucky is a top player. He’s important for us. I think it’s something that has to be solved in this period, and then hopefully we see him back soon.”