San Diego FC loses again in Leagues Cup play

Prospects of a Major League Soccer Cup in its inaugural season are very much in play for San Diego FC.

But its outlook in its first Leagues Cup became murkier with Friday’s 2-1 loss to Club Tigres UANL at Snapdragon Stadium.

Angel Correa continued a sensational start to Leagues Cup play for Tigres (2-0-0), providing both of the visitors’ goals. Friday marked Correa’s second two-goal performance in Phase One of the annual tournament pitting clubs from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX head-to-head.

He scored twice in the Monterrey-based squad’s 4-1 rout of Houston Dynamo on Tuesday.

Each time on Friday, the Argentinian forward broke stalemates to put Tigres ahead. The first came in the 31st minute when SDFC goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega stonewalled Juan Brunetta’s attempt from straight-on during a Tigres breakaway, but Correa followed up to put away the rebound.

Correa successfully cleaned up for his second goal in the 67th minute, which proved to be the game-winner. He followed a Diego Lainez attempt, stopped on one of five Sisniega saves.

SDFC (0-0-2) came alive offensively earlier on Friday than in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to C.F. Pachuca, with Tomas Angel delivering an equalizer in the 55th minute when he followed up Onni Valakari’s denied attempt.

The home club could not find the back of the net again the rest of the night, playing without two of its MLS All-Star for most of the way. Anders Dreyer was scratched from the lineup entirely, disqualified after receiving a red card in Tuesday’s loss.

Hirving “Chucky” Lozano came on as a substitute in the 61st minute, and he nearly provided some fireworks with a good look at goal in the 77th minute. His attempt went wide top-right.

As it had on Tuesday, SDFC came out as the aggressor against Tigres. Nineteen-year-old Aiden Harangi, seeing his first action with the club, nearly scored mere seconds into his debut.

His attempt saved by Nahuel Guzman in the first minute was the cleanest look either side had for most of the initial 30 minutes. Manu Duah had a header attempt in the 28th minute that almost began the night’s scoring, but missed just wide.

SDFC managed only three shots on goal, however, struggling to find an offensive rhythm with a new-look lineup on the pitch most of the way. Anibal Godoy was also a second-half substitute along with Lozano.

The club faces elimination from Phase One of the Leagues Cup when it visits Mazatlan FC on Tuesday. Mazatlan beat LAFC on penalty kicks Tuesday, and downed Houston on Friday, 2-0.