San Diego FC’s stars shine in 1-0 win over Nashville at Snapdragon Stadium

by Mark Zeigler

Forty-eight hours earlier, six players on the Snapdragon Stadium field for San Diego FC’s 1-0 win against Nashville SC were 1,164 miles and two time zones away in Austin, Texas, running around on a humid night in Major League Soccer’s All-Star Game.

Lionel Messi feels their pain. Or, more accurately, does not.

The Argentine legend and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba both skipped Wednesday’s All-Star festivities despite a league rule requiring participation if healthy. The “or else” was levied by the league office Friday morning: One-game suspensions for both for Saturday’s home showdown against first-place FC Cincinnati.

It wasn’t well received, as you might imagine, in South Florida.

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas called the punishment “frankly draconian,” adding: “Messi is very upset, extremely upset today, as expected. I’m hopeful it doesn’t have an impact long-term. Will it have an impact initially in the player’s perception of how the league rules work, etc.? Absolutely, no doubt.”

The timing is not ideal. Messi’s MLS contract expires at the end of this season, and there has been speculation that the Argentine federation might be pressuring him, if he indeed wants to help La Albiceleste defend its World Cup title next summer, to prepare in a more competitive league.

MLS commissioner Don Garber told The Athletic “it was a very, very difficult decision but one I hope both (Messi) and everyone else can understand and respect.”

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano took issue with the timing of the All-Star Game, wedged in a busy corridor of summer fixtures. Eight teams played Friday night, including SDFC and Nashville SC. Next week comes Leagues Cup.

“Stop for the weekend, the All-Star Game is played on the weekend,” Mascherano suggested. “Forty-eight hours after having played, there are teams that are going to play (Friday), and it’s not enough rest for the players either. So, the first thing we have to think about is that football belongs to the players. And if football belongs to the players, without players, it doesn’t exist.”

The fixture congestion didn’t seem to bother San Diego FC’s three representatives in Austin, all of whom combined for the game’s first goal in the 53rd minute. Captain Jeppe Tverskov collected a Nashville giveaway at midfield and fed a long pass down the right side to Anders Dreyer, who crossed to Hirving “Chucky” Lozano for a powerful shot into the upper corner.

“It was a very nice experience being an All-Star,” Lozano said. “It’s something new and different for me, and I enjoyed it. But to be back and play with my team is first, and try to help San Diego grow and help it become an important team in MLS.”

SDFC (14-7-4) had a chance to go up 2-0 in the 83rd minute, after midfielder Onni Valakari was taken down in the box. Dreyer’s PK to the lower right corner was saved by Joe Willis, and Nashville stayed alive.

But Sam Surridge, tied with Messi for the league lead at 18 goals, couldn’t find the back of the net, nor could anyone else from the Eastern Conference’s second-place team against SDFC’s patchwork back line.

With regulars Chris McVey and Paddy McNair both dinged up, coach Mikey Varas again went with a rookie center back duo of Ian Pilcher and Manu Duah for all but the final few minutes, when McNair, who returned to practice Wednesday, subbed in.

SDFC nearly got a second goal in the final seconds. Willis came forward for a free kick deep into second-half stoppage time and the ball was cleared to Dreyer racing toward the empty net at the opposite end. But referee Drew Fischer blew the final whistle just before Dreyer slotted home the ball. No goal.

SDFC grew its lead atop the Western Conference to four points, although second-place Vancouver has played two fewer games. Next up are three Leagues Cup games at Snapdragon Stadium against teams from Mexico’s Liga MX, starting with Pachuca on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. SDFC’s next MLS game is set for Aug. 9 at Sporting KC.

Nashville fell to 14-6-5.

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