The MLS is touting several rivalry matchups this week.
They include the LA Galaxy and LAFC meeting to determine leadership in Los Angeles, a battle for Northwest supremacy between Portland and Seattle and bragging rights in the Big Apple between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls.
San Diego FC, not yet to the midpoint of the franchise’s inaugural season, hasn’t been around long enough to play every team, let alone establish a rivalry with one of them.
At this point, the Colorado Rapids represent as good a rival as anyone, especially after SDFC avenged last month’s loss at Colorado with Wednesday night’s 2-0 win at 32,500-seat Snapdragon Stadium, which was roughly half full at kickoff for the franchise’s first midweek match.
Center back Christopher McVey’s goal in the 33rd minute staked SDFC (7-4-2) to a 1-0 halftime lead.
“It’s a massive performance by the boys,” SDFC coach Mikey Varas said. “I hope everyone is as inspired as I am by them.”
Varas said it’s easy to tighten up when a team is up by a goal, kick the ball long, and start going backwards.
“These guys did the opposite,” Varas said. “They went forward. They pressed. They played even more brave with the ball, trying to draw the opponent out.
“For me, it was just a complete performance. … It’s an example of what we can be, and we have to enjoy that.”
Anders Dreyer’s team-high sixth goal of the season provided SDFC with a 2-0 advantage early in the second half. It was scored in dramatic fashion, with Dreyer collecting his own miss off the left post and blasting it into the back of the net in the 58th minute.
“It’s always nice to be involved as an offensive player with goals and assists,” Dreyer said. “But most important to me as a footballer is playing on a successful team. We are on a good way right now. After three difficult games, now we’re back on the track.
“Whether it’s me or someone else who is scoring, I’m happy no matter what.”
SDFC goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos notably prevented Colorado (4-5-4) from getting back into the game.
Dos Santos leaped high to knock an arching shot from nearly midfield over the goal and protect the lead in a few minutes after McVey scored. In the second half, Dos Santos made a spectacular save in the 73rd minute, diving to his left to stop Djordje Mihailovic’s penalty kick as the Snapdragon crowd erupted.
“CJ was the fireman again today,” Varas said. “He’s showing he has a really, really high level. Sometimes in life the call doesn’t go your way. … You can feel sorry for yourself, or you can step up and make a play. And that’s what he did, keeping a clean sheet for us.”
It was the Rapids’ 3-2 win over SDFC on April 12 that started a three-game slide for the San Diegans and took some of the shine off SDFC’s surprisingly strong start.
Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen nearly added injury to insult at Snapdragon when he collided with SDFC star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano 10 minutes into the match.
Steffan had roamed to the edge of the 18-yard box when he banged into Lozano. No foul was called and Lozano stayed down as play continued in front of the Rapids goal before the ball was kicked out of bounds and SDFC trainers could attend to the team’s Mexican star.
Lozano, who missed a month this season with a leg injury, eventually got up. He walked off the field behind the Rapids’ goal on the south side of the field and appeared headed for a tunnel to the locker rooms before taking a right turn and walking along the sideline to midfield.
SDFC played a man down while Lozano gathered himself before returning in the 15th minute.
The spirited match was best represented late in the first half when Colorado’s Andreas Maxso and SDFC’s Anibal Godoy had to be separated while jostling for position in front of the goal before a Rapids corner kick.
Colorado outshot SDFC 11-1 in the first half of their first meeting. This was a different story. SDFC had seven shots at Snapdragon before the Rapids had one, outshooting the Rapids 15-3 in the first half. SDFC, second in the MLS in possession percentage (55.8) this season, played keep away most of the first half, maintaining possession 61.6 percent of the time.
The second half was more of the same, with SDFC making Steffen dance in front of his goal to stop 27 shots in the match (Colorado finished with nine shots).
The three points San Diego FC received for the victory moved into second place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Minnesota (6-3-4) and Portland (6-3-4). Vancouver (8-1-3, 27 points) leads the conference.
Next up: San Diego FC returns to Snapdragon Stadium Saturday night at 7:30 against Sporting Kansas City (3-9-2), which scored twice in the second half Wednesday night at St. Louis to rally for a 2-2 tie.
