SDFC’s woeful run in the MLS was extended, as the ‘Loons’ 2-1 win kept the home team from notching their first league victory since Mar. 7.

Jesus Garcia, Contributor

San Diego FC was beaten 2-1 by Minnesota United on Apr. 11 at Snapdragon Stadium. An early goal from defender Luca Bambino was not enough to salvage any points. The loss marks the fifth straight winless result in all competitions, extending that record for the newly-established club.

Defender Luca Bombino put San Diego up just seven minutes in, as Anders Dreyer and Lewis Morgan created a scoring opportunity into the box that Bombino perfectly hit with a left-footed strike.

“Luca has taken his chances really well,” SDFC coach Mikey Varas said. “He scored a really nice goal and he’s a player who’s improving all the time.”

However, Minnesota remained composed amidst a rowdy ‘Frontera SD’ supporters section, as they would tie the game just eight minutes later. Winger Tomás Chancalay placed a crisp pass into the back post that midfielder Kyle Duncan would put towards the back of the net via a header to even the score at one.

The rest of the first half saw the home team dominate possession, yet they could not break through for a second goal. Nearing 30 minutes into the half, Dreyer made a run into the penalty box in which a misplay by Minnesota goalkeeper Drake Callender allowed the ball to keep on rolling towards the net. Despite that, Callender’s last-second redemption effort to dive before the ball crossed the line would prevent SDFC from taking the lead.

“I think we [were] just a hair away from making even bigger chances,” Varas said. “Then just a few actions that get away in the middle of the [first] half and they capitalize on it.”

The actions Varas refers to, are two costly errors that proved to cost SDFC the game. A turnover on the defensive end by SDFC’s Christopher McVey was the start of the attacking opportunity the Loons would not waste. Seconds after the turnover, lackluster defensive coverage inside the six-yard box by Osvald Gabriel Søe allowed Minnesota’s Kelvin Yeboah to place a tap-in into the net.

SDFC went into the half trailing 2-1, yet the ball control and clear-cut chances they’d shown in comparison to Minnesota’s conservative play gave them hope for a second half comeback.

Those aspirations were dashed just a minute in, as McVey received a second yellow which sent him off and put SDFC on a one-man disadvantage. With this being the fourth straight game in which an SDFC player has received a red card, captain Jeppe Tverskov hopes something can change internally to discontinue the disciplinary issues.

“The red card changed the game in the way that it’s difficult for us to keep the ball, and it’s more difficult to get forward on the pitch,” Tverskov said. “It needs to be addressed because it’s now a big problem … it costs us way too many points.”

SDFC insisted on attacking, but the second half came and went with no goals and the scoreline held at 2-1 in favor of the visitors. Dreyer had the biggest chance in the half, as a free kick in the 80th minute. However, compared to the previous games that has seen SDFC play with a man down, Varas was pleased with the team’s effort in the second half.

“I guess the bright side is you start getting better playing 10 against 11 when you do it so often,” Varas said. “This second half we started seeing little flashes of getting on the ball [and] the backline.”

Through seven games in the MLS season, San Diego FC finds themselves in eighth place. They will attempt to break the winless streak when they face off against Real Salt Lake on Apr. 18

“We’re not afraid to pull our hands up and say we haven’t been good enough,” Varas said. “That’s [on] me first and foremost, but we’re going to get to our best, I have no doubt.”