San Diego FC display depth in 3-0 victory over Club América youngsters
San Diego FC forward Tomas Ángel celebrates his goal in SDFC’s 3-0 victory against Club América. (Photo credit: San Diego FC)
San Diego FC won its first international friendly over Club América youngsters in a 3-0 result at Snapdragon Stadium in front of an announced crowd of 30,916.
San Diego was without many of its starters who are away for international duty, and Club América featured an academy side. The Aguilas only recently ended their Liga MX season with a loss in the championship match and loss against Los Angeles Football Club in a Club World Cup play-in match.
“The opportunity that presented itself this week was to grow our squad,” head coach Mikey Varas said. “To make it bigger, to see some guys who haven't had the opportunity, for them individually, to show who they are and how they can add to things when we have everybody…
“The result was really good, but the more important thing is, for me it was a smashing success in terms of individual guys stepping up and playing really well,” head coach Mikey Varas said. “(We showed) everybody that it doesn't matter who's in there, we keep playing the way that we're playing.”
Striker Milan Iloski, was among the players that stood out individually. Iloski is a San Diego native on loan from SDFC’s sister club, FC Nordsjælland, and added to his goal total on the season with a brace for a total of five in all competitions.
“It's always great to score goals. I'm an attacking player. It's an amazing feeling…” Iloski said. “I know it's a friendly, but for me, it's an opportunity to play some minutes and to try and, you know, prove to the staff that I could be trusted for more minutes.
“I don't have long left here on my loan, but you know, I want to show while I'm here, and you know, we'll see what happens after this loan period, but it's an opportunity for me to play games and to show what I can bring to the team.”
His first goal came in the 37th minute after a move into the attacking third. While making a run Iloski passed the ball to Jasper Löffelsend who sent a quick backheel right into open space for Iloski. Iloski took the shot with his right with a beautiful first touch into the bottom corner of the goal to make it 1-0.
His second goal came in the 63rd minute when he received a great cross behind the Aguilas’ defensive line. Iloski struck the volley perfectly, sending it into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
SDFC forward Tomas Ángel scored the final and prettiest goal of the night after some clear missed chances in the first half. In the 77th minute. Jasper Löffelsend took a foul just outside the box while trying to cut toward the center of the pitch. The referee immediately blew the whistle and awarded San Diego a free kick.
Ángel took the free kick opportunity and sent it perfectly over the wall and curving past the goalkeeper into the top right corner of the net for the final score of 3-0.
Manu Duah featured for his first professional match. Duah, was San Diego’s first pick in the MLS collegiate draft after playing one season with UC Santa Barbara. Duah is a holding midfielder, but was put in the center back position for the match.
“It feels exciting. At first, there was a little bit of pressure, but when the game started, I was like, okay, you got this,” Duah said. “I've played in front of a lot of people, but not like this. It was loud and everything, but after a few minutes, I was fine. I was like, Yeah, you got this so it was, it was exciting.”
Duah played well defensively and had a few exciting plays to move the ball up the field including a moment in the 25th minute when he saw space in front of him with the ball and moved up the pitch with great speed. Duah said after the match that he had to be reminded by his teammates to go back to his position at center back after creating a positive moment for the team.
16-year-old Anisse Saidi came on in the 64th minute but was substituted off early after an apparent leg injury in the 84th minute. Saidi slammed the pitch in frustration and was helped off by team trainers.
San Diego FC play their next match on the road on June 14, against Minnesota United, and don’t play another home match until July 5, against the Houston Dynamo.
