San Diego FC coach Mikey Varas acknowledged “no one wants to hear this” amid a losing skid that reached five MLS Cup matches with Saturday’s 2-1 decision against the Portland Timbers at Snapdragon Stadium.
But, Varas said, SDFC (3-2-6) showed true progress in its fifth consecutive loss. For more than 90 minutes, the Blue and Chrome were on the verge of ending the slump, even if only with a draw.
Alex Bonetig’s goal more than five minutes into extra time made the difference for Portland (4-1-5), which threatened repeatedly late to break a 1-1 stalemate that lasted nearly the entire second half.
Antony had a pair of opportunities come up empty, the first coming on a breakaway in the 84th minute. He brought SDFC goalkeeper Duran Ferree well out of goal; Ferree attempted to poke the ball from Antony just beyond the midfield circle, giving Antony a shot at an empty net.
The attempt went wide right, however, temporarily averting disaster.
“There’s a style of play in the goalkeeper department that we have set out,” Ferree said of coming out of the net. “We have an aggressive playing style, so I think my decision was right for our playing style.”
Antony was left exasperated again in the 87th minute when he chased down a loose ball, again pulling Ferree out of the net. This time, the forward’s shot found the net, but an offside call negated the would-be decisive shot.
The near-misses for SDFC finally came to a head when, deep into a nine-minute stoppage time,
Portland’s Bonetig delivered the game-winning goal off of a Kristoffer Valde corner kick.
Valde’s corner resulted in some caroms of the ball until Bonetig snuck through a right-footed kick past Ferree, who otherwise had a night marked with some inspired play in goal. He was matched by Portland’s James Pantemis, who made three critical saves.
“We still need the last touch, the last finish, the last pass to make the difference on the last third (of the field),” said SDFC forward Anders Dreyer.
SDFC’s Pedro Soma and Anders Dreyer (10) in lament after Saturday’s 2-1 loss against the Portland Timbers at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Xavier Hernandez for the UT)
The entire tenor of the match was nearly much different for the second half, as SDFC came out after intermission and just moments in, executed a set piece that played out perfectly — if not for VAR.
Dreyer lobbed a pass that Marcus Ingvartsen booted home, capitalizing on Christopher McVey’s header attempt. However, video review showed Ingvartsen’s shoulder was offside and the go-ahead goal was wiped.
It was the second time on the night that part of a player’s arm impacted the complexion of the match.
SDFC scored its first goal on a Dreyer penalty kick in the 32nd minute, the result of a Brandon Bye handball.
Oscar Verhoeven delivered a brilliant slide tackle on Portland’s Kevin Kelsy near the Timbers goal. David Vazquez came up with the ball and attacked from left of the goal, attempting a shot that, despite Bye’s protests, hit the Timbers’ fullback’s arm.
On his penalty kick attempt, Dreyer approached from right-to-left, pulling Pantemis one way;
Dreyer fired the other direction and hit the back of the net to draw SDFC level.
Minutes earlier, Kelsy took advantage of an uncharacteristically lax exchange, blindsiding Jeppe Tverskov to take possession and create an instant breakaway opportunity. The Venezuelan forward Kelsy cut from right to left, sending a bearing-down McVey to the turf as Kelsy fired off a shot Ferree had no hope of stopping.
“We’re losing some passes that are turning into big chances for the opponent,” Varas said. “We’re trying to find that rhythm that gives us that consistency…and doesn’t lead to transitions.”
In line with Varas’ perspective on missed passes turning into scoring chances against the club, Saturday’s loss followed a familiar theme for SDFC. The home club dominated possession, 62% to Portland’s 38, as it had in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss at Houston (65-35) and the 2-1 setback the last time SDFC was at home, April 11 vs. Minnesota United FC (61-39).
Despite owning a majority of possession time, SDFC is struggling to convert into goals. The club has not scored more than two in MLS play since a 3-3 draw against Dallas on March 14.
“Lucky for us, there are a lot of games coming up,” Dreyer said. “We don’t have to wait two or three weeks.”