Expansion San Diego FC face stern challenge at RSL

Expansion San Diego FC face their first dose of adversity when they visit Real Salt Lake on Saturday night at Sandy, Utah.

San Diego FC will be without face of the franchise Hirving "Chucky" Lozano due to a left hamstring injury sustained in last weekend in a scoreless tie against St. Louis City -- the first home game in San Diego history.

Lozano was injured in the first half and subbed out in the 31st minute. There isn't yet a timetable for his return.

"It's not serious," San Diego coach Mikey Varas said. "So that's good, but it's impossible to predict exactly how long (he'll be sidelined), so every week we'll be evaluating that."

Lozano, 29, had an assist on San Diego's first goal when the club stunned the defending MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy 2-0 on Feb. 23.

San Diego (1-0-1, 4 points) has yet to allow a goal. Against St. Louis, it had a 16-2 edge in shots and controlled possession for two-thirds of the match while dominating play.

"It's hard work, just buying into the philosophy that the club has and the organization has," said San Diego defender Jasper Loffelsend, who played for Real Salt Lake in 2022 and '23. "Everybody is doing a good job so far. ... Hopefully we keep it going."

Real Salt Lake (1-1-0, 3 points) were routed 4-0 by the host San Jose Earthquakes in their season opener before bouncing back with a 2-0 home win over the Seattle Sounders last weekend.

Salt Lake was the recipient of a Seattle own goal in the eighth minute before Forster Ajago added one in the 79th minute.

Midfielder Emeka Eneli is in his third season with RSL and he recently was named team captain by coach Pablo Mastroeni.

"So the next step for Emeka now is to develop a bigger, louder, more authoritative voice to help lead the others, and that's obviously a journey, and he's doing a great job with that," Mastroeni said. "... So, if we're going to be the team that we think we can be, Emeka has got to be the man for us both on and off the field, and in the first few games, he's been that."

Eneli has one goal and 28 clearances in 56 matches (45 starts) with RSL.

--Field Level Media