San Diego FC star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano didn’t dress for the expansion club’s first playoff match, a 2-1 victory over the visiting Portland Timbers on Sunday night, in the wake of a heated locker room altercation earlier this month.
San Diego FC left Lozano off the game-night roster, but the Mexican international standout attended the contest in street clothes. Lozano hasn’t played since the Oct. 4 incident against the Houston Dynamo when he reacted angrily after being told he was being pulled from the game.
Lozano also was left home for last Saturday’s regular-season finale in Portland.
“We have been taking it by week to week,” San Diego FC coach Mikey Varas said of Lozano’s playing status on the Apple TV+ postgame show on Sunday night. “Speaking with Hirving, we have seen what we needed to see and as long as there are no setbacks, he should be back with us next week.”
On Friday, Lozano publicly apologized for the incident, saying in part “I didn’t react in the right way, and I’ve already taken responsibility, addressed it, and moved forward.”
Lozano was seen talking to Padres star Manny Machado — a part-owner of San Diego FC — prior to Sunday’s playoff match.
Lozano had nine goals and 10 assists in 27 regular-season games (22 starts) while helping San Diego FC (19-9-6, 63 points) set a league record for most points by an expansion team.
–Field Level Media
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