“San Diego FC in CRISIS: Chucky Lozano’s Injury Rocks the Team – Can They Overcome Their First Major Challenge Without Their $12M Star?

The name “Chucky,” in this context, is pronounced CHOO-kee—just rhyme it with “spooky.”

For San Diego soccer fans, “spooky” was the perfect word to describe what happened in the 28th minute of San Diego FC’s inaugural home opener on Saturday night. Star forward Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, the team’s marquee signing, was forced to leave the field with an apparent leg injury in front of a record-breaking crowd of 34,506 at Snapdragon Stadium.

Lozano attempted to return but couldn’t rejoin the match, which ended in a 0-0 draw. The 29-year-old left winger appeared to grab his left hamstring before exiting, raising concerns about his availability for upcoming games, including a challenging match against Real Salt Lake in high-altitude Utah.

Lozano, a seasoned player with 95 goals and 52 assists in 315 career matches across Mexico, Italy, and the Netherlands, is San Diego FC’s top offensive weapon. Seven years ago, the Mexico City native was named CONCACAF’s top male player, highlighting his elite status in North American, Central American, and Caribbean soccer.

San Diego FC invested $12 million to bring Lozano from his Dutch team, where he recorded 10 goals and five assists in 33 matches over the past two seasons. While he may not be as explosive as he was in his early 20s, when he scored 17 goals and added eight assists in back-to-back seasons with PSV Eindhoven, Lozano has already shown his impact in MLS.

In San Diego FC’s season opener against LA Galaxy, Lozano’s presence drew defenders, creating space for teammates like Anders Dreyer, who scored twice. Lozano led all players in scoring chances created, take-ons, and successful take-ons, while also contributing defensively during his 87 minutes on the field.

However, against St. Louis City SC, Lozano struggled against a physical, well-organized defense and was limited to just one shot before exiting the game. His absence shifted the defensive focus onto Dreyer, who faced tighter coverage.

If Lozano is sidelined, San Diego FC will need others to step up. In the Galaxy match, 22-year-old Tomás Ángel replaced a fatigued Lozano late in the game and delivered a standout moment, threading a perfect pass to Dreyer for the team’s second goal. Ángel, a Colombian forward who scored once in five MLS appearances with LAFC last year, could play a crucial role in Lozano’s absence.

For now, San Diego FC awaits updates on Lozano’s condition, hoping their star player can return soon to continue leading their attack.