SAN DIEGO -- It is evident what kind of team San Diego FC manager Mikey Varas wants to have moving forward. It was apparent in the team's recent homestead.
They scored six points in the last two matches against LAFC and the Seattle Sounders. After their 3-0 win on Saturday over Seattle, San Diego combined for a 6-2 scoreline—that's a lot of goals.
Saturday night's match was the first game in which Hirving "Chucky" Lozano's impact was felt for the 67 minutes he played.
In the first two minutes of the game, when San Diego had a corner, they took it quickly with a pass to Lozano, who took an angle toward the goal and sent a pass into the middle of the box, which Jeppe Tverskov finished off.
That was his second assist of his MLS career, with the first being on the first goal in San Diego FC history.
Lozano missed three and a half games with a hamstring injury. San Diego came out with five points but suffered its only loss of the season to Austin FC.
His return to the starting eleven changes everything for San Diego with the assistance of Tverskov.
Lozano may not admit it, but that first goal had been eluding him, with multiple chances created but opportunities missed. Right before the half, that changed when right back Jasper Löffelsend sent a beautiful pass to Lozano, who put it past the goalkeeper for his first goal for San Diego.
The stadium erupted with the famous "El Chucky Lozano" chant, following Lozano since his goal against Germany in the 2018 World Cup.
"It's a beautiful sensation," Lozano said.
The team Varas has put together is willing to run all 90 minutes, press, and play as a team. Yes, that is cliche, but Varas's team is rarely seen walking.
San Diego creates chances because it presses the heck out of its opponent in its own half and steals the ball away. It is impressive that the team hasn't let up seven matches in.
"From the beginning, since Mikey tried to create the type of team this would be, all the players, including me, agreed with his style and the way he wanted us to play," Lozano said. "He put it on the table and it's important to realize that. Mikey has done great work, and the players have also chipped in where it's needed."
Last week against LAFC, they got out to a 3-0 lead and right before halftime, LA put two in the net to cut the lead to 3-2. San Diego held on with tough defense and with help from a red card, but LA had their chances they missed.
Against Seattle, Varas didn't allow a single goal in the 90 minutes after going up 3-0. In the second half, they let Seattle control possession and have multiple shots on goal, something they didn't in the first half.
They held on to the three points, but there is room for improvement.
"We are doing well, and the group is convinced about what we want and the first thing we have to do is remain humble, knowing that we haven't achieved anything, and we are taking one step each week," team captain Anibal Godoy said. "Winning three points at home gets us closer to getting to a playoff spot and winning at home is very important for us."
San Diego sits second in the Western Conference table, two points behind the Vancouver Whitecaps. They have played well, but as Varas has told the team, it is a long season, and they must continue the aggression and offensive hot streak they gained during their homestand.
They will go on the road for the next two matches against two quality teams: first, next Saturday in Colorado, and the following week, an East Coast team travels to Charlotte. The road test will be very telling, but currently, San Diego is exceeding expectations.
"The fact of the matter is, we're not even close to as good as we can be because I don't think we've put together more than 50 minutes, 55 minutes of our complete highest level without a bit of a drop," Varas said. "And when we get there, I think we're going to be quite a special team."