San Diego FC made waves on Sunday by achieving their first-ever victory in Major League Soccer, defeating the LA Galaxy 2-0 at Dignity Health Sports Park. This inaugural match not only marked the opening of San Diego FC's season but also disrupted the Galaxy's celebration of their championship banner.
The match kicked off with high stakes, as the San Diego team, which entered the league as the 30th club, faced the defending MLS Cup champions on their home turf. Despite the odds, San Diego showcased remarkable composure, particularly from their Danish forward Anders Dreyer, who emerged as the star of the match with both goals.
It all began in the 52nd minute when Dreyer scored the club's historic first goal. The opportunity arose when LA Galaxy's goalkeeper Novak Micovic made a heavy pass to defender Emiro Garces. Unfortunately for the Galaxy, Garces miscontrolled the ball, allowing San Diego's Herving Lozano to seize the moment. Lozano quickly fed the ball to Dreyer, who delivered a smooth left-footed shot, beating Micovic and igniting jubilation among the San Diego supporters.
Following the opening goal, San Diego FC continued to pressure the Galaxy, coming close to scoring again. Dreyer effectively exploited defensive confusion, forcing Micovic to make a parry on his drive. Yet, the Galaxy struggled offensively, largely due to the absence of key players like Riqui Puig and Joseph Paintsil, both sidelined by injuries, which left the team lacking depth and creativity.
Galaxy's best chance came late when substitute Miguel Berry found space for a point-blank shot. Still, San Diego's goalkeeper CJ dos Santos, demonstrating remarkable skill, turned the shot away decisively, showcasing his part in San Diego's solid defense.
With the Galaxy pushing for equalization, San Diego executed a clinical counter-attack during stoppage time. Dreyer combined beautifully with Tomas Angel, who displayed cool-headedness as he set up Dreyer for his second goal. The Dane calmly chipped the ball off the crossbar and watched it settle back down before firing it home, concluding the match on a high note and sealing the victory for San Diego FC.
The match attracted supporters from San Diego, hundreds of whom made the trip north to witness this significant milestone. According to MLS commissioner Don Garber, this achievement was part of a long-term goal for league expansion and enhancing soccer's presence across the U.S.
“There are many things... getting San Diego [into the league] has been a long-term goal and objective,” Garber noted, highlighting the extensive efforts taken to bring the club to MLS. The landmark victory against the championship-side Galaxy shows promising prospects for San Diego FC, particularly as they gear up for their home opener against St. Louis on March 1.
This victory not only grants San Diego FC bragging rights but also establishes them firmly within the competitive MLS arena. With their squad poised for potential and eager fans backing them, the future looks bright for this newly formed club as they adjust to their new league.