CARSON, Calif. (Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025) – San Diego FC (SDFC) made history tonight, earning a 2-0 victory over reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park in SDFC’s MLS debut. SDFC winger Anders Dreyer headlined MLS’ Sunday Night Soccer with a brace, scoring the Club’s first-ever MLS goal in the 52th minute. Despite a late push from the Galaxy, SDFC held firm, and finished off the game with Dreyer’s second goal of the night in stoppage time. SDFC shutout the LA Galaxy in Carson, ending their undefeated streak at home and becoming the first MLS team to defeat them at Dignity Health Sports Park since Oct. 21, 2023.
With their 2-0 road victory over the Galaxy, SDFC became the second MLS expansion team to win their inaugural match since 2019, joining St. Louis CITY SC in 2023. The Club now turns its focus to its highly anticipated home opener at Snapdragon Stadium on March 1, where they will look to continue making history against St. Louis.
Goal-Scoring Plays
SD – Anders Dreyer, 52nd minute: In the 52nd minute, LA Galaxy defender Emiro Garcés slipped in his own box, allowing Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano to steal the ball and quickly cross it to Anders Dreyer, who finished clinically to score SDFC’s first-ever goal.
SD – Anders Dreyer (Hirving “Chucky” Lozano), 90+3rd minute: After Tomás Ángel’s cleared the ball out of SDFC’s box to Anders Dreyer, who quickly played a return pass back to Ángel, who then pushed forward on the counter. Ángel fed a through ball to Dreyer again, who fired a powerful, well-placed shot to the top corner to double SDFC’s lead.
Postgame Notes:
· SDFC made its official MLS debut as the 30th MLS franchise in the league’s 30th anniversary, with a 2-0 win over the defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy.
· SDFC ended the Galaxy’s undefeated streak at home, becoming the first MLS team to defeat them at Dignity Health Sports Park since Oct. 21, 2023.
· With their 2-0 road victory over the Galaxy, SDFC became the second MLS expansion team to win their inaugural match since 2019, joining St. Louis CITY SC in 2023.
· SDFC became just the third MLS expansion team out of ten total to win their inaugural match since 2017, joining LAFC (2018) and St. Louis CITY SC (2023).
· SDFC forward Anders Dreyer’s goal in the 52nd minute was the first-ever goal in San Diego FC history.
· Nine (9) SDFC players made their official MLS debuts, including: defender Paddy McNair, defender Willy, midfielder Jeppe Tverskov, midfielder Alejandro Alvarado Jr, midfielder Luca de la Torre, midfielder Onni Valakari, forward Anders Dreyer, forward Marcus Ingvartsen and forward Hirving “Chucky” Lozano.
· SDFC Head Coach Mikey Varas recorded his first-ever win as a first-team head coach.
· Two (2) SDFC players made their professional debuts, including: defender Ian Pilcher and midfielder and San Diego native Alejandro Alvarado Jr.
· SDFC forward Anders Dreyer recorded his first ever brace in MLS.
· SDFC forwards Hirving “Chucky” Lozano and Tomás Ángel each recorded their first-ever MLS assists.
· Today’s 2-0 win marked Goalkeeper CJ dos Santos’ first-ever clean-sheet in MLS.
· SDFC’s backline, anchored by centerbacks Chris McVey and Paddy McNair, also helped secure the club’s first-ever clean sheet.
· SDFC midfielder Jeppe Tverskov wore the first captain’s armband in Club history.
Next Game
Next up, SDFC will celebrate its inaugural home match, presented by DIRECTV, when it hosts St. Louis CITY SC at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m. PT (MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Match Information
2025 MLS Regular Season
San Diego FC (1-0-0, 3pts) at LA Galaxy (0-0-1, 0pts)
Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 – Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, Calif.)
Scoring Summary:
SD (1-0) – Anders Dreyer 52’ (Assisted by Hirving “Chucky” Lozano)
SD (2-0) – Anders Dreyer 90’+3 (Assisted by Tomás Ángel)
Misconduct Summary:
SD – Aníbal Godoy (caution) 45’
SD – Franco Negri (caution) 56′
Lineups:
San Diego FC: GK CJ Dos Santos, D Jasper Löffelsend (Ian Pilcher, 88’), D Christopher McVey, D Paddy McNair, D Franco Negri (Willy, 63’); M Jeppe Tverskov, M Aníbal Godoy (Alejandro Alvarado Jr, 82’), M Luca de la Torre (Onni Valakari 63’); F Anders Dreyer, Marcus Ingvartsen, F Hirving “Chucky” Lozano (Tomás Ángel, 88’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Pablo Sisniega, D Hamady Diop, F Anisse Saidi, F Emmanuel Boateng, F Alex Mighten
TOTAL SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 13; OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
LA Galaxy: GK Novak Mićović; D Miki Yamane, D Emiro Garces, D Maya Yoshida ©, D John Nelson (Julián Aude, 72); M Edwin Cerrillo, M Lucas Sanabria (Elijah Wynder, 63), M Marco Reus (Ruben Ramos Jr., 72), M Diego Fagundez, M Gabriel Pec, F Christian Ramirez (Miguel Berry, 63)
Substitutes Not Used: GK John McCarthy; D Eriq Zavaleta, D Zanka, M Tucker Lepley, M Isaiah Parente
TOTAL SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 4
Referee: Allen Chapman
Assistant Referees: Chris Elliott and Jeremy Kieso
Fourth Official: Ricardo Fierro
VAR: Michael Radchuk
AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
Weather: Clear, 77 degrees
Attendance: 25,224
