San Diego FC Falls 2-1 on the Road to Austin FC, Marking First Loss of Inaugural MLS Season

AUSTIN, TEXAS (Sunday, March 23, 2025) – San Diego FC (SDFC) suffered its first-ever loss of the 2025 MLS season, falling 2-1 to Austin FC at Q2 Stadium, ending their unbeaten run to start the year. Despite a goal from SDFC midfielder Luca De La Torre, SDFC was unable to overcome Austin’s early lead.

SDFC (2-1-2, 8 points) cut an Austin FC (3-2-0, 9 points) 2-0 early lead after SDFC Head Coach Mikey Varas’ team began to create attacking pressure. Austin scored on two quick breakaways early in the first half in the first-ever meeting between both clubs. Austin FC’s Brandon Vazquez and Jon Gallagher scored within the first 20 minutes of the match before De La Torre found the net in the 27^th minute. SDFC controlled possession throughout a high-paced second half that had scoring opportunities for the visitors until the dying moments of the match.

Next up, SDFC returns home to host LAFC on Saturday, March 29 (7:30 p.m. PT) at Snapdragon Stadium live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

1-0 ATX – Brandon Vazquez (Diego Rubio), 10th minute: Vazquez slipped behind the SDFC defense on a quick pass by Rubio from near midfield. Vazquez sprinted up the field with the ball with only a charging goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos to beat. He sent a right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the net to open the scoring.

2-0 ATX – Jon Gallagher (Owen Wolff), 19th minute: Gallagher opened the scoring with a right-footed shot inside the lower left post after racing up field on a quick pass from Wolff, following a rapid restart off an SDFC foul. He sprinted past the last defender and finished one-on-one against CJ Dos Santos from the right side of the box.

2-1 SD – Luca De La Torre (Onni Valakari), 27th minute: De La Torre cut into Austin FC’s lead with a right-footed shot past Brad Stuver, finishing a pass from Valakari near the top of the 18-yard box.

·       With today’s 2-1 road loss, SDFC snapped it’s undefeated run to start the 2025 MLS Regular Season.

·       SDFC is now 2-1-2 on the season and sits fifth in the Western Conference.

·       SDFC is now 2-1-0 when playing on the road in 2025.

·       SDFC is 1-1-0 when wearing the Club’s primary kit.

·       Luca De La Torre scored his first MLS goal and his first with SDFC when he cut the Austin FC lead in the first half. De la Torre has now registered a goal or an assist in in the last two matches.

·       Defender Ian Pilcher and midfielder Alejandro Alvarado Jr. made their respective SDFC and MLS first career starts today.

·       18-year-old Defender Luca Bombino made his second consecutive start against Austin FC, marking his third appearance for SDFC this season.

·       Midfielder Alejandro Alvarado Jr. made his first SDFC start against Austin FC.

·       Defender Hamady Diop made his SDFC debut replacing Ian Pilcher in the 64^th minute.

·      SDFC was without starters Aníbal Godoy and Paddy McNair, who were away on national team duty with Panama and Northern Ireland, respectively.

·       16-year-old Forward Anisse Saidi made his professional debut replacing Alejandro Alvarado Jr. In the 81^st minute of the match. Saidi becomes the youngest player to debut for SDFC at the age of 16 years, 9 months, and three days.

·      Defenders Willy and Luca Bombino made their second-consecutive starts of the 2025 MLS Regular Season.

·       Forward Tomás Ángel registered his third-consecutive start for SDFC.

·       SDFC allowed two goals in a match for the first time in Club history after five MLS matches.

·       SDFC has now registered a minimum of 16 shots per match in four-consecutive matches.

·      Goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos, defender Chris McVey, midfielder Jeppe Tverskov, and forward Anders Dreyer have all started and played a full 90 minutes through the Club’s first five matches, each totaling 460 minutes played.

Next Game
Next up, SDFC will return home to host LAFC at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. PT live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Match Information
2025 MLS Regular Season 
San Diego FC (2-1-2, 8 pts) vs. Austin FC (2-2-0, 6 pts)

Sunday, March 23, 2025 – Q2 Stadium (Austin, TX.)

ATX (1-0) – Brandon Vazquez 10’ (Assisted by Diego Rubio)

ATX (2-0) – Jon Gallagher 19’ (Assisted by Owen Wolff)

SD (2-1) – Luca de la Torre 27’ (Assisted by Onni Valakari)

SD – Ian Pilcher (caution 3’)

SD – Luca de la Torre (caution 13’)

ATX – Dani Pereira (caution 33’)

SD – Chris McVey (caution 54’)

Lineups:
SAN DIEGO FC: GK CJ Dos Santos, D Luca Bombino (Franco Negri, 74’), D Ian Pilcher (Hamady Diop, 64’), D Christopher McVey, D Willy Kumado (Jasper Löffelsend, 64’); M Luca de la Torre, M Jeppe Tverskov -C-, M Alejandro Alvarado Jr. (Anisse Saidi, 81’); F Onni Valakari, F Tomás Ángel, F Anders Dreyer

Substitutes Not Used: GK Pablo Sisniega, M Heine Bruseth, F Emmanuel Boateng, M Manu Duah, F Alex Mighten.

TOTAL SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 13; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES; 3

AUSTIN FC: GK Brad Stuver, D Jon Gallagher, D Zan Kolmanic (Julio Cascante, 76’), D Brendan Hines-Ike, D Guilherme Biro ; M Dani Pereira (Nicolás Duberssarsky, 87’), M Owen Wolff, M Ilie Sánchez -C-, M Besard Sabovic (Jader Obrian, 77’ ; F Diego Rubio (Osman Bukari, 59’), F Brandon Vazquez (CJ Fodrey, 87’)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Stefan Cleveland, D Antonio Gomez, D Riley Thomas, D Nicolás Van Rijn.

TOTAL SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 14; OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3

Referee: Filip Dujic

Assistant Referees: Michaeal Barwegan, Jeffrey Greeson

Fourth Official: Matthew Corrigan

VAR: Geoff Gamble

AVAR: Fabio Tovar

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 86 degrees

Attendance: 20,730

Editorial, rights-free assets from Sunday’s postgame media availability and match photos are available below:

·       Images and highlights available HERE

·       Soundbites available HERE

    o   SDFC Head Coach Mikey Varas (English)

    o   SDFC Luca De La Torre (English)

    o   SDFC Jeppe Tverskov (English)