SAN DIEGO (Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026) – San Diego FC (SDFC) beat Southern California rival LA Galaxy 3-1 at Snapdragon Stadium in a Western Conference match to move into eighth place in the Western Conference with 30 points, putting the Club in a current playoff position. Elias Achouri, Kieran Sargeant and Amahl Pellegrino scored for a shorthanded SDFC to help the Club earn three points in the standings and its second-consecutive MLS win at home. SDFC remains undefeated against the LA Galaxy after tonight’s third all-time meeting between the clubs. SDFC has also won five-straight home matches in all competitions (including MLS and Leagues Cup).
Against the LA Galaxy tonight, Achouri scored an early SDFC goal when he sent in a right-footed shot from the right of the six-yard box with assists from Anders Dreyer and Onni Valakari. SDFC added a pair of goals in the second half when Sargeant extended the lead to 2-0 when he sent in a shot from near the left post.
LA Galaxy cut the lead to 2-1 with a goal by Hirving Lozano in the 55th minute. Substitute Amahl Pellegrino added the third goal of the night for SDFC in the 70th minute to finish a counterattack with a ball played in by Dreyer, despite playing with 10 men for most of the second half. Jeppe Tverskov was sent off in the 50th minute with a second yellow card.
Up next, SDFC travels to Florida to face Orlando City SC for the first time on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Inter&Co Stadium with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. PT.
Goal Scoring Plays:
SD – 1-0 – Elias Achouri (Anders Dreyer and Onni Valakari), 11th minute: Achouri opened the scoring with a right-footed tap from inside the six-yard box off a quick pass from Dreyer from the left side of the box. Valakari helped set up the scoring play with a cross through the middle of the box to Dreyer near the left post.
SD – 2-0 – Kieran Sargeant (Anders Dreyer) 48th minute: Sargeant sent a left-footed shot from near the left side of the six-yard box beating Novak Micovic for his first career MLS goal and to extend the SDFC lead.
LA – 2-1 – Hirving Lozano 55th Minute: Lozano cut the SDFC lead when he scored with a right-footed shot after a botched clearance from the SDFC defense inside the box.
SD – 3-1 – Amahl Pellegrino 70th minute: Pellegrino added the third of the night for a shorthanded SDFC with a right-footed shot to the right corner of the net to finish a counterattack. Dreyer played Pellegrino the ball into the box from the left side.
Postgame Notes:
· With tonight’s win against the LA Galaxy, SDFC earned three more points in the Western Conference standings and added its eighth win of the season.
· With tonight’s victory, SDFC has won consecutive MLS matches and five-straight games at home (MLS and Leagues Cup).
· SDFC now has a 8-8-5 record in the 2026 MLS Regular Season with 30 points, and now sits in eighth place in the Western Conference, putting the Club in a current playoff position.
· SDFC remains undefeated against the LA Galaxy with 3-0-0 record. SDFC defeated LA Galaxy in its inaugural MLS match on Feb. 23, 2025, at Dignity Health Sports Park before earning a 2-1 home victory over the Galaxy on May 24, 2025. SDFC will travel to Carson to face the Galaxy for the second time this season on Saturday, Oct. 17.
· SDFC is also undefeated (2-0-1) against teams from Los Angeles this season.
· The Chrome and Azul is also 5-0-1 all-time against teams from Los Angeles (3-0-0 vs. Galaxy, 2-0-1 vs. LAFC).
· SDFC is 24-15-8 all-time against Western Conference teams in MLS Regular Season play.
· Tonight’s match marked the 56th MLS Regular Season match for SDFC and the Club now holds a 27-17-11 all-time MLS Regular Season record.
· SDFC is now 12-11-6 across all competitions in 2026 (MLS Regular Season 8-8-6, Concacaf Champions Cup 2-2-0, Leagues Cup 2-1-0).
· SDFC has now scored 131 goals across all competitions (MLS, Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup).
· SDFC is 6-3-3 at home in MLS this season.
· SDFC has scored 30 goals at Snapdragon Stadium in league play this season.
· SDFC is 8-3-3 at home this season across all competitions (MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup).
· SDFC has now scored three goals in consecutive matches (vs. Colorado Rapids on Aug. 22).
· SDFC has also scored 21 goals in the second half this season.
· SDFC is 8-1-3 this season when scoring first and is 6-0-3 when leading at the half.
· Newcomer Elias Achouri scored his second goal with SDFC in his second start with the Club.
· Achouri’s goal tonight was goal number 102 in MLS Regular Season play for SDFC.
· Achouri has made four appearances with the Club, coming on as a substitute twice and making his first start last week against Colorado Rapids. He signed with the Club on July 24, 2026.
· Winger Anders Dreyer assisted on both SDFC goals tonight.
· He registered an assist during Achouri’s goal and then on a goal by Kieran Sargeant. He now has 11 assists in MLS Regular Season in 2026.
· Dreyer now has 19 goal contributions (8 goals, 11 assists) this season and 66 goal contributions overall (33 goals, 33 assists) with the Club.
· Finnish Forward Onni Valakari added to his goal contributions total with another assist tonight during Achouri’s goal.
· Valakari now has 11 goal contributions (4 goals, 7 assists) this season in MLS.
· Valakari has 30 (11 goals, 19 assists) goal contributions all-time with the Club. He has 11 goal contributions (4 goals, 7 assists) this MLS season.
· Valakari now has had a goal contribution in the last three matches (assist against Portland on Aug. 19, vs. Colorado Aug. 22).
· With tonight’s start, Valakari made his 70th appearance for SDFC across all competitions.
· Midfielder Gabriel Pirani made his 5th appearances (4th start) in MLS Regular Season. Overall, he has registered six appearances (7 starts) in all competitions.
· Defender Kieran Sargeant scored his first career MLS goal tonight while making his 11th start and 13th appearance of the season tonight.
· Forward Amahl Pellegrino scored his third goal of the season. He has six goal contributions (3 goals, 3 assists). He saw action for the fourth-straight match. Pellegrino returned to play Aug. 15 against LAFC as a substitute and against Colorado Rapids. He had not played since before the summer international break due to an Achilles injury.
· Pellegrino had last scored on May 16 during a 3-3 draw against CF Cincinnati at home, scoring in the 66th minute.
· Defender Ian Murphy made his fourth start for SDFC and his sixth MLS appearance tonight.
· Goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos recorded seven saves tonight.
· SDFC team captain Jeppe Tverskov was sent off with a second yellow card in the 50th minute. He will miss at least the next MLS match.
Match Information
2026 MLS Regular Season
San Diego FC vs. LA Galaxy
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026 – Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego, Calif.)
Scoring Summary:
SD – 1-0 –Elias Achouri (Assisted by Anders Dreyer and Onni Valakari), 11’
SD – 2-0- Kieran Sargeant (Assisted by Anders Dreyer) 48’
LA – 2-1 – Hirving Lozano, 55’
SD – 3-1- Amahl Pellegrino, 70’
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Marco Reus (caution, 21’)
SD – Jeppe Tverskov (caution, 23’)
SD – Gabriel Pirani (caution, 30’)
SD – Jeppe Tverskov (caution, 50’)
LA – Joseph Paintsil (caution, 65’)
SD – CJ Dos Santos (caution, 89’)
Lineups:
SAN DIEGO FC: GK CJ Dos Santos; D Oscar Verhoeven, D Kieran Sargeant, D Ian Murphy (Christopher McVey, 67’), D Manu Duah; M Aníbal Godoy; M Jeppe Tverskov –C–, M Gabriel Pirani (Alejandro Alvarado Jr., 52’); F Onni Valakari (Ian Pilcher 87’), F Elias Achouri (Amahl Pellegrino, 67’), F Anders Dreyer.
Substitutes Not Used: GK Duran Ferree, D Dagur Dan Thórhallsson, M David Vazquez, F Lewis Morgan, F Alex Mighten
TOTAL SHOTS: 20; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 7
LA GALAXY GK Novak Micovic; D Julian Aude (John Nelson, 73’), D Maya Yoshida –C– (Sergi Roberto, 56’), D Jacob Glesnes, D Harbor Miller (Robert Taylor, 73’); M Justin Haak (Emirio Garces, 87’), M Isaiah Parente (Erik Thommy, 56’), M Marco Reus; F Kyogo Furuhashi, F Joseph Paintsil, F Hirving Lozano
Substitutes Not Used: GK Sebatian Conlon, F Ruben Ramos Jr., F Erik Thommy, M Troy Elgersma, D Mason Vanney
TOTAL SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 14; OFFSIDES 4; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 3
Referee: Tori Penso
Assistant Referees: Brooke Mayo, Felisha Mariscal
Fourth Official: Atahan Yaya
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
AVAR: Tom Supple
Weather: 80-degrees, clear
Attendance: 27,971
