San Diego FC beat LA Galaxy in first ever match
Photo credit: San Diego FC
San Diego FC started their season by spoiling the LA Galaxy’s MLS Cup championship celebration with a 2-0 victory at Dignity Health Sports Park in front of a sell-out crowd of 25,244 fans.
“The message for the people of San Diego is to enjoy this moment, and see what kind of football we can play, and win with this kind of football,” said San Diego FC Head Coach Mikey Varas in spanish. “But this is also a long process, and it’s a long season. We need to be consistent and we need to work, work, work, and be together for both the good and the bad.”
San Diego FC out-possessed the champions in the first half 59% to 49%, while playing solid defensively which many expected to be a weakness. Still, they only managed one shot against the Galaxy.
The true problem for the opponents didn’t come until the Galaxy attempted to build their play from the back starting with their goalkeeper, Novak Mićović.
Mićović attempted to pass the ball quickly to centre back Emiro Garcés but passed the ball high with too much force that made it difficult to control. The pass bounced off Garcés awkwardly into the lap of Hirving Lozano who passed the ball easily toward center of the box for Anders Dreyer. Dreyer shot it perfectly past Mićović to make it 1-0.
San Diego created a couple more great chances in the second half, but were stopped with excellent saves by Mićović to somewhat redeem his mistake.
The late minutes saw the Galaxy in a few dangerous positions in the final third that SDFC managed to barely survive thanks to its defense and a save by goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos to earn a clean sheet.
Then in the third minute of stoppage time SDFC sealed the victory with a wonderful counter attacking opportunity featuring the duo of wingers Dreyer and Tomás Àngel who was subbed on for Lozano.
Nearly all Galaxy players were in SDFC’s half attempting to equalize when Dreyer and Àngel passed the ball back and forth down the pitch before Àngel patiently waited inside the oppositions box before passing the ball to a wide open Dreyer who struck the ball into the top post bouncing behind the line to for a final score of 2-0.
The loss marked the Galaxy’s first home loss in over a year, specifically since October 21, 2023.
San Diego FC will look to continue their celebration at home in their first match at Snapdragon Stadium. There they will face St. Louis City SC on March 1, 2025 at 7 p.m. PST. St. Louis started their season at home against the Colorado Rapids who they played to a scoreless draw.
