San Diego FC claim first-ever win by defeating reigning MLS champs LA Galaxy

CARSON, Calif. -- In the club’s inaugural match, San Diego FC took down the 2024 MLS Cup Champions 2-0 on the road as player of the match Anders Dreyer netted in a brace to help record the club’s first-ever win on Sunday Night Soccer. 

Not a tougher place to start their inaugural season as San Diego FC traveled up the I-5 north to play their new southern California rivals LA Galaxy following their MLS Cup Championship season and impressive home record at Dignity Health Sports Park.

San Diego FC handed LA Galaxy their first loss at Dignity Health Sports Park since 2023.

“I think the boys did something incredible today,” San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas said on the victory. “They've been training for the last five weeks. They came together. They showed unity on the field. They showed conviction for our football."

Galaxy finished 2024 undefeated at Dignity Health Sports Park, equalling an MLS record for most home wins in a single venue within a season with 17 victories including the regular season and playoffs. 

San Diego FC’s First-Ever Official Starting 11:

DOS SANTOS, LÖFFELSEND, MCVEY, MCNAIR, NEGRI, GODOY, TVERSKOV (C), DE LA TORRE, DREYER, LOZANO, INGVARTSEN

The opening first half of the 2025 MLS regular season lacked offensive moments and output for the two southern California clubs as neither team recorded a shot on target and both goalkeepers left the first 45 minutes with no saves. 

An impressive outing for the newly expanded San Diego FC, holding the reigning MLS Cup champs to no attacking chances and leaving the first half with an advantage in possession at 55%-45%.

San Diego goalkeeper CJ dos Santos recorded the club’s first-ever save in the 47-minute coming off an outside-the-box attempt by Galaxy’s Gabriel Pec. 

San Diego FC struck first in the match at the 52-minute mark as designated player and Mexican international Hirving "Chucky" Lozano found Anders Dreyer as he slotted in the opening goal of the match and gave San Diego the 1-0 lead. 

A historic moment for San Diego FC as Dreyer recorded the club’s first-ever official goal with Lozano being responsible for the club’s first-ever assist. 

The opening goal came off a loss of possession in the box committed from a heavy pass by Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic intended to defender Emiro Garces as a miss control and loose ball found the feet of Lozano. 

Lozano’s pass into the center of the box set up Dreyer’s left-footed strike into the back of the net.  

More defensive miscues by the Galaxy saw near-goal shot attempts from Ingvartsen, Dreyer and Lozano, but Micovic kept his squad in the match and within striking distance. 

After nearly 80 minutes of lackluster offensive threats by the Galaxy, the last 10 minutes of the match saw San Diego behind the ball defending with Dos Santos called to action in the 79-minute having to make a pair of saves to protect his squad's slim lead.

After relentless pressure and more of the Galaxy players in the attacking third in search of the leveling goal, a San Diego counterattack in the 93-minute saw substitute Tomás Ángel dribble into an attacking area with Galaxy players out of position.

A through ball by Ángel found the wide-open player of the match Dreyer running in the penalty box firing a left-footed shot off the crossbar and into the goal finishing the match with a brace and giving San Diego FC their first-ever win in club history.

After the match, San Diego FC's head coach Mikey Varas spoke about what the match showed and meant to his squad. 

“I think we showed that when we're on point will be a very dangerous team, It's a type of football that can make you very competitive,” Varas said. “So we have to believe in it, in the good and the bad. We have to believe in it because it won't always go our way. But we got to stick with it, we got to have convictions and we got to keep working”

“These three points only matter right now and tomorrow," Varas said. "Then next week St. Louis comes and they want to spoil our party at home and we need to be ready for that." 

March 1 marks another historic day for San Diego FC as they celebrate their inaugural home match against St. Louis City SC at Snapdragon Stadium at 7:30 p.m.