SDFC cap off 2026 MLS home opener with 5-0 goal fest victory over CF Montréal

SAN DIEGO -- SDFC dominates their season and home MLS opener on Saturday night, with fans at Snapdragon Stadium welcomed to the 2026 campaign with a 5-0 ravaging over the visiting CF Montréal, powered by five different goal scorers.

A first-ever meeting between the two clubs, as they didn’t face off during SDFC’s inaugural 2025 season. 

Although finishing top of the Western Conference standings in their first season, SDFC still looked to improve, falling a game short of being crowned Western Conference champions and playing for the MLS Cup.

Home form was the biggest downside of the 2025 MLS season for SDFC, finishing with seven wins, five draws, and five losses. They managed to add three home playoff victories to that tally during their MLS Cup Playoff run but it was the away result that kept them in the Western Conference standings lead. 

The biggest change for the SDFC starting XI came with the selection of 19-year-old native San Diegan goalkeeper Duran Ferree, getting his first MLS start between the sticks for the club on opening night. 

SDFC also continued their young backline trend from last season, with 22-year-old and newly acquired defender Kieran Sargeant getting into the starting line-up against Montréal. 

It was a dominant start to the game for SDFC, with full control of the tempo through the first 14 minutes and an overwhelming 70% possession advantage, which led to defender Christopher McVey on the end of the first goal of the season and the match for SDFC. 

Coming from a corner kick cross by star forward Anders Dreyer into the penalty area, the ball found McVey hunching under the centered ball and guiding his headed shot through the traffic of players and into the bottom left side netting to give SDFC the 1-0 lead. 

What looked to be headed for a slim 1-0 lead into the halftime break was flipped upside down as a 45+2 minute darting counter-attack started by Anders Dreyer saw forward Amahl Pellegrino get on the end of the second SDFC goal of the night. 

All taking place in the final minute of added time to the first half, Dreyer was through on his attacking half, with only Montréal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier left to beat. 

Gillier did great with the initial push save of Dreyer’s attempt, but it was Pellegrino left alone for the unmarked tap-in touch into the net to take a two-goal advantage into the locker rooms, leaving Montréal a bigger hill to climb in the second period. 

It went from bad to worse for Montréal, with defender Tomas Aviles sent off in the 50-minute after a VAR check reviewed his dangerous tackle on Pellegrino in the 46-minute leaving his squad two goals and a man down. 

The foul was deemed a red card offense as Aviles’ slide came from behind Pellegrino as his studs rose above the ankle near the calf area. 

Didn’t take long for SDFC to take advantage of the extra man with Marcas Ingvarsten and Onni Valakari connecting to set up the third goal of the night in the 53-minute.

An Ingvarsten backheel lay off set Valakari free at the top of the box, and with all eyes on Dreyer, Valakari took advantage and tucked an unexpected low-driven shot into the bottom left of the net to make it 3-0. 

The goals continued to pile up for Chrome & Azul, this time, Marcus Ingvarsten with a rocketing attempt off the frame to grow the SDFC lead to 4-0 in the 59-minute. 

Set up by a low cross back to the top of the penalty box by Dreyer, Ingvarsten takes no extra touches, driving a rising shot off the center of the crossbar and into the goal, leaving Montréal's Thomas Gillier no chance on a save.

The biggest moment of the night came in the 85-minute, with SDFC’s newest signing and first-ever Right to Dream gradute 18-year-old Bryan Zamblé, beating his defender and finishing his chance off four minutes into his debut, celebrating his goal with the fans for the fifth SDFC goal of the game.

The final whistle blew at that 5-0 scoreline as SDFC’s season and home opener was a goal party as SDFC were the only side allowed in, arriving early and leaving late. 

The SDFC opening night goal fest was met with another equally remarkable achievement, as on his MLS debut, 19-year-old Duran Ferree claimed his first MLS cleansheet, finishing the night with two saves. 

“It's very special,” SDFC goalkeeper Duran Ferree said on his MLS debut . “It's a full circle moment for me. I started my career in San Diego three years ago, San Diego Loyal. And being able to make steps throughout my career and make my official start in MLS is really special.”

SDFC head coach Mikey Varas spoke at the post match press conference, following the 5-0 win, on the impactful debuts by teenagers Duran Ferree and Bryan Zamblé, adding his thoughts on the atmosphere at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night.  

“We always talk about having a big squad mentality and trusting the next guy up and that's what we did with Duran and I think he just played a phenomenal game. So brave on the ball and really proud of him, shut out, 19 years old, amazing.”

“Then Brian getting in the game and scoring a goal, I think that would be really important for his confidence.”

“Being scouted in Ivory Coast, going through the Academy in Ghana, then into IA (International Academy), now to us, the future is bright for him and he's really happy, we're happy for him.”

“Unbelievable. I mean, it's unbelievable here. I hope that it's not for a long time, but whenever this adventure is done with me, I think I'll dream about these nights for the rest of my life with the people of San Diego and the energy that's inside this stadium.”

SDFC fans won’t have to wait long to see their team again, as San Diego FC is back at Snapdragon Stadium next Sunday, March 1, for matchday two of the 2026 MLS regular season as they host St. Louis City SC, all set to kick off at 6:15 p.m.