CHROMATIC FC – All Things San Diego FC

Chromaniacs

Tag: San Diego FC

  • Well, It Wasn’t A Loss

    Well, It Wasn’t A Loss

    First and foremost, thanks for reading ChromaticFC.com. Between last year’s Substack into this year’s posts on ChromaticFC, this is now post #100. I’ll continue writing 100 more of these, maybe 1000, maybe 10,000. Who knows! But thanks for reading and appreciate all the support.

    San Diego went to Seattle trying to do what no team has done as an away team: beat the Sounders. An already daunting task was in front of them, but SDFC had also gone winless in eight straight games and looked to be turning things around after a draw against LAFC. San Diego is also battered with injuries, as Jeppe Tverskov may not return until after the World Cup, two goalkeepers are out in Pablo Sisniega and CJ Dos Santos, and San Diego’s big acquisition from over the summer, Lewis Morgan, was listed as out. Not to mention, there are also players in the starting XI dealing with their own injuries, such as Amahl Pellegrino and Luca Bombino. San Diego was trying to make this a competitive matchup with the players they have active on the roster.

    I Did It My Way

    To get to the meat on the bone, San Diego FC scored in the 18th minute all due to their play style. The buildup starting from the back was phenomenal and exactly how San Diego wants to build from the back. It all started with goalkeeper Duran Ferree retrieving a loose ball in the penalty area. He then passed the ball centrally to Onni Valakari. There were a few passes among the center backs, Anibal Godoy, and the goalkeeper. Ferree would then pass the ball again to Valakari, this time with a lot of space in front of him. Valakari passed centrally to David Vazquez in the midfield, who was able to get another pass off to the far side to Luca Bombino. Bombino dribbled the ball into the final third and gave a pass off to Amahl Pellegrino. Pellegrino sent a short pass centrally to Vazquez near the penalty area. Vazquez then sent a pass to the near side to Oscar Verhoeven. Verhoeven passed the ball back to Chris McVey, who delivered a short pass to Onni Valakari. Valakari dribbled towards the center of the pitch and dumped the ball off to Manu Duah. When Duah passed the ball forward to Anibal Godoy, Onni Valakari was creeping behind a couple of Sounders players in the middle of the pitch. It appeared that the Sounders completely lost track of Valakari as the ball went back to him while he was as wide open in the middle of the field as you can be. Valakari quickly sent a through ball into the penalty area, where Marcus Ingvartsen was able to deliver the final blow of this incredible buildup play and put San Diego on top 1-0. San Diego was able to take advantage of the space given to them in the final third by Seattle, but SDFC also had participation by all 11 players that made that play possible. San Diego had about 20 total passes completed in that run. There was also great patience and hold-up play by the midfielders that really made it a great build-from-the-back play. If it were up to SDFC, San Diego would want every goal to be scored this way.

    Valakari (Circle), had a ton of space in front of him with three SDFC players for support. Sounders left Valakari unmarked and SDFC did damage

    Ingvartsen Appreciation Post

    Marcus Ingvartsen scored his eighth goal on Saturday in Seattle and now has 10 goal contributions in league play. Last season, San Diego had four players in double-digit goal contributions in league play: Anders Dreyer (36), Hirving Lozano (17), Onni Valakari (11), and Milan Iloski (11). Anders Dreyer currently has 10 goal contributions himself, with the league leader being Lionel Messi with 12. Right now, you can’t find another pairing that has more contributions than Dreyer and Ingvartsen with 20. The second most is Messi and Telasco Segovia, who combined for 19 goal contributions for Inter Miami. But back to Ingvartsen; he is currently at a pace of getting a goal contribution (disregarding penalty kicks) at a rate of 0.96 per 90 minutes. That is just under one per match. In this category, Dreyer ranked 32nd at 0.70. It is fair to say that this was the player SDFC, Tyler Heaps, and Mikey Varas were expecting last season. Ingvartsen can now be relied on to be the striker that is needed to contribute and could possibly bring in a goal per match. The biggest thing for Ingvartsen is health and being able to stay on the pitch. Saturday was the fourth time this year that Ingvartsen was able to play a full match. It is possible that fans may see more full 90 minute matches out of Ingvartsen after the World Cup break. Pairing him with Dreyer has created a great duo for SDFC. Could it turn into a great trio after the summer break?

    Back to the First Half

    San Diego played a really good half. SDFC had the possession (57%), but the Sounders had more shots (8) and more touches in the opposition’s box (19). The Sounders did not put any shots on target, often shooting wide, with goalkeeper Ferree not having to do much to get in front of the ball. The San Diego defense was also doing its part in the first half with two blocks and 14 clearances. Manu Duah had the most clearances of the half with five. There was a key moment for the Sounders after a through ball in the midfield found Jordan Morris on a fast break. Morris shot and scored, but the goal was ruled offside. San Diego just needed 45 more minutes to put this one away.

    Second Half

    The second half for San Diego was very different from the first. Both teams shared possession, but the Sounders were the dominant force on the pitch with 18 total shots, five on target, and 31 touches in the opposition’s box. San Diego only had 10 total shots, two shots on target, and 19 touches in the opposition’s box. Early on, San Diego had most of the shots, with five shots in the first 20 minutes of the second half, one of which was on target. But after the 67th minute, there was a complete shift where the Sounders were peppering the goal with shots, recording 16 to San Diego’s five. Danny Musovski entered after the 63rd minute and may have had more to do with fresh legs heading toward the final third. It felt as though the Sounders were close to equalizing, and they eventually would. However, it wasn’t without more controversy on the pitch. As the Sounders were heading toward the penalty area, Jesus Ferreira put a through ball into the box for Musovski, who immediately took a shot that was saved by goalkeeper Ferree. When the pass was delivered by Ferreira, it appeared that Musovski was in an offside position. Chris McVey was demanding that the flag for offside should have been up. The Sounders were awarded a corner kick and scored off a heel pass from Cristian Roldan to the feet of Musovski, who scored the equalizer. The play for offside should have been thoroughly reviewed, and the Sounders should never have been given a corner kick. But for the Sounders, this was their fourth set-piece goal. San Diego has given up five set-piece goals this season. Worse yet, San Diego has lost a total of nine points after the 75th minute, which is the worst in the league. In comparison, the Chicago Fire are second worst in the league with five points lost after the 75th minute. San Diego really tried to regain those points in the last minute on a great effort by Alex Mighten taking on a defender on the near side of the box. Mighten was able to deliver a pass to Anders Dreyer, but Dreyer’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Andrew Thomas. The deflection of the save went toward Marcus Ingvartsen, who had a tough angle and delivered a shot high and way off the mark. The final score was 1-1 and the points were shared.

    This was the ball before Ferreira pass to Musovski

    Final Thoughts on this Match

    A point was going to be a tough thing to get in Lumen Field, and SDFC was able to accomplish that. In 2026, San Diego FC was the first team to get a point in Lumen Field after the Sounders had won five matches at home in all competitions. San Diego is the first team to earn a point in Lumen Field since the Vancouver Whitecaps did it back on September 27th of last season. The Sounders haven’t lost since June 1st of last season against Minnesota United. Big picture, San Diego continues to build and has received a point in back-to-back matches. This is a big accomplishment considering all the injuries the team is dealing with right now. San Diego does not have the healthiest squad, and getting to the World Cup break is going to be key to finishing out the rest of the 19 matches that remain on schedule after the break. The wins will come eventually, but for now, this squad is surviving with what they have. Something that needs fixing is closing out matches, as losing points late is starting to be a concerning trend. Another thing San Diego can do is try to score late in matches to try and gain back points. This season after the 75th minute, it hasn’t happened yet. 

    Austin FC Preview

    San Diego will face Austin FC on Wednesday night for a midweek showdown. Austin FC is currently 10th in the Western Conference with a record of 3-5-4 (14 points). Away from home, Austin has zero wins, three draws, and three losses with a goal differential of -7. Overall this season, Austin has scored 18 goals with the second-lowest xG in the league at 13. Yet, this is a really good set-piece team; Austin has scored eight set-piece goals, which is tied for the most in the league with Inter Miami. In open play, Austin has trouble connecting in the final third as they are ranked 27th in the league in final third passing percentage at 66.7%. On the defensive side, Austin has allowed the seventh-most goals in the league with 21 and are third-most in xG allowed at 26.06. Austin has allowed the second-most shots (218) and shots on target (83). San Diego should absolutely view this as a chance to take as many shots as possible, hopefully finding the back of the net. Austin’s goalkeeper Brad Stuver has prevented six goals, which is the second highest in the league, but he is being peppered with about seven shots on target per match. This is a heavy dose for a goalkeeper, which San Diego will try to take advantage of to get a couple of goals.

    Austin’s Key Players

    Back in February, toward the end of the roster crunch for MLS, the LA Galaxy had to make a tough decision on a player due to not having enough GAM to keep him on the roster for a second straight year. The LA Galaxy waived Christian Ramirez back in February, and he was immediately picked up by Austin FC. So far with Austin, Ramirez has four goals and one assist in 2026. That includes the 79th-minute equalizer in Austin’s last match against Minnesota United for a 2-2 draw. Ramirez is 35 years old and is now with his seventh MLS club. In MLS, Ramirez has scored 59 goals and has 17 assists. Austin is trying to get the last bit of a good footballer left in Ramirez. He has already matched last year’s goal contributions and hasn’t had double-digit goal contributions since 2024 with the Columbus Crew. Ramirez has started the last three matches and could be a man off the bench, which is a good option to have if trying to score a late goal.

    Another player up top at striker San Diego needs to be aware of is Myrto Uzuni. Uzuni made his MLS debut last season after coming over from the La Liga 2 side Granada. Last season, across all competitions, Uzuni had nine goals and three assists. This season, Uzuni has started all 11 matches for Austin and has five goals. Uzuni can play as an attacking midfielder or on the left wing. It all depends on how Austin wants to rotate their players for a midweek match. Uzuni will take shots from distance, as he’s currently tied for sixth in the league with 15 shots outside the box and has scored two goals from those shots. Uzuni has just under three shots per 90 and about one shot on target per 90. This is a guy who loves to shoot the ball and will do it from anywhere. San Diego will need to keep a compact shape inside the penalty area to prevent any shots from getting through to the net by Uzuni.

  • Matchday Preview: It’s Time to Face the Sounders

    Matchday Preview: It’s Time to Face the Sounders

    As San Diego is on an 8-match winless streak, with their last win in league play being back on March 7th against Sporting KC, the team is just looking for positive results. Their next matchup is against the very consistent Seattle Sounders. The Sounders have only missed the playoffs once in their entire history in MLS, and they are back to being a top-4 team in the conference. San Diego, who is crawling with injuries as they head towards the World Cup break, will have their hands full with the Seattle Sounders. Getting a win or a point away at Lumen Field will be difficult for San Diego. What else do they need to show that this team is heading in the right direction?

    Last Season

    In the first match playing Seattle, San Diego really took it to the Sounders. The scoring happened quickly, as Jeppe Tverskov scored a goal within the first 90 seconds of the match. Then later in the half, San Diego scored two more times with a 41st-minute goal by Anibal Godoy and then a stoppage-time goal by Chucky Lozano. As much as San Diego likes being a possession-heavy team, this was probably one of a couple of matches in 2025 that San Diego did not have the majority of possession. It’s pretty obvious why: when getting an early 3-0 lead at the half, you just have to play solid defense in the second half to close the match out. The second-half numbers in that match showed Seattle had 60% possession, 7 total shots, 2 on target, and 10 touches in the opposition’s box.

    San Diego played the Seattle Sounders during a midweek matchup at Lumen Field. This was right after a high from winning a match late against the LA Galaxy. With that win, San Diego had won 4 out of their last 5 previous matches. But Seattle was a tough team to play at home. In 2025, the Sounders had a 10-6-1 record for 36 points, the best home record in the conference and tied for the third-best record in the league alongside Inter Miami and Nashville. The Sounders also had the second-best goal differential at home with +18.

    San Diego, in their match at Seattle, played their style of attacking football. San Diego had 63% possession, 15 total shots, 7 shots on target, and 24 touches in the opposition’s box. A real standout of that match was goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who stopped all shots on target and made the difference in San Diego getting zero goals out of them, even though the xG was at 1.08. The Sounders went ahead on a goal by Jesus Ferreira on a Paul Rothrock assist in the run of play. If anyone remembers what happened prior to the goal, Alex Alvarado went down with an apparent injury and asked for assistance. Play continued and the Sounders capitalized, moving the ball downfield into Rothrock’s feet and having Ferreira finish the run with a goal. From May 3rd to the end of June, the loss to the Sounders at home would be San Diego’s only loss during a 10-match stretch.

    This Season

    This season, Seattle is picking back up where they left off last season. The Sounders come into this match 4th in the league with 6 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss for 20 points in league play. Seattle has been able to accomplish a high number of points while playing the fewest matches in the league with 9. At home, Seattle is undefeated in three matches, winning all three. The Sounders do like playing with the ball and having possession, as they have over a 52% possession rate. When it comes to attacking, the Sounders have 13 goals from 108 shots this season. Their shot-on-target rate is second in the league at 44.4%, and they are 6th in the league in shots on target per 90 with 5.33.

    Seattle, like San Diego, is also a really good passing team. The Sounders have an 86% passing completion rate and are successful in getting passes into the final third over 75% of the time. When it comes to passes per sequence, the Sounders are at 4.17 passes, which is tied for 7th in the league. San Diego leads the league in passes per sequence at 5.40. This means that both teams will be patient and methodical when it comes to possession and finding the right areas to attack.

    Defensively, having only played 9 matches, the Sounders have allowed 5 goals and an xG of 9.47. This season, in 5 home matches across all competitions, the Sounders have allowed 4 goals. No team has scored more than 1 goal against the Sounders at Lumen Field. The Sounders have scored 13 goals in those matches and have at least 2 goals per match. The Sounders are 6th in the league in ground duels won at 51% and are in the middle of the league at 49% for winning aerial duels. Seattle is tied for 4th in the league with 27 clearances. On the goalkeeping side, Andrew Thomas has 33 saves and a save percentage of 86.8%. Thomas is also tied for third in the league with 5 goals prevented. This is a well-balanced team on both attack and defense that is also a juggernaut at home. San Diego having their hands full might be an understatement.

    Players to Watch

    Cristian Roldan: Coming off being listed on the MLS Best XI in 2025, Cristian Roldan is having a pretty strong 2026 season. Last season, Roldan had 1 goal and 2 assists in league play. He led all defensive midfielders in progressive receptions with 192 and had 178 progressive passes and 115 progressive carries. These are all high marks in each category for his position. This season, he has played over 600 minutes and has 3 goals. Roldan has completed 88.6% of his passes and has completed 83.4% of passes in the final third. On the defensive side, Roldan has 17 tackles, 8 interceptions, 1 block, and 16 clearances. Roldan has won 40 possession battles and has won over 57% of ground duels. Just like Jeppe Tverskov, Cristian Roldan is the man in the middle through whom the ball flows, which is evident by his high number of touches at 602. Given his three goals this season, Roldan is featured in all facets of the game. He is a great all-around player who is the anchor of this Sounders team.

    Paul Rothrock: Another player having a great start to his season is Paul Rothrock. We saw Rothrock get an assist last season against San Diego, and this year Rothrock has 4 goals and 1 assist. Rothrock had 5 goals and 5 assists last season across all competitions, and in 4 seasons with the Sounders, he has 22 goals and 10 assists across all competitions. Rothrock is a winger who can play on both sides but has been predominantly on the left side this season. Rothrock will take the majority of his shots in the penalty area and can score with either foot. Rothrock likes to dribble the ball and take it into dangerous areas. He is second on the team in progressive carries with 53. Three of those carries have ended with a shot, one ended with a goal, and one with an assist. With Rothrock’s versatility on the pitch, it will be hard for San Diego FC to constantly keep an eye on him, and you hope that he’s not in your own box.

    Roster Update

    Lastly, San Diego FC announced the signing of goalkeeper Jacob Jackson to a contract. This is not a surprising development, as CJ Dos Santos went down with another head injury last match against LAFC that will take some time to heal, and Pablo Sisniega is also out with an injury. San Diego needed a second keeper and found one available in former San Diego FC player Jackson. Jackson was traded to FC Dallas in the summer transfer window when Duran Ferree came back from his loan at FC Nordsjælland. Jackson did have to come into a match against St. Louis City and played 72 minutes in that match. Jackson made 12 saves against St. Louis and allowed one goal in a 1-1 draw. His next match was a clean sheet against Austin FC; he was also the goalkeeper in a 3-1 victory against the Colorado Rapids and played in a 2-2 draw against the Portland Timbers. Overall, Jackson had an 85.2% save percentage. Jackson will be the second goalkeeper, with Duran Ferree as the starter, most likely until the World Cup break. Ferree will have a tough challenge against the Seattle Sounders.

  • San Diego FC and LAFC Share the Points in Hard-Fought Match

    San Diego FC and LAFC Share the Points in Hard-Fought Match

    San Diego FC recently hosted their rivals from up north, LAFC, in a high-stakes match where SDFC looked to stop the recent bleeding and secure at least a point. LAFC utilized a rotated lineup with an eye on their upcoming Champions Cup match on Wednesday, though they kept Son Heung-Min and David Martinez on the bench as insurance. San Diego, meanwhile, was forced to play without captain Jeppe Tverskov, who is recovering from a lower-body injury that may sideline him until after the World Cup. This was a notable shift, marking the first time in league play that Tverskov did not start a match since being out against Austin FC due to yellow card accumulation.

    San Diego was immediately on the front foot, attacking with a head full of steam. By the third minute, Anders Dreyer set up David Vazquez with a pass off a short corner kick; Vazquez’s close-range shot was saved and recovered by Hugo Lloris. SDFC earned another corner in the 7th minute on the far side, where Dreyer delivered an inswinger that found Marcus Ingvartsen for a header into the back of the net, giving San Diego an early 1-0 lead.

    Ingvartsen’s First Goal of the Match

    For the rest of the half, the teams moved the ball back and forth, but San Diego remained in control. SDFC finished the half with 6 shots, including 2 on target and an even split of 3 shots each inside and outside the box, while LAFC was held to just one shot. Possession sat at 64% for San Diego, supported by 189 passes in the opposition’s half. Encouraging chances continued to flow, including a Luca Bombino interception that led to a pass to Ingvartsen, whose shot went way off the mark. Later, David Vazquez sent a cross from the far side targeting Ingvartsen in the penalty area, but the striker was just a step behind and couldn’t reach the pass.

    LAFC increased their intensity to start the second half, subbing in David Martinez for Nathan Ordaz and Mark Delgado for Jude Terry. Seeking a second goal, Vazquez had a wide shot inside the penalty area, though it was a tough attempt as he had to turn while on the run to try to get it on target. In the 60th minute, LAFC signaled their intent by subbing in Son Heung-Min for Ryan Raposo. San Diego made their own changes in the 67th minute, bringing on Lewis Morgan for Amahl Pellegrino and Ian Pilcher for Luca Bombino. Both Pellegrino and Bombino had dealt with injuries in April, and both appeared to signal to the bench to come out due to discomfort.

    The match seemed to tilt further in San Diego’s favor in the 71st minute. As the ball was passed back to Hugo Lloris, he delivered a pass down the far side to Eddie Segura. Segura attempted to find Denis Bouanga, but Oscar Verhoeven was all over him to poach the ball away and kick it back the other direction. The ball fell to Anders Dreyer, who was left completely alone on the counter-attack. Dreyer carried it into the penalty area and passed centrally to Ingvartsen, who settled the ball and found the back post for his second goal of the night. This tandem has been highly effective; Dreyer now has 5 assists on the season (4 to Ingvartsen), while Ingvartsen has 7 goals. This duo is more than halfway to the 9 combined goals Dreyer and Hirving Lozano produced last season.

    With a 2-0 lead and 20 minutes remaining, San Diego just needed to close the match out, but controversy struck in the 80th minute. After Anibal Godoy fouled Son a few yards from the penalty area, Son took the free kick. The ball went directly into the side of Godoy’s head, and because he went down with an apparent injury, the referee ruled that Godoy had to leave the match temporarily. Godoy was not happy, as he seemed fine and the ball may have simply hit his shoulder. With SDFC playing with 10 men, LAFC took full advantage; Son dribbled the ball on the far side into the penalty area and found Bouanga, who shot between goalkeeper Dos Santos and the near post to make it 2-1. Godoy likely would have been in a position to better defend that attack.

    In the final minutes, Mikey Varas opted for a back five, subbing Wilson Eisner in for Ingvartsen. During the 9 minutes of added stoppage time, more controversy and injury followed. As Bouanga attempted a shot in the box, CJ Dos Santos made a diving stop on the ball. In the process, Bouanga kicked Dos Santos in the head, causing his nose to bleed. Dos Santos had to leave the match, and Duran Ferree came in as goalkeeper; both teams were granted an extra substitution due to the head injury, which LAFC used to bring on Artem Smoliakov for Kenneth Nielsen. This was an unfortunate turn of events as Dos Santos was making his first start since being kicked in the head at Portland for a November playoff start.

    The equalizer came shortly after David Martinez recovered a long pass and won a corner kick off Wilson Eisner. Martinez delivered the ball into the penalty area, where it came off Matthieu Choiniere right to Ryan Hollingshead, who kicked it in to make it 2-2. The play was controversial, as Choiniere headed the ball down onto his own arm before it reached Hollingshead—a handball that should have been called. Hardly any review of the action was taken by VAR and the final whistle blew a few minutes later.

    LAFC Equalizes

    While the first half was a success, the second half saw San Diego manage only 2 shots compared to LAFC’s 8. SDFC also had only 5 touches in the opposition’s box while LAFC had 18, suggesting the team took their foot off the gas. San Diego now has an MLS-worst record of losing 7 points after the 75th minute this season. The team must learn to play a full 90 minutes and close out matches. Looking forward, the health of Bombino and Pellegrino remains a major factor, as does the goalkeeper situation; with Dos Santos and Pablo Sisniega potentially injured, SDFC may need to call up SuperDraft pick Kyle Durham. With 4 tough matches left before the break, figuring out if the roster is healthy enough to compete is now the top priority.

  • LAFC Preview: Will LAFC Take This Match Seriously?

    LAFC Preview: Will LAFC Take This Match Seriously?

    San Diego FC will face off against LAFC on Saturday night. Last year, the two San Diego FC vs. LAFC matches were two of the funnest matches I had attended, and both were very exciting games that ended in favor of San Diego FC. This time, however, San Diego FC is on the heels of a five-game losing streak, and LAFC is competing in the Champions Cup. This raises the question: will LAFC take this match seriously, or will they punt this match for the second leg in the Champions Cup against Toluca?

    Last Season, San Diego played a hard-fought 3-2 match for the win at home. Goals were scored by Chris McVey, Onni Valakari, and Alex Mighten, all in the first half. With a 3-0 lead, though, LAFC scored two goals within minutes of each other by Artem Smoliakov and Cengiz Ünder right before the end of the first half. In the second half, San Diego was able to close the match out by continuing to pressure LAFC’s backline by keeping possession, recording 8 shots with 2 on goal, and maintaining possession in the opponent’s side of the pitch for half of the time.

    San Diego would then play LAFC in Los Angeles in August for Son Heung-min’s home debut. LAFC started out hot with a goal in the first 15 minutes of the match, but then it was Chucky Lozano who knotted that match up at 1-1 in the 33rd minute. In the second half, Anders Dreyer scored one of the best goals I’ve ever seen him score in person, taking out a couple of defenders with a cut-back and shoot motion that helped score the game-winner and seal the victory. After the match, Dreyer famously said that SDFC wanted to “Kill The Party” away from Son’s debut.

    This Season, LAFC is currently third in the Western Conference with a 6-2-2 record (20 points). This is a team that started off hot and went undefeated in their first 6 matches, but in their last 4 matches, they are 1-1-2. San Diego and LAFC have each scored 17 goals, with shots on target for LAFC at 46 and SDFC at 44. LAFC leads the league with 6 goals from outside the box and are 7th in outside-the-box shooting with 45. Additionally, LAFC has produced the most shots with 23 during counter-attacks. LAFC is also 7th in key short passes with 85. On the goalkeeping side, Hugo Lloris is having the best start of the season for a goalkeeper; Lloris has the highest save percentage at 88.2% and has 8 clean sheets out of 10 matches during league play. Lloris is also 4th in goals prevented with 4, trailing leader Matt Turner, who has 8. LAFC is also 6th in tackles with 167 and 7th in shots blocked with 41.

    As for who is showing up at Snapdragon, LAFC’s next match against Toluca is on Wednesday night in Mexico. It is very unlikely that LAFC will have their regular starters play on Saturday night against San Diego. The first leg against Toluca featured their regulars, except for Denis Bouanga, who was suspended for that match. Son Heung-Min, Timothy Tillman, Nkosi Tafari, Ryan Porteous, Sergi Palencia, and Marco Delgado all played a full 90 minutes. In the match right before Toluca against Minnesota United, Son did not play nor was he on the bench; David Martinez played 60 minutes and Aaron Long played a half. In that match, LAFC got off to an early lead with a David Martinez goal in the 9th minute and decided to play defense the rest of the match. The Loons had the ball 62% of the time, had 23 shots with 4 on target, and lost the match 1-0 to LAFC.

    A heavily rotated lineup is expected for LAFC. Nathan Ordaz is expected to start up front for LAFC; Ordaz has played over 500 minutes this year with two goals across all competitions. The 22-year-old has 12 goals and 8 assists across all competitions in four seasons with LAFC. Another player who should have more of a role in this match is local kid Jude Terry from Chula Vista, CA. Terry is 17 years old and in his first season with LAFC playing actual minutes. So far, Terry has scored one goal in 5 matches played across all competitions. There is a possibility that Denis Bouanga plays since he did not play on Wednesday, but it all depends on how many minutes head coach Marc Dos Santos will want to play his regulars with a big match upcoming against Toluca.

    Jude Terry

    San Diego FC is really having a tough time with injuries. As discussed on the latest Chromaniacs episode (the episode above), Jeppe Tverskov will be out for Saturday’s match, and it is feared that he will be out for the next 5 weeks heading into the World Cup break. This is a huge blow for San Diego FC as Jeppe Tverskov leads the league in touches and passes and is the captain for this team. In this system, everything goes through Tverskov as he knows the play style well and can play different roles when needed. In his top Goals Added” categories, Jeppe Tverskov is one of the top players in progressive passes and own-danger-zone defensive actions. This makes sense because, on the attacking side, he contributes by passing the ball forward and kickstarting the attack. Defensively, he plays a position that needs him to track back when the other team has the ball and moves towards his own penalty area.

    Now, San Diego FC will need Anibal Godoy to be a key figure in this team and be the player that the ball can pass through up and down the field. San Diego will also need one of their young midfielders to step up for the moment in either Pedro Soma, David Vazquez, or Alejandro Alvarado. There’s also a chance that Manu Duah could be moved back into a midfield role, but that is only if Ian Pilcher or Andres Reyes are healthy to take the other center-back role. San Diego FC has their hands full on Saturday, and with Jeppe’s injury, LAFC will be much more difficult to handle.

  • Will SDFC Get Better As-Is?

    Will SDFC Get Better As-Is?

    The loss to the Portland Timbers marks a significant low point for San Diego FC, who fell 2-1 at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night. This match represented the sixth meeting between these two clubs in just two seasons, yet the result highlighted a concerning trend for the home side. San Diego is now mired in a five-game losing streak and remains winless in seven matches. As fans begin to turn on Mikey Varas and the squad, the team is desperate to rediscover its winning form. While the performance contained flashes of potential, the central question remains how the club can pull itself out of this tailspin

    The Recap

    The first half began with Portland defending in a disciplined mid-block that made it difficult for San Diego to penetrate the final third. Despite this, San Diego found an opening in the 9th minute when Onni Valakari received the ball and dribbled deep into the attacking zone. He found Anders Dreyer just outside the penalty area, who returned the pass to Valakari for a shot that was ultimately blocked by a Portland defender. The rebound fell to Jeppe Tverskov, whose follow-up was also blocked, followed shortly by a Marcus Ingvartsen attempt that pulled wide of the mark. While the attack was active, the quality of the finishing was lacking. David Vazquez sent a shot over the crossbar in the 12th minute, and Ingvartsen saw another effort blocked in the 19th. Statistically, San Diego dominated the opening 20 minutes with four shots on goal before Portland could manage one, yet they failed to put the necessary shots on target to capitalize on their early control.

    The momentum shifted in the 26th minute due to a critical defensive lapse. As San Diego attempted to move the ball from the backline toward midfield, a pass from Manu Duah intended for Jeppe Tverskov was intercepted by Portland’s Kevin Kelsey. Kelsey dispossessed Tverskov, drove downfield, and cut inside Chris McVey to slot home his second goal of the season. This marked another unforced error leading to a goal for San Diego, placing them in a tie with Portland for the most such errors in the league with 5. Additionally, San Diego is now tied for the most errors leading to an opponent’s shot at 14.

    San Diego responded well to going down 1-0 and quickly moved back into the final third. In the 31st minute, they were awarded a penalty following a handball by a Timbers defender. Anders Dreyer stepped up and converted the spot-kick into the right corner, marking his fifth goal of the season and his eighth total goal contribution. Surprisingly, this would be the only shot on target for San Diego in the entire half. They finished the first period with 71% possession, 6 total shots, and 22 touches in the opposition box, compared to just 29% possession and 3 touches for Portland. However, Portland was more efficient, putting both of their only two shots on target.

    Tactically, San Diego looked effective moving the ball forward against Portland’s low block, recording 236 forward passes at a rate of 52.3% and 125 passes in the final third. However, the positioning of Dreyer, Valakari, and Ingvartsen occasionally led to congestion and potentially confusion regarding positioning. A clear example of this occurred in stoppage time when Valakari found Dreyer in a central position about 10 feet from the penalty area. While David Vazquez was open on the wing and eventually received the pass, his subsequent delivery into the box found an empty central area with no SDFC shirts around it. The ball landed between Dreyer and Ingvartsen, but neither was in a position to capitalize; Ingvartsen was the more forward player and would have had a tough play to go back for the ball, and Dreyer failed to start his sprint early enough to reach the pass.

    The second half began with a moment of frustration as a Marcus Ingvartsen goal was overturned by VAR for offside following an Anders Dreyer free kick. This was the second time in the match Ingvartsen was caught offside near the goal. The remainder of the half was a more balanced affair, with play transitioning back and forth between both ends. San Diego’s best chance to take the lead came in the 79th minute during an impressive sequence starting from the back. Duran Ferree found Oscar Verhoeven on the far side, who combined with Tverskov via a back-heel pass to continue his run down the flank. Verhoeven then played the ball through Ingvartsen to receive it back before sending a cross to the back post for Lewis Morgan. Morgan’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Pantemis in what was a massive missed opportunity for San Diego.

    Disaster struck shortly after when Jeppe Tverskov was forced off with an injury sustained during that play, replaced by Bryce Duke. Following this substitution, the midfield structure crumbled, leading to defensive breakdowns that forced Ferree to act as a sweeper-keeper to cover open goals as he came off his line. Portland eventually capitalized in stoppage time when Kristoffer Velde delivered a corner kick that allowed Alex Bonetig to score the winner in front of Manu Duah. This is the third match this season that San Diego has given away points late in the match; they have now lost five points after the 75th minute, second only to Orlando City which has lost six.

    We Have Seen This Before

    Despite the current struggle, San Diego has been in similar positions before. Through the first 10 matches of 2026, the team has scored 17 goals against an xG of 16.57, representing a difference of 0.43, while allowing 17 goals against an xG against of 20.41. This results in an xG differential of -3.84. Compared to the first 10 matches of last season, the numbers are remarkably similar: 16 goals scored against an xG of 17.05, representing a difference of -1.05. During that same 2025 span, San Diego allowed 15 goals on an xG against of 18.40. The xG differential was -1.35. The actual scored and conceded goals are nearly identical year-over-year, with the caveat that this year San Diego has given up more quality shots by their opponent. In contrast, the final 10 matches of 2025 saw the team maintain their scoring output with 17 goals on 16.67 xG. However, the defense tightened significantly, only allowing 9 goals against an xG against of 14.80. This produced a positive xG differential of 1.87. The defense was resilient during that period, even securing a clean sheet against Sporting KC in a match where they faced over 20 shots and an xG against of 2.09.

    It is evident that the absence of key defensive personnel has hindered the team. Red cards and subsequent suspensions for Chris McVey and Manu Duah have been a big factor. Playing Osvald Soe in their place has really cost this team some points and allowed goals for the other team, and the injury to Luca Bombino has been huge and is needed back as quickly as possible. The attacking numbers have remained very much the same compared to both the start and end of 2025—even with a certain Lozano character starting most of those matches last year and contributing at the same level as current players. So what really took this thing into hyperdrive to become one of the best expansion clubs in MLS history? Well the Summer of Iloski really had a big factor in the team’s success more than any other period. Following the first 10 matches of last season, San Diego went on a tear, recording an 8-1-1 record for 25 points. During that ten-match span, they scored 25 goals on an xG of 19.36 (a difference of 5.64) and allowed only 10 goals against an xG against of 11.88, leading to a massive positive xG differential of 7.48. This run included absurd matches against FC Dallas (5-0), Minnesota (4-2), and Vancouver (5-3).

    Dreyer has been more involved in 2026. Ingvartsen has taken over for Lozano’s production and Valakari has remained consistant

    The front office felt that this type of run was not going to be sustainable, and a trajectory more like the final 10 matches of 2025—where they went 6-2-2 for 20 points—is a much more likely result with this group. Still, San Diego should add a few more pieces in the summer transfer window to provide a valuable boost to this club for the second half of the season. With the final 19 matches scheduled after the World Cup break, there remains plenty of time to turn the season around. For now, San Diego has to do the things that they can control: play a full 90, limit the mistakes, and not give up late goals. If you can do that, maybe you have a chance of a point against LAFC on Saturday.

  • San Diego’s Losing Streak Extends to Four, Portland Up Next

    San Diego’s Losing Streak Extends to Four, Portland Up Next

    Wednesday night San Diego played one of the most lackluster matches the club has displayed in a long time. While center back Chris McVey returned from a one-game suspension to start alongside Manu Duah for the first time since hosting Real Salt Lake on March 22nd, the backline remained thin. Left back Luca Bombino continued to be sidelined with an injury, which forced rookie center back Osvald Søe into another start. Alex Mighten started on the left wing, while Amahl Pellegrino and Marcus Ingvartsen remained on the bench because they were still not 100% fit for a full 90 minutes. Their absence is felt heavily, as they are crucial components needed for this attack to regain its rhythm.

    From the kickoff, SDFC displayed a tactical shift by deploying a back three, with Søe, Duah, and McVey playing in close proximity during the attack. This was a significant departure from the typical two-center back formation, likely a move by Mikey Varas to provide added support for the young Søe. Alex Mighten and Oscar Verhoeven operated as wide wingbacks, with Mighten frequently pushing the ball into the final third. However, these efforts often stalled as Mighten was repeatedly dispossessed near the penalty area. Despite controlling 72% of the possession throughout the first half, San Diego struggled to create meaningful chances, often recycling the ball back to their own side without registering a shot on target. The first real opportunity came in the 25th minute when Jeppe Tverskov sent a header well over the crossbar from an Anders Dreyer free kick.

    The momentum shifted entirely in the 34th minute. Following a Houston Dynamo throw-in at midfield, Agustin Resch received a pass and moved it back to goalkeeper Jonathan Bond. Bond then launched a pass to the far side for Felipe Andrade. Andrade passed the ball just outside the penalty area to Ondrej Lingr who was positioned between two San Diego center backs. Lingr drove toward the penalty area and waited for trailing assistance from Aliyu Ibrahim, who fired a shot from the box to score the opening goal. This was a complete breakdown in coverage; the back three failed to pressure Lingr or dispossess him quickly enough. While Duah attempted to push Søe toward the far side to cover Ibrahim’s run, Søe was unable to close the gap in time to block the shot. Replays also indicated that Mighten failed to man-mark Ibrahim, allowing him a free run into the area.

    The second half offered more of the same frustration. San Diego maintained 71% of the ball and increased their output to six total shots, yet only one found the target. In contrast, Houston managed seven shots with a higher expected goals (xG) metric of 1.23 compared to San Diego’s 0.8. It is difficult to find highlights in such a stat sheet. While the team appeared to have more opportunities, a single shot on target was insufficient. Relying on depth players rather than the preferred starting XI has proven difficult. Mighten showed flashes of dribbling ability but lacked impact, finishing with 59 touches and zero key passes. Lewis Morgan also struggled against Houston’s giant center backs Agustin Resch and Antonio Carlos, managing only 11 touches as he seemingly lacked the top-end speed to bypass Resch’s 6’6″ and Carlos’s 6’3″ frames. Jeppe Tverskov and Onni Valakari led the team with six touches each in the opposition box, but Anders Dreyer recorded the only shot on target in a 1-0 loss that extended the winless streak to six matches.

    Looking ahead, San Diego must find creative ways to generate offense without Amahl Pellegrino. After entering the match in the 66th minute for Morgan, Pellegrino received a straight red card in the 79th minute for a high kick that caught a Houston defender. This suspension is a major blow to a team already struggling with injuries. Pellegrino has been a vital part of the attack, recently providing an assist to Anders Dreyer against Real Salt Lake. It is now imperative for Marcus Ingvartsen, who shares the team lead in goal contributions with Dreyer (both at seven), to start the upcoming match against Portland. If he is still not fit for a full shift, Mighten will likely earn his third consecutive start. Current results seem to stem more from injury misfortune than a “sophomore slump,” especially considering the remarkably healthy roster the team enjoyed throughout 2025.

    Portland arrives for the first meeting between these clubs since San Diego eliminated the Timbers from the playoffs last November. In 2026, Portland sits 12th in the league with a 2-1-5 record. Their road form has been particularly poor, going 0-0-4 and conceding 10 goals while failing to win away from home since July of last year. While Portland sits 10th in build-up play and has managed one goal from such sequences, they struggle to create high-quality chances, ranking 26th in xG. Defensively, they lead the league in shot blocks with 49 but are prone to catastrophic mistakes, leading the league with five errors that directly resulted in a goal. They typically average 48% possession on the road and will likely employ a mid-to-high press similar to the tactics used in the 2-2 playoff draw that Portland eventually won on penalties. Portland will try and attack along the wings to move the ball forward.

    A primary threat for the Timbers is Kristoffer Velde, who performed well during the previous playoff series with two goals in the first two matches. In his second MLS season, Velde has three goals and remains dangerous in transition, ranking 13th in the league in progressive carries and 17th in progressive receptions. Another key figure is offseason acquisition Cole Bassett, who was brought in from Colorado for $3.7 million in cash. The 24-year-old midfielder has extensive experience with the Rapids, tallying 31 goals and 21 assists over seven seasons. Although he has seen limited action this season, playing in four of eight matches, Bassett already has two assists and ranks third on the team in shots. He serves as a significant attacking threat from the midfield, recently recording three key passes and 85 touches against Minnesota.

    Given Portland’s struggles on the road, San Diego should have the advantage. However, the result hinges on whether the team can field its best XI. Increased involvement from Ingvartsen could provide the spark necessary to secure three points at home. If San Diego can find a way to win, they will match their record from the first 10 matches of last season exactly.

  • San Diego Just Can’t Get Out Of Its Own Way

    San Diego Just Can’t Get Out Of Its Own Way

    San Diego FC faced a grueling matchup Saturday night against Real Salt Lake. A backline that was already thin became even more vulnerable when Luca Bombino was listed as out on the Availability List due to injury. It was a significant blow for a team that cannot catch a break amidst a difficult period of injuries and suspensions. Bombino is arguably the most vital component of the defense, providing the ability to progress the ball forward while remaining disciplined in his defensive tracking. With only three healthy defenders available for a four-man line, Head Coach Mikey Varas was forced to move an attacking player into the defense, calling upon midfielder Bryce Duke to play right back while Oscar Verhoeven occupied the left.

    When Playing Out From The Back Fails

    Within the opening minutes, the specific personnel in the backline mattered less than the rigid adherence to the system. San Diego’s insistence on playing out from the back continues to haunt them, and this time it cost a goal. Manu Duah took a restart and passed to goalkeeper Duran Ferree; as Ferree attempted to return the ball to Duah, Diego Luna charged the pass and was able to put a foot on it for a goal. Fans must accept that these errors are a byproduct of a philosophy dictated by the Right to Dream handbook. While the system invites pressure, it requires players with a higher level of situational awareness to recognize when opponents like Luna are closing the gap. Ferree appeared nonchalant as Luna charged in, resulting in a bad error by the young goalkeeper. Following the match, San Diego is tied for second in the league in both errors leading to shots (11) and errors leading to goals (4). When a squad is missing its best eleven, it must play smarter, error-free soccer.

    The pressure from RSL did not subside after the restart. After a blocked shot by Ferree, RSL recovered the ball on the far side and worked it through the midfield to Morgan Guilavogui, who executed a quick backheel right in front of Bryce Duke. The ball went to Sergi Solans, who returned it to Guilavogui before the play was switched to Luna on the far side. Luna sent a cross into the penalty area for Solans, who headed it home. Ferree’s awkward attempt to stop the ball only helped it into the back of the net. This marked the fourth consecutive match where San Diego conceded a goal from a cross into the area. Osvald Søe was tracking the back post but should have been more aware of the ball’s flight and Solans’ positioning. Ferree also should have made a better stop and covered the back post more effectively. Down 2-0 by the 6th minute, the match was quickly slipping away.

    SDFC showed some life in the 14th minute, demonstrating the potential benefits of playing out from the back. Søe passed back to Ferree, who found Anibal Godoy. Godoy moved the ball to Duah, who launched a long pass to Anders Dreyer at midfield. Dreyer found Lewis Morgan charging toward the penalty area, where Morgan slipped a pass through a defender’s legs to Marcus Ingvartsen. Ingvartsen finished the play to bring the score within one, capping a quick transition that required only three passes down the far side. This was Ingvartsen’s fifth goal of the season and Morgan’s second assist.

    However, the bleeding did not stop for SDFC. In the 37th minute, after Jeppe Tverskov cleared an RSL attempt toward Dreyer, Dreyer passed the ball forward to Tverskov. The ball was intercepted as it was just out of Tverskov’s reach. RSL moved the ball to Zavier Gozo on the far side, who sent a cross to Solans. Solans was positioned between Søe and Duah and beat both center backs to the ball, heading in his second goal of the night. While Solans appeared to be a hair offside, the video review crew did not see a need for a further check, making the score 3-1.

    Just before the 45-minute mark, another Tverskov dispossession allowed RSL to counter. Luna received a switch pass and moved the ball to Solans at midfield. This created a two-on-one situation against Søe with Guilavogui running alongside Solans. As other SDFC players tried to close in, Solans found Guilavogui open in the penalty area, who converted the fourth goal. Though Guilavogui looked a step ahead of the defender before the pass, the goal stood without review. The first-half statistics reflected RSL’s dominance: 11 shots, 6 on target, and 7 big chances to score with 3 missed. Conversely, SDFC had only 2 shots and just 7 touches in the opposition box, despite completing over 325 passes (200 of which were in their own half). San Diego looked completely outmatched.

    Second Half 

    To jump-start the attack, Mikey Varas made halftime substitutions, bringing on Alex Mighten for Bryce Duke at right back and Pedro Soma for Anibal Godoy in the midfield. Facing a 4-1 deficit was an uphill battle as RSL continued to push for more goals. San Diego was awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute when Anders Dreyer dribbled into the area and caused an RSL defender to get tangled up with him. Dreyer converted the spot-kick with a terrific strike to the keeper’s left, making it 4-2. For the next 30 minutes, San Diego tried to push into the final third but couldn’t string together the quality shots needed to change the score. In the second half, SDFC held 53% possession with 7 shots (4 on target), 277 passes, and 16 touches in the opposition box. RSL eventually subbed out their primary attackers—Luna, Solans, and Guilavogui—after the 70th minute to sit back defensively. The match finished 4-2, extending San Diego’s winless streak to five matches—the longest in the second-year club’s history. They are currently on a three-game losing streak, tying last year’s early-season record.

    Houston Dynamo Preview

    San Diego now prepares to face the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night. The Dynamo have played seven matches and hold a 3-0-4 record, having scored 11 goals and conceded 16. Statistically, Houston sits near the bottom of the league in possession rate (42.7%), shot-on-target percentage (32.4%), and xG per shot (0.09). Defensively, their goalkeeper save percentage is 26th in the league at 57.1%. However, they are physically dominant, ranking second in the league for ground duels won (54.9%) and aerial duels won (57.2%). Houston has been particularly successful late in games, converting draws into wins after the 75th minute against Chicago, Portland, and Orlando.

    Much of Houston’s success is attributed to their Designated Player, Guilherme. After recording 13 goals and 15 assists over two seasons with Santos in Brazil, Guilherme has 5 goals and 4 assists so far with Houston. He is a dual threat, combining attacking output—25 shots and over 208 successful passes—with defensive work rate, totaling 6 tackles, 10 interceptions, and 30 recoveries this season. Because Houston faces three matches in seven days, it remains to be seen how much of Guilherme and the other regular starters we will see on Wednesday.

    Final Thoughts

    The last encounter with Houston was the day everything changed. Back on October 4th of last year, Chucky Lozano started his last match for San Diego. Trailing 1-0 at the half, Varas replaced Lozano with Amahl Pellegrino. In the second half, San Diego saw two goals by Anders Dreyer and scores from Luca De La Torre and Pellegrino, who also added two assists. The ripple effects of that match are still being felt; Pellegrino is now more involved while Lozano sits at home watching the matches.

    While some fans are calling for the club and Lozano to make amends, it is important to realize this situation has nothing to do with the people involved; it is about the Right to Dream system. SDFC is committed to a specific standard of conduct intended to serve as a model for younger players. Everyone from Sporting Director Tyler Heaps to Head Coach Mikey Varas must fit this playbook. If leadership were to change, they would be replaced by others who implement the same philosophy: develop young players in a certain way and play style and sell them for profit.

    However, the investment to the senior club from this model can be modest; for example, FC Nordsjaelland’s record transfer was Marcus Ingvartsen for only 2.95 million Euros. This raises questions about whether ownership will invest more heavily in the roster during this club’s second summer transfer window. A successful squad requires a balance of veteran leadership and developing young talent. Fans have a right to be angry because an MLS team should feature household names like Lozano. If the summer transfer window does not bring significant improvements, it is fair to take aim at the ownership group and demand more.

  • Matchday Preview: SDFC heads over to Salt Lake

    Matchday Preview: SDFC heads over to Salt Lake

    San Diego will go up against Real Salt Lake for the second time in just a matter of weeks. SDFC is currently on a winless streak the likes of which haven’t been seen since the early part of the season last year. San Diego will definitely be playing a man down with Chris McVey suspended for a second time in league play. The first red card he saw in league play was against Real Salt Lake late in that match. San Diego may see some players return who were unavailable last week due to injury, but they may be limited in playing time as they slowly work themselves back into the squad. SDFC will be working with a young backline that may feature Bombino, Duah, Søe, and Verhoeven, along with a front three that may have Zamble and Morgan starting a second consecutive match.

    Since Last We Saw RSL

    Salt Lake has played just one match since these teams last met on March 22nd. RSL had a bye week last week and played Sporting KC on April 4th. RSL started that match hot with a goal in the 4th minute by Diego Luna. Luna’s shot was a slow roller from outside the box that was just out of the reach of the goalkeeper. After halftime, Sergi Solans scored from inside the penalty area to make it 2-0. The transitional play from RSL was fantastic as the team went downfield quickly on a 2v2 play that secured their second goal. Joveljic scored for Sporting KC just inside the penalty box on a shot that hit the back post and into the back of the net to make the match 2-1. However, RSL kept the pressure on Kansas City and looked to add a third goal. That third goal eventually came from 19-year-old Zavier Gozo with an absolute screamer from just inside the penalty area. Salt Lake ended up winning the match 3-1 and recorded 22 total shots with 7 on target while maintaining 49% possession. Between Solans, Luna, and Gozo, the trio accounted for 14 total shots and 5 on target.

    Check out Gozo’s self-volley here

    With just a one-game difference, there hasn’t been much change from the previous analysis. Real Salt Lake remains an attacking team that utilized a mid-to-high press while playing San Diego FC. Salt Lake clearly wants the ball and is eager to shoot. In the last match against San Diego, RSL held the ball 42% of the time and registered 21 shots with 8 on target. That was more than San Diego’s 14 shots and 5 on target. Most of all, RSL is a team that is now rested and features multiple scoring threats in Diego Luna, Sergi Solans, and Zavier Gozo, all of whom scored against Sporting KC. That list should also include Morgan Guilavogui, who can be a significant contributor on the attack and has two assists this season. Currently, RSL is 5th in the league in shots with 103 and tied for 9th with 34 shots on target. Their on-target percentage is 28th in the league at 33%. Real Salt Lake loves shooting from outside the box and currently ranks 5th in the league with 32 shots from distance, having scored twice from those efforts.

    Keys to the Match for San Diego

    The most vital objective for San Diego in this match is to finish with 11 men on the pitch. While this should be a fundamental expectation, San Diego has seen 6 red cards in 6 matches. Manu Duah should avoid tackling anyone inside the box if it risks a red card. Instead, the defense must have confidence in goalkeeper Duran Ferree to try and make the stop. San Diego also has to prevent errors that lead to shots. SDFC is second in the league with 9 errors that have directly led to opponent shots. Two goals have already been conceded from those errors, and the team needs to play cleanly to have a chance at winning this match. RSL is not shy about shooting from anywhere they receive the ball. If an error occurs in San Diego’s defensive third, RSL can be expected to shoot the second they receive the ball.

    Lastly, if San Diego secures a lead, the team must finish strong to keep those points. This season, SDFC has lost 4 points after the 75th minute of play. Those points were dropped against FC Dallas and in the previous meeting with RSL. No other team in the league has a larger point-lost differential than San Diego. The defense should also be prepared for any crosses coming into the penalty area, as San Diego has conceded a goal from a cross in three straight matches. Salt Lake will provide a great challenge for San Diego as SDFC tries to turn the season around before the World Cup break.

  • San Diego FC Struggles Continue with Loss to Minnesota United

    San Diego FC Struggles Continue with Loss to Minnesota United

    San Diego FC faced a difficult task on Saturday night as they hosted Minnesota United, a team remarkably similar to the one that SDFC saw in the playoffs last year.. The challenge was compounded by a depleted roster, marking the second straight match without Amahl Pellegrino and Ian Pilcher due to injury, while a red card suspension left the squad without starting center back Manu Duah. Shortly before kickoff, it was revealed that Marcus Ingvartsen would not start and would instead begin on the bench to limit his minutes following a knock in training. Consequently, Mikey Varas started Bryan Zamble and shifted Lewis Morgan to center forward, a move intended to provide an offensive boost by returning Morgan to a more natural position.

    Early Success and Defensive Lapses

    The decision to start Morgan at center forward initially appeared successful during the opening minutes. In the 6th minute, as Minnesota cleared the ball from the penalty area, Osvald Søe recovered possession at midfield and found Chris McVey. A series of midfield passes allowed SDFC to advance the ball down the field. Although the ball did not initially reach the penalty area, Anders Dreyer gained possession and fired a shot from 15 yards outside the penalty area that was blocked by Jeppe Tverskov. The deflection fell to Morgan, whose shot was also blocked, but the ball recycled to Oscar Verhoeven on the near side. Verhoeven passed to Dreyer, who quickly found Morgan as he made a run into the penalty area. Morgan delivered a cross to Luca Bombino, who volleyed the ball inside the far post for the goal. This was Bombino’s first goal of the season and Morgan’s first assist as a member of SDFC, giving San Diego an early lead.

    However, the lead was short-lived as Minnesota United equalized just a few minutes later. Following a long kick from the Minnesota goalkeeper to midfield, Minnesota recovered the ball and exploited excessive space in the San Diego midfield to move freely. The Loons advanced to Tomas Chancalay, who recovered a second ball headed by Anthony Markanich. After a central passing sequence, the ball returned to Chancalay on the nearside as he approached the penalty area. Chancalay delivered a cross into the 6-yard box for Kyle Duncan, who headed the ball in for a goal. This represented a complete breakdown in coverage by San Diego, leaving Chancalay unchallenged for the majority of his run. This marked the third straight match SDFC has allowed a goal on a cross, following a late goal by Real Salt Lake’s Victor Olatunji and San Jose’s third goal by Preston Judd. It must feel embarrassing to be watching film and realizing the team is getting beat the same exact way over and over again.

    Video found while reading Backheeled.com

    The defensive struggles continued in the 40th minute. While San Diego appeared to be preparing for a long throw-in from Minnesota, the ball was instead played back toward midfield to Owen Gene. Gene sent a cross into the penalty area where Anthony Markanich headed the ball down. The ball took a large bounce where either Osvald Søe could have cleared it or Duran Ferree could have claimed it, but they allowed the ball to travel toward the goal where Kelvin Yeboah kicked it in. San Diego went into the half trailing 2-1. Despite the score, SDFC held a 67% possession advantage and four shots on target compared to Minnesota’s three, though Minnesota held more touches in the opposition box at 14 to 12.

    Setbacks and Discipline Issues

    The second half began with a disastrous turn of events as Chris McVey received a second yellow card within 30 seconds of the restart for stepping on Nicolas Romero. This was McVey’s third red card of the year and the team’s sixth red card in six matches. His first yellow card had come after fouling Yeboah outside the penalty area, an action he took because he felt Osvald Søe was not closing in fast enough. While the second yellow felt like a soft call, San Diego was forced to play down a man for the fourth straight match. Even while shorthanded, San Diego played well, maintaining 61% possession and recording eight shots in the second half. Minnesota recorded 12 total shots with four on target and held 22 touches in the opposition box. Anders Dreyer was a standout performer, leading the team with five shots, three on target, and two key passes. Onni Valakari and Lewis Morgan each added three shots, with Valakari recording two on target and Morgan providing two key passes. But the result remained 2-1 in favor of Minnesota.

    This result marks SDFC’s first back-to-back losses since last year’s Leagues Cup and their first consecutive league defeats since April of last year. The team is now winless in five straight matches. Through seven matches this season, SDFC stands at 3-2-2, compared to 4-2-1 at the same point last year. While the team hit its winless streak earlier this season, the current three-game defensive stretch is statistically slightly better than last year’s slump, with seven goals allowed compared to nine. Goalkeeper Duran Ferree has saved 15 of 21 shots on target during this period, a 71.4% save percentage. Although Ferree is not the primary cause of the defensive issues, the backline lacks leadership and will be forced to start a young defense against a tough Real Salt Lake team without the suspended McVey. Fans are left hoping the club can replicate last year’s turnaround—where a 5-0 win against FC Dallas sparked a run of eight wins in ten matches—though they must find that spark with the team that is currently in place. Chucky Lozano is not walking through that door.

  • Matchday Preview: Loons and SDFC Faceoff at Snapdragon Stadium

    Matchday Preview: Loons and SDFC Faceoff at Snapdragon Stadium

    Minnesota United returns to San Diego to face SDFC at Snapdragon Stadium for the third time since last season. The history between these clubs is already defined by high stakes, including a competitive playoff battle last year. So far this season, the Loons have seen mixed results in league play with a 2-2-2 record (8 points). San Diego is looking to regain momentum after starting the season with three straight wins followed by two draws and a first loss of the season last weekend in San Jose.

    Looking Back at Last Season

    SDFC played Minnesota United three times last season. In the first meeting in Minnesota, San Diego claimed a 4-2 victory fueled by braces from both Anders Dreyer and Milan Iloski. The second match saw San Diego FC lose 3-1 at home, as Anthony Markanich, Carlos Harvey, and Nectarios Triantis all scored for the Loons while Jeppe Tverskov provided the lone goal for San Diego. The rubber match was the Western Conference Semifinal, where San Diego won 1-0 thanks to an Anders Dreyer goal in the 72nd minute.

    In all three matches, San Diego controlled the ball over 66% of the time. Both teams stuck to their distinct philosophies: SDFC focused on possession to move the ball forward, while Minnesota preferred a low block, hunting for goals on the counter or through set-pieces. There were several notable individual performances throughout those games. Beyond the braces from Dreyer and Iloski , Dayne St. Clair racked up 12 saves in the second match. In the playoff win, Ian Pilcher made a massive sliding goal-line clearance, and Corey Baird provided a cheeky backheel assist for Dreyer’s winner.

    What has changed?

    One of the biggest shifts for the Loons is on the touchline. Eric Ramsay left during the offseason for West Bromwich Albion but was dismissed shortly after on February 24th. Cameron Knowles was promoted to the head coaching position in January, and with Knowles at the helm, the Loons appear more balanced. They still rely on defensive prowess but have shifted toward a mid-block instead of a low one, utilizing three center-backs rather than five to claim more of the ball. Despite the tactical shift, there is a strong possibility they revert to a five-man backline and a low block if they take a lead.

    The roster has also seen a significant change in goal. Dayne St. Clair signed with Inter Miami, and Drake Callender moved from Miami to replace him. Callender spent six seasons in Miami with a 70.4% save percentage; so far this year, he is at 69.7%, saving 23 of the 33 shots faced. Additionally, long-time contributor Robin Lod—who tallied 37 goals and 26 assists over seven seasons—departed for the Chicago Fire.

    The 2026 Loons

    Through six matches, the offensive statistics aren’t doing the Loons many favors, with 6 goals from 66 shots. These metrics rank in the bottom third of the league. However, the Loons remain dangerous in the air, ranking 10th in set-piece shots and 4th in aerial duels won. Anthony Markanich and Jefferson Diaz lead the team with 14 aerial wins each. San Diego must be prepared for every set-piece, as Markanich and Diaz are primary targets to knock the ball in for a goal. There is also a need to keep a close eye on Kelvin Yeboah. Since joining in 2024, he has 23 goals for the club and leads the team this season in goals (3), shots (14), and shots on target (6).

    Breaking down this defense will be a major challenge. Minnesota has the second-most clearances in the league (186), ranks 5th in blocked shots (26), and sits 3rd in blocked passes (60). The team thrives on clogging shooting and passing lanes. Morris Duggan has been a standout defender, leading the league in clearances (55) and ranking as a top force in the box. Now in his third season with the Loons with over 2500 minutes played, Duggan also ranks highly in interceptions, tackles, and final-third recoveries.

    The Wild Card: James Rodríguez

    There is uncertainty regarding the status of newly acquired James Rodríguez, who signed in February from Club León. Rodríguez brings an incredible pedigree, having contributed to over 160 goals at elite European clubs like Real Madrid, Porto, and Bayern Munich. He has only played 41 minutes in MLS so far. While he played roughly an hour in two matches during the international break, he was subsequently hospitalized for severe dehydration. Rodríguez has been back in training this week and could potentially feature this weekend.

    San Diego’s Depth and Lineup Outlook

    The bench was quite thin last Saturday against the Earthquakes. While Chris McVey returns from suspension, the red card to Manu Duah means SDFC is essentially just swapping spots on the roster. It does not appear that anyone else is returning from injury at this time. This likely means Osvald Søe gets another start at center back, while Lewis Morgan will have another spell on the left wing. The hope is for the young bench to provide a spark if called upon, but ideally, San Diego will want to put this one away early. There is also a question of whether it is time to make a change in goal and give CJ Dos Santos the start over Duran Ferree. That will likely be a game-time decision for Mikey Varas