Anders Dreyer scored a brace and CJ dos Santos recorded three saves for his first career clean sheet as visiting San Diego FC stunned defending MLS champ LA Galaxy 2-0 on Sunday in the season-opening match for both teams in Carson, California.
It began as a celebration for both teams — the inaugural match in club history for expansion San Diego as well as the unveiling of the Galaxy's championship banner for their league-record sixth title earned in 2024.
But this match finished as one for San Diego (1-0-0, 3 points) to remember and the Galaxy to lament.
It doesn't get better than this.
Watch the first-edition of Sunday Night Soccer on #MLSSeasonPass or Apple TV+: https://t.co/5vz4L2hFAf pic.twitter.com/nVlYsT0Jht— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 23, 2025
With five starters gone from the championship side due to either injury or trade/transfer, this was not the same LA squad that won the crown. And no one knew what to expect from a San Diego side that has been cobbled together from the expansion draft and a bevy of signings.
The last thing the Galaxy (0-1-0, 0 points) needed was to hand the keyed-up visitors a goal, but that's what happened in the 52nd minute. LA goalkeeper Novak Micovic sent a bad pass to defender Emiro Garces that could only be deflected toward San Diego's Chucky Lozano.
Watch: First goal in San Diego FC history; Chucky Lozano delivers assist to Anders Dreyer to upset LA Galaxy
Lozano immediate pounced on the mistake and passed to Dreyer, who ripped a left-footed shot past Micovic to score the first official goal in MLS history for San Diego FC.
Future @Jeopardy question:
Q: Who scored SDFC's FIRST goal in MLS?A: Anders Dreyer. pic.twitter.com/wOT645MtMr
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) February 24, 2025
After the giveaway, Micovic did his best to make amends, producing sterling point-blank saves on Dreyer in the 59th minute and then on Lozano just seven minutes later.
Dos Santos, who was making just his third start in his four-year MLS career, earned the team's first ever shutout, making two difficult saves in the 79th and 80th minute.
CJ ds Sants pic.twitter.com/AHE1zwBowe
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) February 24, 2025
The Galaxy pressed desperately for the equalizer, which left them vulnerable for a counterattack for San Diego FC. Tomas Angel rushed down the field with the breakaway in the third minute of added time before passing to Dreyer, who blistered a shot into the net to cement the unlikely victory.
CAN ANYONE TELL US HOW WE SAY BRACE IN DANISH???????
TWO GOALS FOR ANDERS pic.twitter.com/AFcaFar4Nq— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) February 24, 2025
It was the Galaxy's first loss on its home pitch since Oct. 21, 2023.
(Field Level Media)
