San Diego FC Bursts Onto the MLS Scene With a Bang, Led by Anders Dreyer | OneFootball

Soccer has a funny way of flipping the script. You’ve got your favorites, the powerhouses, the teams with history, but every now and then, a newcomer walks onto the field and shreds the predictions. That’s exactly what San Diego FC did on opening night of the 2025 MLS season.

And they didn’t just beat any team. They took down the defending champs, LA Galaxy, in their own backyard with a 2-0 statement win. And this wasn’t some scrappy, lucky break kind of victory. This was dominance, confidence, and cold-blooded efficiency. The star of the night? A guy named Anders Dreyer, who now has the honor of being the first-ever San Diego FC player to score in MLS, not once, but twice!

MLS fans are used to expansion teams struggling out of the gate. Building a squad from scratch, finding chemistry, and going toe-to-toe with established giants? Yeah, not easy. But apparently, nobody told San Diego FC that.

From the first whistle, Mikey Varas’ squad made it clear they weren’t just here to make up the numbers. Playing on the road against one of the league’s most stacked rosters, they didn’t flinch. They took control. Disciplined in defense, smart in attack, and ruthless when it counted.

Then, at the 52-minute mark, history was made. A nightmare mistake by Galaxy’s goalkeeper Novak Mićović handed the ball to Mexican star Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, who wasted no time whipping in a low cross. Chaos erupted in the box, and out of the mess came Dreyer, hungry for his moment. One clean strike. Boom. San Diego FC had its first-ever MLS goal. A moment their fans will never forget.

But Dreyer wasn’t done. Oh no. He wanted more. And he got it. Deep into stoppage time, with Galaxy throwing everything forward in desperation, San Diego pounced on the counter. Tomás Ángel sprinted downfield, spotted Dreyer wide open, and the Dane did what top strikers do, one crisp, lethal shot, smashing off the crossbar and in. Bar down. Perfection. 2-0. Game over.

What makes this debut so impressive isn’t just the scoreline, it’s how they got there. This wasn’t some underdog parking the bus and hoping for a miracle. San Diego FC won because they played better, took advantage of weaknesses, and, most importantly, had a clear game plan.

Full credit to Mikey Varas. The coach put together a compact, well-drilled squad that completely rattled a Galaxy team loaded with stars. And here’s a reality check, if you think soccer is just about stacking up big names, think again. LA had Marco Reus, Diego Fagúndez, and Gabriel Pec running the midfield. Christian Ramírez up top. None of it mattered.

San Diego, on the other hand, built a team that actually fits together. Dreyer, brought in from Anderlecht, already looks like a game-changer. Lozano, formerly of PSV, adds experience and creativity. The midfield clicked with Jeppe Tverskov holding things down and Aníbal Godoy providing support. And in goal, CJ dos Santos locked in the club’s first-ever clean sheet.

If anyone thought San Diego FC would just be another expansion team making up the numbers, they might want to rethink that. Only three expansion teams have won their debut game since 2017, LAFC (2018), St. Louis CITY SC (2023), and now, San Diego FC (2025). That says a lot about what this club could become.

And this wasn’t a fluke. This was a performance that screamed identity. San Diego FC has a competitive roster, a clear style, and difference-makers like Dreyer who can deliver in big moments.

Next up? A home debut at Snapdragon Stadium on March 1 against St. Louis CITY SC. If they bring this same intensity, a lot of people are gonna be in for a surprise this season.