San Diego FC visited the Vancouver Whitecaps for a game in the 2025 MLS regular season this Wednesday, June 25. SDFC had a long 10-day break before this match, but still had some very notable absences in the starting lineup.

Anibal Godoy and Luca de la Torre are currently playing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, while “Chucky” Lozano and Paddy McNair are injured. There are other injuries, such as Willy Kumado, but these were the most notable to the consistent starters.

Mikey Varas presented the following lineup at BC Place: CJ dos Santos, Luca Bombino, Ian Pilcher, Christopher McVey, Oscra Verhoeven, Jeppe Tverskov, Alejandro Alvarado Jr., Onni Valakari, Alex Mighten, Anders Dreyer, Milan Iloski.

Milan Iloski was the most intriguing name in the starting 11, given his incredible goal record before his first-ever MLS start. The Escondido, Calif. native had averaged a goal every 41 minutes played with five goals off the bench this season.

Iloski did the unimaginable in this first start and carried San Diego FC with a spectacular performance. The first half of the game began slowly in the opening 30 minutes.

However, the intensity was felt, and Vancouver’s backline had already looked shaky from the start of the match. In the 34th minute, Milan Iloski fired a shot at Yohei Takaoka’s net, which the Japanese goalkeeper managed to save. However, Iloski fired another shot on the rebound for his first goal in this historic night.

2️⃣ goals in 2️⃣ minutes for Milan Iloski! ✌️ pic.twitter.com/MtsF747kwC

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2025

Just two minutes after that first goal, Iloski scored his second goal of the match. Onni Valakari found Anders Dreyer with a long pas,s and the Danish playmaker was able to pass the ball to the Escondido native just before a defender made contact.

The pass was perfect from Dreyer, and the finish, a clear goal by Iloski, was also flawless, giving San Diego a 2-0 lead.

Edier Ocampo was able to pull one back for Vancouver in the 42nd minute, but Iloski came back with his hat-trick just a minute after that. Anders Dreyer crossed the ball into the penalty area, and Milan Iloski was there to head the ball into the back of the net.

MILAN ILOSKI HAT TRICK IN NINE MINUTES! 😱

What a way to score the first hat trick in club history. 👏 pic.twitter.com/eaSY4zkuWV

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2025

The hat-trick was a historic one for the 25-year-old forward as it was the first hat-trick in SDFC history and also the fastest hat-trick in MLS history at nine minutes from his first goal of the game. San Diego came away with the 3-1 lead at the half and was clearly the better team on the pitch, doing much more on the ball than the home side.

Iloski was not quite done for the night as he managed to score his fourth goal of the game in the 46th minute. Dryer and Iloski linked up once again as the Danish player found the San Diego native via a perfect through ball.

Iloski gets his FOURTH! 🚨

That’s 4 goals in 12 minutes. 😤 pic.twitter.com/R2UsxEDwk4

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2025

The 25-year-old forward became just the 20th player in MLS history to score four goals in a game. This was also a crucial goal in the game, as Vancouver continued to fight after scoring it.

Mathias Laborda scored for the Canadian team in the 65th minute as he chipped the sphere over CJ dos Santos. The game remained competitive after that goal as possession was nearly split.

Alejandro Alvardo Jr. picked up an injury and was subbed out for Emmanuel Boateng in the 70th minute. Tomas Angel then replaced Alex Mighten in the 79th minute for Mikey Varas’ second change of the game.

Manu Duah, who was the first pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, made his MLS debut for SDFC in the 89th minute, replacing Milan Iloski. Just a minute after that, Tomas Angel scored his second goal of the season to seal the 5-2 scoreline and seal the first-place spot in the MLS Western Conference.

Tomás Ángel seals the victoy for @sandiegofc. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/1vLkfczSPY

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2025

Antoine Coupland made his MLS debut for Vancouver and managed to score a consolation goal for the home side in the final minute of the match.

The big story of the night was clearly Milan Iloski, who became SDFC’s top scorer now with nine goals in the season. After struggling to find a consistent starting  striker, the Escondido native might be the answer to this lineup.

Anders Dreyer also continued his spectacular season with three assists on the year, now leading MLS with 12. The result was impressive, given the key absences in the starting eleven. It was also a very important result given the Western Conference standings.

The first-place San Diego team will play FC Dallas on the road on June 28 before returning home to face Houston on July 5.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 28, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego FC, San Diego Wave. I have covered Liga MX, MLS, Mexico National Team, USWNT, Copa América and European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.