San Diego FC defeat Portland Timbers 2-1 in first playoff game
Credit: Don De Mars/EVT Sports
San Diego FC played its first MLS playoff game in franchise history against the Portland Timbers at Snapdragon Stadium this Sunday, October 26. SDFC finished first in the MLS Western Conference and secured home-field advantage in this first round of the postseason.
San Diego had already defeated Portland 4-0 to end the regular season and was looking for a similar result in this game. The big surprise was that Hirving “Chucky” Lozano was kept off the game-day roster.
Playoff atmosphere at the Snap’ for #SDFC vs. Portland Timbers.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/YK4MEdhhJP
— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) October 27, 2025
Lozano had an internal issue with Mikey Varas and the club and was kept off the roster for the regular season game against Portland, and now for this match as well.
The only change that Varas made to his lineup from the last regular season game was a forced one, given Aiden Harangi’s injury. Harangi was replaced by rookie Ian Pilcher in that right-back slot.
The first half went as expected for San Diego as the Southern California side controlled possession heavily. SDFC finished the opening 45 minutes with 63 percent of the sphere.
After a few frustrating failed attempts at goal, the first goal of the game came for San Diego in the 23rd minute. The scoring play started on a corner kick when the sphere found Manu Duah on the edge of the box after a deflection. Duah fired a powerful strike that smashed the post, and Valakari was there on the rebound to score the first goal of the night.
Right place, right time for Onni Valakari!
The first postseason goal in @sandiegofc history. 👏 // Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/oYT6I8FQKI
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 27, 2025
Euphoria filled the stands at a sold-out Snapdragon Stadium with pyrotechnics and chants of praise by the home fans. The atmosphere was electric on the night, with several thousand spectators arriving more than three hours before kickoff at the confines of the Mission Valley Fortress.
The second goal of the night came quickly after the first in the 30th minute of the game as top scorer Anders Dreyer put his name on the board. The scoring play was very well-constructed with Luca Bombino sending in a pinpoint cross that found Dreyer inside the penalty area. The Danish forward headed the ball into the back of the net to give SDFC a 2-0 lead.
ONE. WAY. TRAFFIC.
Anders Dreyer doubles the lead for @sandiegofc.
📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/HLJXxBRHV4 // Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/Oyr5ObQMR3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 27, 2025
SDFC went on to really control the tempo of the match. However, Portland found an opportunity in the 36th minute after sloppy passing by the home team.
After San Diego lost the ball in midfield, Portland constructed a very high-paced counter-attack that ended with a precise shot by Kristoffer Velde.
San Diego certainly looked like the better team in the first half, as a goal by Amahl Pellegrino was even disallowed due to offside. SDFC not only controlled possession but also had the vast majority of clear-cut scoring chances.
That control spilled into the second half of play for San Diego, even more so in the final 20 minutes of the match. Portland’s Jimer Fory received a second yellow card in the 66th minute, and the visitors were left with 10 men.
While Portland had that urgency to try and get another goal, SDFC was not letting go of the ball with that man advantage. In the 71st minute, Anders Dreyer released a potent shot from range that Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis was able to stop. Onni Valakari was on the rebound, but Pantemis also managed to stop his close-range strike.
SDFC controlled the ball even more effectively in the second half, but struggled to generate dangerous offensive plays.
Varas had made his first substitution of the match in the 58th minute when Luca de la Torre replaced Corey Baird. Then made two more substitutions in the 74th minute as Marcus Ingvartsen and Alex Mighten came on for Onni Valakari and Amahl Pellegrino. Pellegrino picked up an injury that forced his exit from the match.
San Diego managed to keep the slim lead with tight defensive play and heavy possession of the sphere. Portland had a few chances in the match, but they were few and far between.
#SDFC players greeting fans after the match. San Diego defeats Portland 2-1 in the first round of the playoffs.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/MDYdjFUhnQ
— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) October 27, 2025
Some of the more vital players in the match were midfielders Jeppe Tverskov and Anibal Godoy. Both helped really maintain that lead, and with chance creation throughout the match.
This was a significant first win in the playoffs for San Diego, with this being a best-of-three series. SDFC will now travel to Portland to try and finish up this series on November 1.
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.