San Diego FC hosted Real Salt Lake for a game in the 2026 MLS regular season this Sunday, March 22. San Diego was coming off suffering elimination in the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Toluca and really needed a positive result for a momentum shift.

The only surprising move in Mikey Varas’ starting lineup was seeing David Vazquez get the start over Anibal Godoy.

For the kids. For San Diego. pic.twitter.com/rh0Djm9vuq

— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) March 22, 2026

San Diego dominated possession as expected to start the game, but suffered an early deficit in the 16th minute. Juan Manuel Sanabria crossed the ball into the box and found Sergi Sloans, who headed the ball into the back of the net.

SDFC kept pressing after conceding that goal, and it paid off as Ingvartsen tied the score in the 27th minute. The scoring play started from a free kick as Dreyer whipped the ball into the penalty area.

After a bounce and a rebound, Ingvartsen was there to put the sphere in the back of the net and tie the game. Neither team was really able to do much offensively after San Diego’s goal as the game grew stagnant for the remainder of the first half.

Marcus levels it. pic.twitter.com/hoHEzBxg8R

— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) March 22, 2026

Both teams seemed to have more drive to begin the second half of play. In the 54th minute, Morgan Guilavogui shot on goal, but Duran Ferree was able to stop the strike.

A minute later, SDFC launched an attack with Anders Dreyer finding the back of the net. Dreyer chipped the ball over Rafael Cabral to score and give San Diego the early 2-1 advantage in the second half.

Anders Dreyer with a cheeky finish 🔥@sandiegofc takes the lead over RSL. pic.twitter.com/5m8BjFw2e7

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 23, 2026

Varas made his first changes of the game in the 63rd minute when Wilson Eisner and Anibal Godoy came on for Oscar Verhoven and David Vazquez. While the game plan was there for Vazquez to configure more on the attacking side of play, the young midfielder struggled to build much in the offense.

Varas made his third substitution of the match in the 73rd minute when Lewis Morgan replaced Amahl Pellegrino. Duran Ferree came up with another significant save towards the end of the match off a corner kick play by the visitors.

The young goalkeeper had a busy afternoon, but was unable to help San Diego maintain the slim lead. In the 85th minute, Victor Olatunji provided the tying goal for the visitors. Morgan Guilavogui provided the assist on the play, crossing the sphere into the box to find Olatinji.

Victor Olatunji scores for @realsaltlake! 💥

Tie game late in San Diego: https://t.co/1O3Rp4WAEf pic.twitter.com/1AzV8kW0JX

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 23, 2026

After that goal, Christopher McVey was sent off for a second consecutive game. McVey had received a red card in the midweek match against Toluca and was expelled yet again after his second yellow card of the game.

Down to 10 men, it was very difficult for San Diego to capitalize on anything offensively. However, RSL also struggled to generate any clinical opportunities in the dying minutes of the match.

Ferree had another key save towards the end as he stopped a header by Olatunji. Eight minutes were added in stoppage time, but neither team was able to find the net in what ended in a 2-2 draw.

This was a disappointing result for SDFC, considering the home-field advantage and the hot start to the MLS campaign at Snapdragon Stadium. After three consecutive wins at the Mission Valley Fortress, this is the first time this season that San Diego fails to win at home.

The offense only provided two shots on target in this match, which is usually not enough to get a win. The offense struggled severely at Toluca and had another underwhelming performance to follow that up.

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.