San Diego FC visited Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a game in the 2025 MLS regular season this Saturday, September 20. SDFC was coming off a 4-2 win against Club Tijuana in a friendly match, but suffered a 3-1 loss against Minnesota in their last official contest.

Mikey Varas used the exact same starting 11 that was used against Minnesota. SDFC had a few injuries heading into this match and, unfortunately, suffered another one in this match as Luca Bombino left with discomfort late in the clash.

Atlanta is out of the playoff picture and has had a very rough 2025 season. However, Mercedes-Benz Stadium can prove to be a tough place to play. This was not a comfortable match for the visitors as SDFC controlled possession, but Atlanta produced more clear-cut scoring opportunities.

San Diego controlled 65 percent of the sphere in the opening 45 minutes, and that resulted in a goal in the 32nd minute. Hirving Lozano stole the ball away from Steven Alzate near Atlanta’s penalty area. “Chucky” went on to make a pinpoint pass to Anders Dreyer, who calmly put away his 15th goal of the season.

Chucky picks it off. Dreyer finishes it. 😤

San Diego has the lead in Atlanta.

📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/UcHQfSvxvU pic.twitter.com/oVxz3MweUk

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 20, 2025

San Diego held the advantage until the halftime whistle, but the home team remained dangerous with plenty of attacking play. Atlanta looked like the better team at the start of the second half and came very close to scoring in the 57th minute.

Miguel Almiron fired a shot from just outside the box that smashed the crossbar. The attacking play started with a corner kick, and Almiron was able to volley the ball off the rebound.

Shortly after that attempt, Atlanta was awarded a penalty kick as striker Jamal Thiare was taken out inside the box by goalkeeper CJ dos Santos.

Miguel Almiron received an opportunity to redeem himself and scored from the penalty to tie the match 1-1. Despite the error by dos Santos, the American shot-stopper had a significant performance in between the sticks with some key saves.

SDFC really struggled to generate much offensive play in the second half as Atlanta certainly looked like the more dangerous team going forward. However, both teams really struggled to be clinical in front of the net, and the game ended in a 1-1 deadlock between these teams.

This ended a seven-game road winning streak for San Diego, but extends an undefeated road streak to eight games. SDFC has been a force away from home and is three points behind Philadelphia in the Supporter’s Shied race after this result.

San Diego will play its last home game of the regular season this Saturday, September 27, against San Jose. SDFC will then conclude the season with away fixtures against the Houston Dynamo and the Portland Timbers.

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.