San Diego FC look to remain undefeated vs. Columbus Crew at home
Credit: San Diego FC
San Diego FC will host Columbus Crew at Snapdragon Stadium this Saturday, March 15, for a 2025 MLS regular season game. This will be the fourth matchday of the 2025 season, and SDFC remains undefeated with two wins and a draw from three games played.
San Diego is coming off a very impressive 3-1 road victory against Real Salt Lake in a game where Hirving Lozano was unavailable.
“Chucky” unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury in the home opener against St. Louis City and missed the last match. Head coach Mikey Varas has already confirmed that the Mexican international will not be available for this game.
Paddy McNair had to be substituted early in the last game against Salt Lake, but Varas confirmed he will play against Columbus Crew. McNair and the entire SDFC backline have been a huge positive to start the season, with just one goal allowed in three games.
Goalkeeper CJ dos Santos was finally tested properly in the last game against Salt Lake and fared well against the challenge. The former Inter Miami goalkeeper had five saves against RSL and was one of the key players in that victory.
Another key player with Lozano’s absence was Anders Dreyer, who scored his third goal of the season in Utah. Dreyer made his second MLS Team of the Matchday with his performance against Real Salt Lake and is expected to have a massive role in San Diego’s attack moving forward.
Nutmeg Spice is back on the menu, BOYS
Anders Dreyer makes it 2-1, San Diego pic.twitter.com/cirtQsSQfj
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) March 9, 2025
Mikey Varas played with a front three of Dreyer, Tomas Angel and Marcus Ingvartsen without “Chucky”. Ingvartsen, who is usually a target man striker, played on the left wing, which worked in this game, but there was speed, mobility, and creativity lost without Lozano there.
Invartsen scored in that match against Salt Lake along with Argentine defender Franco Negri, who had a massive game. Tomas Angel picked up his second assist on the season, so it will not be surprising to see him in the starting 11 against Columbus Crew.
Columbus Crew is also undefeated in three MLS games this seaso, but is coming off a scoreless draw against Houston Dynamo. Along with that draw, the team from Ohio has defeated Chicago Fire and New England Revolution.
The Crew was also eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup recently by LAFC. Columbus defeated the Los Angeles club 2-1 at home but suffered a 3-0 defeat in the first leg of this series.
Jacen Russell-Rowe and Diego Rossi have been the focal points of this attack, with six combined goals in all competitions this year. Losing Cucho Hernandez and Christian Ramirez was significant for this team heading into this season, but the offense has been productive.
Wilfried Nancy leads a very orderly team, and at the center of this is veteran midfielder Darlington Nagbe. The former USMNT midfielder has been a very consistent MLS player for well over a decade and has the potential to be a challenge for Jeppe Tverskov and the SDFC midfield.
San Diego was unable to score in the home opener against St. Louis, and fans will be looking for a much different outcome. SDFC will also be looking for a different outcome in the stands with an unfortunate discriminatory chant heard in the opener.
The club will take measures in this match to try and eradicate this chant, with offenders facing possible ejection from Snapdragon Stadium. FIFA’s three-step protocol will also be in effect, which means the match has the potential to be suspended if the discriminatory chants persist.
The home opener was a joyous, euphoric event for the most part, and the hope is that the positives from that night stay consistent throughout the season.
Where to watch
The San Diego FC vs. Columbus Crew game set for this Saturday, March 15, (7:30 p.m. PST) can be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
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.