San Diego traveled to face FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium this Saturday, June 28, for a game in the 2025 MLS regular season. SDFC was coming off a massive 5-3 win against the Vancouver Whitecaps away from home, which landed a first-place spot in the MLS Western Conference.

Milan Iloski was the big storyline from that massive victory as the Escondido, Calif. native scored four goals against Vancouver. Mikey Varas made only one change from the lineup used in Canada, as Manu Duah replaced Alejandro Alvarado Jr. in the midfield. Alvarado picked up an injury in the game against Vancouver, as Duah received an opportunity to start in his first-ever MLS game.

Hirving “Chucky” Lozano was also back from a muscle injury and started this game on the bench.

It was a very hot and humid day in Dallas, with the game-time temperature coming in at 88 degrees with 53 percent humidity. This made for a slow-paced start to the match, with neither team playing with much offensive intensity.

SDFC controlled possession as expected, with 61 percent of the sphere by the end of the first half. San Diego was awarded a penalty in the 25th minute after Onni Valakari was knocked down in the box by Dallas’ Patrickson Delgado.

Anders Dreyer nets his ninth of the season for San Diego. 💪

📺 #MLSSeasonPass or Apple TV+: https://t.co/zFFP0I9teP pic.twitter.com/tPeNq0f3zv

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 29, 2025

Anders Dreyer scored the opportunity easily from the spot to get the 1-0 lead in this match. FC Dallas had a goal disallowed in the 36th minute as Luciano Acosta was called offside. Acosta seemed to try to cross the ball into the box, but the ball ended up in the back of CJ dos Santos’ net.

FC Dallas received a gift by Manu Duah towards the end of the first half. Duah passed the ball back to the backline, but the attempt was horribly off target, and Petar Musa was able to get to the ball and easily score.

The opening 45 minutes ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams struggling to produce much offensive play. The weather certainly impacted the pace of the match and made for a anticlimactic affair in the first half.

The tempo definitely improved in the second half with much more fluid play from both sides. Manu Duah’s error cost him his playing time as Tomas Angel replaced him to start the second half. Another offside call prevented another goal by FC Dallas in the 54th minute as Bernard Kamungo was caught out of position.

Shortly after that goal, the home side kept the momentum and scored a legitimate goal. Shaq Moore crossed the ball into the box to find Petar Musa in front of San Diego’s net. CJ dos Santos saved Musa’s shot, but Sebastian Lletget was able to score on the rebound.

Mikey Varas really pushed to try and get the equalizer as he made three substitutions in the 71st minute. Franco Negri, Jasper Loffelsend, and Hirving Lozano came on for Luca Bombino, Oscar Verhoeven, and Alex Mighten.

Lozano was fresh off the injury and made an immediate impact, scoring the game-tying goal in the 77th minute. It was great link-up play between Lozano, Iloski, and Dreyer, with Iloski earning the assist on the goal.

Chucky Lozano enters the game. Chucky Lozano ties it up. 👊 pic.twitter.com/arJRb8PXt5

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 29, 2025

“Chucky” started the play himself with an explosive forward run before passing the ball and running into the penalty area. Both teams clearly wanted more from this result and kept on pressing for the winning goal. CJ dos Santos came away with some saves, and spotty finishing allowed SDFC to come away with the game-winner in stoppage time.

San Diego has the lead in stoppage! 😱

Tomas Angel has his third of the year. pic.twitter.com/dFV6uP0ewl

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 29, 2025

The scoring drive was extremely well-crafted, coming from Jasper Loffelsend to Anders Dreyer and into the box to Tomas Angel. It was a perfect finish by Angel, who scored his third goal of the season.

Mikey Varas made the final change of the game in stoppage time as Emmanuel Boateng came on for Milan Iloski. Varas was key to obtaining the three points as two goals came off the bench for San Diego.

Lozano was specifically a key factor as the offense improved massively with his presence in the frontline. There were some highs and lows to San Diego’s game, given the workload from the week and weather.

However, SDFC came away with a dramatic victory with a goal in stoppage time to further cement that first-place position in the Western Conference. San Diego will return home after over a month to face Houston at Snapdragon Stadium 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.