SDFC falls to Real Salt Lake 4-2
Credit: San Diego FC
San Diego FC’s winless streak extends to six games after another frustrating performance in Utah.
SAN DIEGO — Five minutes into the game, SDFC already found themselves in trouble. A blunderous kick from Duran Ferree mixed with hustle from Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna resulted in a gifted goal. That goal set the tone for a game that San Diego, and especially Ferree, wants back.
Diego Luna, that was wild 😱
📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/qtmtgJxfmQ pic.twitter.com/1qd7Qblbi9
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 19, 2026
The San Diego goalkeeper’s nightmare start was continued just a minute later in the sixth as an incoming header couldn’t be stopped. RSL’s Sergi Solans finished on a well-delivered cross, creating a dream start for Utah fans. Ferree did manage a nice stop on Solans’ next shot attempt, but the shots would continue pouring in.
Down 2-0 in the first 10 minutes is a tough pill to swallow for any side. Given the existing struggles with red cards while on the coldest streak in club history, SDFC had its work cut out to fight back.
Marcus Ingvartsen got in that fight early, finishing a nicely put-together attack to get San Diego back within one.
Marcus Ingvartsen pulls one back for @sandiegofc 🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/p7vvst8MbC
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 19, 2026
The defense, missing Christopher Mcvey, was on its heels amid consistent Salt Lake attacks. Sergi Solans would go on to find another goal in the 37th minute. The Spaniard was ferocious tonight; this third goal was a header with serious pace. Solans did look microscopically close to being offside, but the goal would stand.
Before the first half was over, Salt Lake found another goal, sending San Diego to the lockers in shock.
The positives from tonight
Anders Dreyer would score on a penalty in the 66th minute, but that would be the rest of the scoring in the match.
What SDFC can take away from this loss is that they did not get another red card. While they were outpaced in the first half, San Diego would finish the game holding more possession time.
This is a Salt Lake team that is as hot as any in the MLS right now. They are currently tied for third in the Western Conference at 5-1-1, with their tie coming against SDFC in March. This is a team that San Diego knows it can compete with, and there is still a lot of soccer ahead of them.
Next for San Diego FC
McVey’s return to the midfield will be important to San Diego’s chance to bounce back on April 22 against the Houston Dynamo. Houston is currently below SDFC in the standings with two wins on the season so far.
They remain at 11 points, which is good for 9th place in the West right now. After their road match against Houston, they’ll be back at Snapdragon to take on Portland.
The Timbers, who SDFC felled in the MLS playoffs last season, have also been off to a slow start. The next two months will be an opportunity for San Diego to separate itself from the middle of the pack, as they don’t face too many top squads.
Nate Tubbs is a recent graduate of Journalism at San Diego State University. In his time at SDSU, he wrote and photographed several different sports for Aztec Link, the school’s NIL collective. He also co-hosted a weekly podcast featuring Aztec athletes, sharing their stories and goals for the season. Tubbs is passionate about photography, storytelling, and most of all, San Diego sports.