San Diego FC isn’t just a newcomer — they’re the new standard
Credit: SDFC
Vancouver Whitecaps Recap and FC Dallas Preview
It took San Diego FC twenty matches to reach first place in the Western Conference and on Wednesday, they claimed it with style. Beating number one, Vancouver Whitecaps, at their house is what you would call a ‘Statement Win.’ Time for MLS pundits, media personnel, and fans of other clubs to recognize that SDFC is no longer just a newcomer to the league trying to prove themselves — they’re here and they’re the team to beat. As always, let’s get into it!
Finding Success Despite Mixed Stats, Missing Key Players
Before we get into the incredible individual performance out of Milan Iloski, it’s important to look at how San Diego was able to beat a strong Vancouver team. The game was much closer than the score line indicates.
San Diego FC, typically dominant in possession and ranked second in MLS in that category, found themselves in a more evenly matched battle this time around. Known for dictating the tempo and controlling the ball, SDFC edged out Vancouver by a narrow 51-49 possession margin by the final whistle — a far cry from their usual commanding advantage.
Looking at the possession map, San Diego spent most of their time in their own half. This is not necessarily a bad thing when you control the game but, in this case, Vancouver did a great job of keeping possession in the opposite half. The Whitecaps outshot SDFC 17-12 and won four more corner kicks.
‘Big’ Squad Gets the Job Done
With Luca de la Torre and Anibal Godoy missing out of the lineups due to national team duties, Mikey Varas needed to get creative. Paddy McNair, Chucky Lozano and Marcus Ingvartsen were also unavailable due to injuries. Despite missing key starters, SDFC held Vancouver in check with Pilcher stepping in for McNair, Alvarado replacing his mentor Godoy, and Valakari covering ground in de la Torre’s absence.
So besides stifling Vancouver’s attack, what was the deciding factor between the two teams? A player named Milan Iloski and his ability to finish chances.
He Can’t Stop Scoring
Wednesday’s performance set a lot of new records for individual play and team play. Milan Iloski became the first player in SDFC history to not only score a hat trick but also score four goals in a single game. If you ask him, though, the goal-scoring is a great feeling but Milan is focused more on helping the team win.
Iloski, on loan from Danish club FC Nordsjælland, has been on a tear — scoring seven goals in his last three appearances (just 135 minutes) and nine total on the season in only 292 minutes.
At 25, he’s now the fastest player in MLS history to reach nine goals, shattering Adama Diomande’s 2018 record of 472 minutes with LAFC.
“Yeah of course it’s a great performance from me but ultimately it’s my teammates that I have to give a lot of credit to and the help they do, they get me on the pitch, and I can’t thank them enough,” said Iloski in the post-game interview.
Milan put in a nearly perfect performance. His four goals came on a total of six shots on target. Being a clutch player is subjective. It’s not something you can put in a stat. Iloski’s scoring frequency (measured by total time played this season) is 33 minutes which ranks at the top of the league. With his four goal contribution on Wednesday, Iloski became the top scorer on the SDFC’s roster, making his case to stay in his hometown after his loan ends even stronger.
Individual Honors and Accolades
An amazing individual effort by Iloski landed him the MLS Player of the Matchday. This award was previously given to Anders Dreyer and Chucky Lozano, making SDFC the team with the most players to receive the award. Along with Iloski, Dreyer and Mikey Varas also made MLS’s Team of the Matchday.
5 goals. 3 points. 1st place…
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) June 28, 2025
…Work’s not done tho. pic.twitter.com/QE8xfb9JiT
Dreyer is the most complete player on San Diego’s roster. Not only does he score goals but he creates chances for others. On Wednesday, Dreyer bagged three assists, proving just how valuable he is in all aspects of the game. The additional three assists brought his total to 12 on the season and top of the MLS assist rankings.
Looking Ahead at FC Dallas
With all the recent success, San Diego FC now turn their attention to FC Dallas, who they’re facing for the second time this season.
San Diego FC won 5-0 against FC Dallas the first time they met, on May 3rd earlier this year. It was a dominant performance from the home team that saw Lozano net two goals and one assist. Additionally, that game holds significance in Iloski’s memories as he scored his first MLS goal.
Player Spotlights
FC Dallas were without star player, Petar Musa, last time they faced off against San Diego. The Croatian striker leads the team in the goals and assists categories with six goals and three assists. He’s an elusive player that can lose his defender in a split second and a clinical finisher.
The ever-so-dangerous Argentina striker, Luciano Acosta, will look to make his mark on this game in front of the net. With five goals on the season, the 5-foot-3 132 lb striker shines in the transition. His short stature coupled with the ability to quickly dribble through the defense makes him hard to defend.
San Diego FC are expecting to get Lozano back from a hamstring injury although it remains unclear whether the Mexican international gets the start or sees time off the bench. Lozano has not seen game action since coming off injured in the game against Austin FC on May 31st.
Surely, Iloski cemented himself in the starting role and should see plenty of game action from the start, especially with recent injury news to Ingvartsen. Alejandro Alvarado’s status has not been addressed after he was stretchered off on Wednesday so it may be time for Manu Duah to make his long-awaited regular season start. Additionally, Jasper Loffelsend could see time in Alvardo’s spot.
Recent Form
FC Dallas currently sits in 10th place with a record of 5W/6D/7L. They’ve lost two, drew two and won one in their last five matches. The downward-trending Dallas are second to last in possession percentage. Dallas is simply not playing good football. They are second to last int he Western Division for total shots as well as third to last in goals given up. When a team gives up a lot of goals and doesn’t create enough chances to shoot, it typically spells trouble.
Despite all that, Dallas cannot be taken lightly. Their front four consisting of: Pedrinho, Acosta, Anderson Julio and Musa are capable of scoring at will if presented with a chance. San Diego will need to stay sharp playing out from the back, with Dallas expected to apply pressure high up the pitch. Crisp, precise passing through the midfield and into the final third will be crucial — especially to capitalize on counter-attack opportunities that could decide the match.
There are a lot of firsts in an expansion season, some good, some bad. This Saturday, there will be another first when San Diego FC defends their top position in the Western Conference with hopes of notching another win and climbing closer to first in the supporter’s shield. For those unfamiliar with the term, that means the number one team in the entire league.
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Dmitry Anisimov is a San Diego native who played soccer up to the college level when he represented the SDSU Men’s Club Soccer team. Growing up in San Diego, Dmitry is a fan of all the home teams but he specifically couldn’t wait until San Diego got an MLS team. Once that dream became reality, Dmitry married his love for writing and the game of soccer to portray a voice of the San Diego soccer community. There is a deep-rooted love of soccer culture in San Diego and Dmitry hopes to bring it to light through his pre and post-game coverage of all things San Diego FC.