San Diego FC beat LA Galaxy and returning Chucky Lozano 3-1
San Diego FC star right winger Anders Dreyer earned all three assists in the team’s 3-1 win against Los Angeles Galaxy. (Emmanuel Alonso/Sandiego.futbol)
San Diego FC beat Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 on Saturday night in front of an announced crowd of 27,971 at Snapdragon Stadium. Two San Diego left wingers scored and newest starting left back Kieran Sargeant also got on the scoresheet with a strong performance.
The match was highly anticipated for the return of San Diego FC’s former face of the franchise, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, for the first time in San Diego since Lozano scored the lone goal in San Diego’s Western Conference final loss last season. The club announced ahead of the 2026 season that Lozano would not be a part of the club’s sporting plans. San Diego tried to transfer Lozano then, but were unable to until August to the Galaxy. The agreement is a loan through the remainder of the 2026 season with an option for the Galaxy to purchase the contract at the end of the season.
From before the match kicked off many San Diego fans made their voices heard as they booed Lozano every time he touched the ball during warmups, and continued to do so throughout the match.
The first goal of the night for San Diego came in the 11th minute and started with a corner kick from the left side taken by Anders Dreyer. The service went over the area to the left wing of the pitch which was recovered by Onni Valakari. The center forward sent in another cross that passed Elias Achouri in the middle of the penalty area for Dreyer who passed the ball back to the middle for Achouri to knock in for the 1-0 lead.
Los Angeles didn’t create any clear scoring chances the rest of the half succumbing to San Diego’s dominant possession-heavy style that kept them on the back foot.
The Galaxy had their best chance of the half at the end of the first half with a counter attack that ended with a chance for Marco Reus at the top of the penalty area without a defender. Reus sent in a strong shot, but CJ Dos Santos made a great save keeping the score at
The save brought positive momentum that carried into the first half with the home side earning a goal in the 48th minute from their newest starting left back.
Kieran Sargeant made a stop defending in the left back position, then passed the ball to his right allowing play to develop before rushing down the pitch into the penalty area to get open for a cross from Dreyer. Sargeant did not need to do much tapped in the chance in front of the left post to make it 2-1.
Then two minutes later the match came to a screeching halt as SDFC CaptainJeppe Tverskov earned his second yellow card of the night for a hard tackle against Lozano during a Galaxy counter. The first yellow card also came via a strong tackle against Lozano. Mikey Varas and Amahl Pellegrino went on to criticize what they believed were inconsistencies in the call by the referee, Tori Penso.
“It takes guts man. It takes resilience. It takes belief in yourself. It takes a mentality of not feeling sorry for yourself and making excuses, but just getting on with it and finding ways to suffer together in the right way,” said Mikey Varas on playing with 10 men. “Then to still have that feeling to be on the front foot, finding moments to stay on the front foot. Can you press a little higher, can you have a longer possession, can you threaten an attack? That’s what I’m most happy about.”
Only five minutes later the Galaxy took advantage of the numbers with a goal by San Diego’s former superstar. Galaxy were trying to send in a cross, and Manu Duah tried to clear the service in, but inadvertently put it in a great spot for Lozano to smash in making it 1-1.
Still following that San Diego played sound defense, while still appearing dangerous on the attacking end of the pitch. The home side went on to score one more in the 70th minute with a goal from Amahl Pellegrino, the left winger who originally took Lozano’s spot in the starting eleven into the 2025 MLS Playoffs.
Pellegrino provided energy to the Wave offense, and as Pellegrino got open near the opposing goal post, Dreyer sent in another perfect cross similar to the service to Sargeant earlier in the match. However, this pass remained on the floor as Pellegrino kicked the shot in to make it 3-1.
San Diego plays their next match on the road against Orlando City, and will return to Snapdragon Stadium for a Wednesday, September 9, match against the San Jose Earthquakes.
