San Diego FC spoil Son Heung-min home debut with 2-1 victory

San Diego FC winger Anders Dreyer celebrates his game-winning goal against LAFC. (Photo courtesy: San Diego FC)

San Diego beat LA.

San Diego FC beat Los Angeles Football Club 2-1 in Son Heung-min’s home debut in front of a sold-out crowd of 22,937 fans at BMO stadium.

SDFC beat both Los Angeles based teams in all four of their matches, and have a chance to win all their matches against California opponents later this season.

“I think we started well, and they scored a beautiful goal and then I think we showed character again and we bounced back, especially in the first 20 minutes of the second half we completely killed them,” San Diego FC winger Anders Dreyer said. “Then they get the chances at the end of the game and of course that’s natural and that’s how it is, but yeah, three points. It felt the same way like the first game against Galaxy. It was nice to go here again and kill the party.”

The goal by Los Angeles came in the 15th minute during simple buildup play occurred in the midfield while star LAFC forward, Denis Bouanga, sneakily waited in front of the San Diego backline ready to catch them on their heels.

Bouanga got a pass from the midfield easily behind the San Diego defenders and floated the ball beautifully over San Diego’s goalkeeper, CJ Dos Santos, who came off his line to stop the shot.

Hirving “Chucky” Lozano equalized in the 33rd minute. It started with a quick pass by the center back, Paddy McNair, that gave Onni Valakari the ball in the attacking third. Valakari quickly tapped the ball to the right and away from LAFC defenders toward Dreyer.

Dreyer sent a perfect pass over the LAFC players to Lozano making a run behind the LAFC backline. With one defender in front of him Lozano managed to take a strong shot that took an awkward bounce after hitting his opponent leaving the LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris frozen and the score 1-1.

The home team had the better chances over the course of the match, but were missed or stopped by the San Diego defense including an emphatic save by CJ Dos Santos at the end of the first half to stop a shot by Son.

The Korean star created space at the top of the penalty area and got away from a few SDFC defenders before unleashing a shot with his left foot intended for the far post. However, Dos Santos timed his dive perfectly and pushed the speeding ball away well to leave it level.

“You know with [Son], he’s such a fantastic player and he’s played at such a high level consistently over the past several years. He is always a threat and you always have to be ready for him with his qualities and his ability on the ball,” Dos Santos said. “It’s kind of a flash, that’s how quick he is on the ball and I just did my best and was lucky I was there to make the challenge.”

San Diego came out strong to start the second half with great passing and possession indicating there was more left in their offensive tank.

That moment came in the 66th minute with a play that has been employed many times by San Diego. Jeppe Tverskov got the ball in the defensive end and looked up and saw Anders Dreyer ready to make a run through the right side. The pass by Jeppe went deep into the opposing half for Dreyer to receive behind the Los Angeles backline.

Dreyer moved the ball into the penalty area while drawing two defenders to him attempting to stop the chance. Dreyer cut back with his heel and to the left, dropping a defender to the ground, then did it again to create even more space before sending a strong shot toward the near post. The shot deflected off an LA defender into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

San Diego then switched to a more defensive style and structure with 5 players on their backline to seal the victory over 90 minutes and nine added minutes with injuries to players on both sides.

San Diego FC will not play a match next weekend due to an international break. 10 players have been called up to their national team.

San Diego FC’s next match will be at home on September 13, against another strong team in the MLS Western Conference, Minnesota United.