Ian Pilcher scored in the second half to help SDFC remain atop the Western Conference standings; Media assets, match notes and postgame quotes are available below
Ian Pilcher scored in the second half to help SDFC remain atop the Western Conference standings.
AN DIEGO (Saturday, July 19, 2025) – San Diego FC (SDFC) played to a 1-1 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Snapdragon Stadium in the second of three consecutive MLS regular season home matches. SDFC came from behind to earn a point and remain atop the Western Conference standings, with defender Ian Pilcher providing the equalizer.
Vancouver took a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute when a Vancouver pass deflected off defender Manu Duah and into his own net following an initial save by goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega. The visitors took the 1-0 lead into halftime, but Pilcher leveled the match in the 79th minute with a left-footed strike from just inside the penalty area, leaving Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka with no chance. Pilcher’s goal, along with a key late save by Sisniega, helped SDFC remain in first place with the draw against second-place Vancouver in the second meeting between the clubs.
SDFC continues its homestand on Friday, July 25 against Nashville SC, followed by its first-ever participation in Leagues Cup on Tuesday, July 29 against LIGA MX side Pachuca CF. Kickoff for the match against Nashville is set for 7:30 p.m. PT, with live coverage available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and English and Spanish radio broadcasts on San Diego Sports 760 AM and TUDN 1700 AM. Tickets for both matches are available at SanDiegoFC.com/Tickets.
Goal Scoring Plays:
VAN 0-1 – Manu Duah (Own Goal), 40th minute: Vancouver took a 1-0 lead when a ball bounced off SDFC defender Duah and into his own net. Vancouver’s Mathias Laborda tried to get a rebound to Brian White when the ball hit Duah after an Edier Ocampo shot was blocked by SDFC goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega.
SD 1-1 – Ian Pilcher (Luca Bombino) 79th Minute: Pilcher tied the match with a left-footed shot from just inside the box to beat Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka. Bombino fed Pilcher with a quick touch before Pilcher charged on the ball for his left-footed volley.
Postgame Notes:
· With tonight’s 1-1 tie against Vancouver Whitecaps, SDFC earned its fourth tie in Club history and its fourth tie at home.
· SDFC is now 13-7-4 with 43 points through 24 games this season and currently sits in first place in the Western Conference standings.
· SDFC held 59% possession compared to Vancouver’s 41%.
· SDFC completed 565 passes to Vancouver’s 340.
· SDFC is now 12-5-3 against Western Conference rivals this season.
· SDFC is now 6-3-4 at home this season.
· SDFC is 3-6-2 when allowing a goal first.
· SDFC is 1-5-2 this season when trailing at halftime.
· SDFC is now second in MLS in scoring with 47 goals. Inter Miami CF leads with 49.
· Defender Ian Pilcher scored his first goal with SDFC on his sixth start for the club this season. It was also his first MLS goal.
· Defender Luca Bombino helped set up Pilcher’s goal with an assist, his fourth of the season.
· Defender Manu Duah made his second start for SDFC and fourth appearance, also his second MLS start and fourth appearance.
· Goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega made his third consecutive start for San Diego FC, marking his 54th MLS regular season appearance. He debuted for the club on July 12 in a 2-1 win at Chicago Fire and also started in the 1-0 loss to Toronto FC on July 16.
· SDFC was without eight players tonight: Willy Kumado, Anisse Saidi, Marcus Ingvartsen, Aníbal Godoy, Paddy McNair, Christopher McVey, Alejandro Alvarado Jr. (on MLS Season-Ending Injury List) and Andres Reyes (on MLS Season-Ending Injury List).
· Defender Christopher McVey missed his first match of the season due to injury, ending his streak of starting and playing every minute in San Diego FC’s first 23 MLS regular season games. He had logged 2,070 minutes — the only SDFC player to feature in every minute of the campaign until that point.
· SDFC’s starting defensive back line featured some of the club’s youngest players tonight: Oscar Verhoeven (19), Pilcher (22), Bombino (19) and Duah (20).
· Forward Emmanuel Boateng made his 220th MLS appearance tonight, coming off the bench in the 84th minute for Tomás Ángel.
Next Game
SDFC will next host Nashville SC on Friday, July 25 at Snapdragon Stadium. Kickoff for the match is set for 7:30 p.m. PT, with live coverage on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, as well as English and Spanish radio broadcasts on San Diego Sports 760 AM and TUDN 1700 AM.
Match Information
2025 MLS Regular Season
San Diego FC (13-7-4, 43 pts) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (12-5-6, 42 pts)
Saturday, July 19, 2025 – Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego, Calif.)
Scoring Summary:
VAN (0-1) – Manu Duah (Own Goal), 40’
SD (1-1) – Ian Pilcher (Luca Bombino) 79’
Misconduct Summary:
SD – Luca Bombino (caution, 11’)
VAN – Edier Ocampo (caution, 44’)
VAN – Mathias Laborda (caution, 51’)
VAN – Belal Halbouni (caution, 90+6)
Lineups:
SAN DIEGO FC: GK Pablo Sisniega; D Ian Pilcher, D Oscar Verhoeven, D Manu Duah, D Luca Bombino; M Onni Valakari, M Jeppe Tverskov -C-, M Luca De La Torre; F Tomás Ángel (Emmanuel Boateng, 84’), F Anders Dreyer, F Hirving “Chucky” Lozano,
Substitutes Not Used: GK CJ Dos Santos, GK Jacob Jackson, D Hamadi Diop, D Franco Negri, F Alex Mighten.
TOTAL SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 2; OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES; 3
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS: GK Yohei Takaoka; D Mathias Laborda, D Ranko Veselinovic -C- (Belal Halbouni, 34’), D Bjorn Utvik, D Edier Ocampo (Tate Johnson, 46’), D Jayden Nelson, D Emmanuel Sabbi (Daniel Rios, 86’); M Sebastian Berhalter, M Andres Cubas, M Jeevan Badwal (Ralph Priso, 57’); F Brian White
Substitutes Not Used: M Jean-Claude Ngando, GK Adrian Zendejas, D Tristan Blackmon, F Nelson Pierre.
TOTAL SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 20; OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 5
Referee: Alexis Da Silva
Assistant Referees: Kyle Atkins, Tyler Wyrostek
Fourth Official: Trevor Wiseman
VAR: Carol Ann Chenard
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
Weather: 67-degrees, Sunny
Attendance: 27,418
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
Credit: San Diego FC
