SDFC becomes the fastest expansion team to clinch a Playoff spot since the 2009 Seattle Sounders.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025) – San Diego FC (SDFC) clinched its first-ever spot in the 2025 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs after a 0-0 draw against the Portland Timbers at Snapdragon Stadium. SDFC is the first team in MLS to secure a Playoff berth this season and the fastest expansion club to reach the postseason (28 matches) since the 2009 Seattle Sounders (29 matches).
SDFC earned another point in the standings with the draw and remained in first place in the Western Conference. The Club scored twice in the first half, but both goals were disallowed following Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews. The result keeps SDFC in the Supporters’ Shield race, currently sitting second with 53 points, level with the Philadelphia Union (54).
SDFC heads back on the road on Sunday, Aug. 31, for a match against LAFC at BMO Stadium. The match will air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with English-language radio coverage on San Diego Sports 760 AM and Spanish-language coverage on TUDN 1700 AM.
Postgame Notes:
· With tonight’s 0-0 draw against the Portland Timbers, SDFC clinched a spot in the 2025 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in its inaugural season.
· SDFC also became the fastest expansion club to secure a playoff berth (28 matches) since at least the 2009 Seattle Sounders (29 matches), excluding the shortened 2020 season (with expansion clubs Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF).
· SDFC remains in first place in the Western Conference standings with 53 points and a 16-7-5 record.
· SDFC now sits in in second place in the Supporter’s Shield race behind the Philadelphia Union (53 points).
· The Club also sits just four points shy of LAFC’s expansion points record (57 in 2018).
· SDFC is 7-3-5 at home this season.
· SDFC is 14-5-4 against Western Conference teams this season.
· SDFC dominated possession, holding 62% of the ball compared to Portland’s 38%.
· SDFC had 627 passes completed compared to Portland’s 335.
· SDFC continues to lead the league in passes completed with 14,669.
· Tonight’s 0-0 draw marked SDFC’s 10th cleansheet of the season. Opponents have held SDFC scoreless only three times this year.
· Goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos earned his ninth clean sheet of the regular season and 10th across all competitions.
· Defender Christopher McVey made his third-straight start for SDFC tonight in MLS Regular Season play after missing the Club’s two previous MLS matches.
· Tonight’s Man of the Match, defender Manu Duah, made his sixth MLS start and eighth appearance for SDFC. He has a total of 11 appearances with the Club across all competitions. He played in three Leagues Club matches heading into tonight’s match.
· Forward Anders Dreyer has started in all 28 SDFC MLS Regular Season matches this season.
· Defender Pedro Soma made his second MLS appearance when he came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute for Luca De La Torre. He made his SDFC debut during SDFC’s 2-1 win against San Jose Earthquakes last week. Soma made his SDFC debut on Aug. 5 coming on as a substitute in a Leagues Cup match against Mazatlán F.C.
· Forward Corey Baird made his SDFC debut tonight as part of the Starting XI. He was on the 18-man roster for the match against Sporting KC on Aug. 9 and in last week’s match against San Jose Earthquakes. Baird was acquired by SDFC on Aug. 6. He left in the 42nd minute of tonight’s match with an injury.
· Newcomers Leo Duru and Amahl Pellegrino were on the 18-man roster tonight for the first time for SDFC after both being acquired earlier this week.
· Duru made his SDFC and MLS debut when he came on as a substitute for Franco Negri in the 52nd minute.
· Pellegrino made his SDFC debut when he came on in the 82nd minute for forward Hirving “Chucky” Lozano.
· Goalkeeper Duran Ferree appeared on the 18-man roster for the fifth-straight match tonight after returning from loan with sister club FC Nordsjælland in Denmark. It was Ferree’s third time on the SDFC 18-man roster for an MLS match.
Next Game
SDFC will next visit Southern California rival LAFC on Sunday, Aug. 31 at BMO Stadium in MLS Regular Season action live 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 (16-7-5, 53 pts) vs. Portland Timbers (10-9-8, 38 pts)
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025 – Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego, Calif.)
Misconduct Summary:
SD – Luca de la Torre (caution, 25’)
SD – Anders Dreyer (caution, 33’)
SD – Christopher McVey (caution, 70’)
Lineups:
SAN DIEGO FC: GK CJ Dos Santos; D Franco Negri (Leo Duru, 52’), D Christopher McVey, D Manu Duah, D Luca Bombino; M Jeppe Tverskov -C-, M Onni Valakari, M Luca De La Torre (Pedro Soma, 82’); F Hirving “Chucky” (Amahi Pellegrino, 82’), F Anders Dreyer, F Corey Baird (David Vazquez, 42’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Duran Ferree, D Ian Pilcher, D Paddy McNair, M Anibal Godoy, F Emmanuel Boateng
TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 1; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES; 2
PORTLAND TIMBERS: GK James Pantemis; D Dario Zuparic, D Finn Surman -C-, D Jimer Fory, D Juan Mosquera; M David Da Costa, M David Ayala, M Felipe Carballo (Diego Chara, 83’); F Matias Rojas (Antony, 60’), F Kristoffer Velde (Ariel Lassiter, 69’), F Kevin Kelsy (Felipe Mora, 60’)
Substitutes Not Used: D Eric Miller, GK Maxime Crepeau, M Cristhian Paredes, D Ian Smith, M Joao Ortiz
TOTAL SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 6; OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 1
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistant Referees: Chris Wattam, Stefan Tanaka-Freundt
Fourth Official: Victor Rivas
VAR: Greg Dopka
AVAR: Craig Lowry
Weather: 76-degrees, partly cloudy
Attendance: 27,810
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
