Aug 23, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego FC forward Amahl Pellegrino (90) battles Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman (20) in the second half at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Julia Kapros-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – Expansion teams aren’t supposed to do this. They can sneak into the playoffs, sure. Maybe catch fire in the summer, maybe ride a soft schedule. But to be the first team in the entire league to lock up a postseason berth? In year one? That’s the kind of thing that’s supposed to be impossible.
San Diego FC made it look routine Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium.
The 0-0 draw against Portland won’t be remembered for its fireworks. Offense was scarce, chances even scarcer, and three San Diego goals were overturned on video review, including Anders Dreyer’s would-be strike in the 32nd minute. By the final whistle, boos rained down for the officiating. Then the stadium scoreboard lit up with a single word: Clinched.
That one standings point was enough to book San Diego’s place in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the first club to do so this season. At 16-7-5, SDFC sits atop the Western Conference, three points clear of Minnesota, and trails only Philadelphia in the Supporters’ Shield race for the best record in the league.
It’s the latest in a growing list of milestones. San Diego is the earliest expansion team ever to qualify for the postseason. They’ve already set a record with six straight road wins. Dreyer has shattered Carlos Vela’s expansion-year mark for goal contributions with 30. And the team is on the verge of breaking LAFC’s 57-point expansion record from 2018 and St. Louis City’s 17-win tally from 2023.
Still, Saturday carried reminders of how fragile this run can be. Injuries are piling up. Escondido native Corey Baird limped off in the first half with a groin injury. Marcus Ingvartsen remains sidelined, and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano continues to nurse an ankle issue. Even ironman midfielder Luca de la Torre exited before full time.
The Timbers, meanwhile, managed to do what no one had for more than a month: keep San Diego off the scoresheet. Their compact shape frustrated SDFC’s high-pressure attack, forcing head coach Bob Bradley’s squad to settle for half-chances and contested crosses.
But if the draw dampened the night on the field, the clinch lifted it. Fans lingered, waving scarves and singing, savoring a moment that still feels surreal. A year ago, this was all speculation. Now, San Diego is not only a playoff team but a contender.
The stretch run won’t be easy. San Diego travels to LAFC on Aug. 31 before hosting second-place Minnesota on Sept. 13. Three of the final four matches are on the road. The stakes are rising, the injuries are mounting, and the target on their back is bigger than ever.
But the impossible? San Diego FC has made a habit of making that look easy.
