San Diego FC shares MLS expansion points record after 1-1 draw against Atlanta United

After earning a point at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday in a 1-1 draw against the hosting Atlanta United, SDFC ties the MLS expansion record for most single-season points, leveling with 2018’s LAFC. 

SDFC came into their matchday against Atlanta in search of rewriting history, being only a win from overtaking LAFC’s expansion single-season total points MLS record and St. Louis City SC’s expansion total wins tally in an MLS regular season. 

Although both clubs were coming off league losses last Saturday, this first-ever meeting between the two teams couldn’t have been any more different, with SDFC fighting to maintain their top spot in the Western Conference as Atlanta was already eliminated from playoff contention. 

San Diego FC opened the scoring at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the two SDFC stars Anders Dreyer and Chucky Lozano linking up once again to take the lead in the 32-minute.

Coming from a great dispossesion play by Lozano off Atlanta midfielder Steven Alzate right outside the penalty box, Lozano dribbled into the area and laid a pass off for unmarked Dreyer on the opposite side of the goal.

Dreyer finished the chance off with Atlanta goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert unable to get to a shot-saving position in time as SDFC led 1-0.

The MVP campaign continues to grow for Anders Dreyer, as he netted his 15th goal of the season, pushing his goal contribution tally in MLS play to 33.

Lozano also earned his tenth assist on the season. 

The match stayed at a 1-0 scoreline going into the halftime break. Still, it was Atlanta who took the initiative in the second 45 minutes, as they created the most chances and offensive pressure.

Their direct and transitional playstyle paid off in the 60-minute, as CJ dos Santos was late coming off his line in a foot race for a ball inside the penalty area with Atlanta forward Jamal Thiaré, resulting in a tripping and a pointing to the spot by referee Ricardo Montero for Atlanta United. 

Club captain and forward Miguel Almirón buried the penalty chance into the bottom left corner as Atlanta leveled the match 1-1 with roughly 30 minutes remaining.

Atlanta was the team on the front foot searching for the winning goal during the final third of the game, but both backlines were able to withstand the multiple counterattacks as the full-time whistle came and the match ended 1-1.

Following the 1-1 draw against Atlanta, SDFC head coach Mikey Varas spoke at the post-match press conference on his overall thoughts on the match. 

“It's an important point at the end of the season, but we're disappointed with the point. Feels like two points dropped because I think we started pretty decent, good first half, not excellent, but good.”

“Then the second half, we weren't good. We didn't have a good second half, and I think we're fortunate to come out with a point. But we take it. That's part of the learning process. And we'll take the learning lessons from this.”

Defender Christopher McVey earned the man of the match for SDFC.

The draw was enough to get onto the record books for SDFC, as they tied the 2018 LAFC team in most single-season points total by an expansion team at 57 points earned. 

The tie also continued the SDFC road unbeaten streak, having gone the last eight matches away from Snapdragon Stadium without a loss. 

After the shared point with Atlanta, San Diego FC moves up to 57 points on the season with a seventeen-win, eight-loss and six-draw record in 2025. 

For their final regular-season match of 2025 at Snapdragon Stadium next Saturday, San Diego FC squares off against the San Jose Earthquakes, looking to complete the California gauntlet in search of a perfect 6-0 record against their in-state rivals. 

Having beaten LAFC and LA Galaxy twice, and found victory on the road for the first match-up against the Quakes, a win against San Jose will secure the California sweep, all kicking off at 7:30 p.m. on Sept 27, 2025.