SDFC starts 2026 with back-to-back MLS wins, topping St. Louis City SC 2–0

Sports Night at Snapdragon Stadium saw SDFC cruise to the 2-0 Sunday night victory over St. Louis City SC, recording back-to-back shutouts to start the 2026 MLS season. 

The Chrome & Azul were coming off their electric and historic 2026 MLS opening day win at home last Saturday, rolling over visiting CF Montréal 5-0 for the club's largest margin of victory. 

SDFC, back at home for their second matchday in the MLS this season, hosted St. Louis City SC, having started the season with a point from an opening-day 1-1 home draw against Charlotte FC. 

Through their first two meetings, SDFC went unbeaten against St. Louis last season, securing four total points off a scoreless home draw and a 2-1 road victory in 2025.

Sunday’s match also debuted SDFC’s 2026 Unprecedented Unity Kit, also known as the Community Kit, featuring ties and detailed designs for the San Diego and Tijuana area.

There were no changes from their previous starting XI last Saturday, with 19-year-old San Diego native goalkeeper Duran Ferree keeping his spot between the sticks for SDFC after an impressive MLS debut clean sheet against CF Montréal. 

To start the match, St. Louis looked to set the tone with strong pressure to battle SDFC's build-up playstyle as the Chrome & Azul were being denied forward passing lanes and time on the ball.

But it only took the first beating of that press for SDFC to showcase their dangerous countering play, as star forward Anders Dreyer put his squad up within three minutes of the opening whistle.

After getting past the early press, Onni Valakari drove into the attacking half with the player advantage, and a setup inside the penalty box pass by forward Marcus Ingvartsen saw Dreyer volley his left-footed shot into the left side of the net for the 1-0 SDFC lead. 

A first goal of the 2026 season for the 2025 MLS Newcomer of the Year winner, Anders Dreyer, as Ingvartsen recorded his second assist in two games. 

Dreyer's goal on Sunday made him the second fastest player in MLS history to reach the 20 goal & 20 assist mark, only behind Inter Miami's Lionel Messi. 

SDFC took that narrow 1-0 lead into the halftime break, with St. Louis not showing many signs of getting on the scoresheet through the first 45-minutes as the SDFC backline managed to go their third straight half without conceding a goal. 

In the 54-minute, Anders Dreyer returned the favour for Marcus Ingvartsen, assisting him for the second SDFC goal of the night to double up their advantage.

The goal came off a scrappy dribbling run by Dreyer, getting past multiple St. Louis defenders as he slipped in a through-ball pass near the goal area for Ingvartsen. He did the rest by putting his shot between veteran goalkeeper Roman Burki’s legs and into the goal for the score.

A great start to the 2026 season for Ingvartsen, with back-to-back matches recording a goal and an assist. As well as Dreyer starting to stack those assists early in the year, with his third in the first two games.

St. Louis was inches away from flipping the final minutes of the match upside down, with subbed on forward Cedric Teuchert getting his attempt on goal denied off the goal line by a left-footed stabbing clearance from defender Kieran Sargeant in the 83-minute.

The final whistle blew at Snapdragon Stadium with SDFC taking all three points on Sunday night from their fully controlled 2-0 victory over St. Louis, having held the lead since the 3-minute of the kickoff whistle. 

Another impressive performance from the SDFC backline and goalkeeper Duran Ferree, earning back-to-back clean sheets, having not allowed an opposition goal to start the MLS season. 

At the postgame press conference following the 2-0 Sunday night victory over St. Louis City SC, SDFC head coach Mikey Varas spoke on his squads’ mentally and the early converted chances in the first two matches. 

“We show up every day, in terms of making sure we have a no regret mentality. From the moment we get out of the car, to the moment we get back in our car, we make sure we do everything possible so that we're as prepared as possible to give ourselves a chance to win the game.”

"Wanting to play with initiative and always going after the game to score goals and having that mentality that we want to impact the flow of the game right away, and we want to get after it early and often”.

After back-to-back home matches to start their MLS campaign, SDFC heads on the road for matchday three as they visit Sporting Park next Saturday, March 7, to face off against Sporting Kansas City, kicking off at 5:30 p.m.