Players attack for the ball at Snapdragon Stadium on Sat. March 15, 2025.
Photo: Nate Tubbs/Prost International

San Diego 1 : 1 Columbus Crew

Californian Max Arfsten put himself into the record books as he scored the first ever MLS goal at Snapdragon Stadium in the twelfth minute. That lead lasted until the 70th minute when Finnish substitute Onni Valakari headed in a deserved equaliser.

The dismissal of Crew’s Malte Amundsen allowed San Diego plenty of second-half possession in a battle between two unbeaten sides. They now both have eight points from four MLS games.

SDFC entered the match unbeaten through their first three matches and fresh off a 3-1 road victory against Real Salt Lake on March 8. They are only the second expansion club to remain unbeaten through four games.

The Crew have now secured a four match unbeaten start to their season in consecutive years for the first time in their history.

A leader of ‘La Frontera’ support group for SDFC cheers SDFC as the team takes the field at Snapdragon Stadium on Sat. March 15, 2025.
Photo: Nate Tubbs/Prost International

On a mild March evening, the home side blooded some new recruits. Forward Alex Mighten made his MLS and SDFC debut off the bench, replacing Tomás Ángel in the 67th minute of the match. Defender Willy also made his first SDFC and MLS start while 18-year-old defender Luca Bombino made his first SDFC and professional career start.

With all the changes and having still only played three games together, it was no surprise that Columbus Crew looked composed and professional from kick off, and although San Diego had their moments in the first half, the visitors were well worth their interval lead, slid home cooly by Arfsten.

But when Amundsen hauled down Anders Dreyer on the hour, referee Victor Rivas produced an instant red card for denial of a goal scoring opportunity.

The man advantage allowed San Diego to dominate possession for the remainder of the game and their reward came from a left wing corner, which Valakari rose to head home.

Luca de la Torre took a left wing corner and the Finn rose majestically above all others and directed a superb header into the net.

Anders Dreyer dribbles in the Columbus box at Snapdragon Stadium on Sat. March 15, 2025.
Photo: Nate Tubbs/Prost International

Patrick Schulte in the Crew goal made a few impressive saves to preserve a point for his side.

Although SDFC will be disappointed at not turning a man advantage into a win, the comfort of the players making debuts will please their coach Mikey Varas.

SDFC now head to Texas to defend their 100% road record when they visit Austin FC on Sunday, March 23.

Lineups:

SAN DIEGO FC: GK CJ Dos Santos, D Luca Bombino (Franco Negri, 83’), D Christopher McVey, D Willy Kumado (Jasper Löffelsend, 83’), D Paddy McNair, M Jeppe Tverskov -C-, M Aníbal Godoy (Alejandro Alvarado, 66’), M Luca de la Torre, F Anders Dreyer, F Marcus Ingvartsen (Onni Valakari,46’), F Tomás Ángel (Alex Mighten 67’)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Pablo Sisniega, D Hamady Diop, D Ian Pilcher, F Emmanuel Boateng.

COLUMBUS CREW: GK Partrick Schulte, D Mohamed Farsi, D DeJuan Jones (Aziel Jackson, 88’), D Malte Amundsen, D Yevhen Cheberko, M Darlington Nagbe, M Sean Zawadzki, M Dylan Chambost, F Maximilian Arfsten, F Diego Rossi, F Jacen Russell-Rowe (Andrés Herrera, 66’)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Evan Bush, GK Stanislav Lapkes, D Cesar Perez, M Taha Habroune, M Derrick Jones, M Cole Mrowka.

Statistics:

San Diego: TOTAL SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 12; OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES; 2

Columbus: TOTAL SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 8; OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 6

Referee: Victor Rivas

Yellow/Red Cards:

SD – Tomás Ángel (caution 31’)

CLB – Sean Zawadzki (caution 33’)

CLB – Malte Amundsen (ejection 61’)

CLB – Dylan Chambost (caution 90+1)

CLB – Diego Rossi (caution 90+5)

CLB – Patrick Schulte (caution 90+8)