San Diego FC, sitting tenth in the MLS Western Conference, went into their most crucial match of 2026 as they hosted the first-place Vancouver Whitecaps on May 23.
SDFC looked to bounce back from a frustrating 3-3 draw against Cincinnati, after a late-game defensive lapse cost them a chance at three points. San Diego has struggled immensely this season, having only won one match in their last ten.
Starting midfielders Jeppe Tverskov and Anibal Godoy were set to miss the contest, adding another obstacle to SDFC’s match against Vancouver.
The club revealed earlier in the week that Godoy was dealing with a lower-body injury; Tverskov has yet to recover from a leg injury he suffered in the Portland match. The game opened tightly contested, with both sides creating goal-scoring chances early but unable to take advantage of prime scoring opportunities.
“We were able to create various opportunities for ourselves and pushed the ball into dangerous areas, but we were unable to finish the chances we created throughout the game,” right winger Anders Dreyer said.
Vancouver broke the deadlock in the 30th minute after Brian White slotted Thomas Muller’s cross past SDFC goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos, much to the dismay of the home faithful. A second goal 15 minutes later by Vancouver added further to the lead making it 2-0.
“I felt that we started off the game fine,” SDFC coach Mikey Varas said post-match. “When you’re playing against top teams, you can’t afford to make costly mistakes, and unfortunately for us, that’s what we did, and they took advantage of them.”
SDFC quickly scored one back in the 53rd minute after David Vazquez received Dreyer’s pass from just outside the box, beating Vancouver’s goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer to his far post and cutting the lead down to 2-1.
San Diego continued to press for an equalizer with striker Marcus Ingvartsen having the biggest chance in the 59th minute. After a great cross from winger Luca Bombino, an unmarked Ingvartsen’s header drifted wide left, much to the frustration of the crowd and Ingvartsen.
The Whitecaps doubled their lead in the 67th minute, taking advantage of White stealing the ball from Pedro Soma, before playing a cross into Bruno Quiñonez, who would tap in the cross for the Whitecaps third goal of the match.
Things only went downhill for San Diego after Bombino was sent off in the 72nd minute after collecting his second yellow card for a rough challenge on Èdier Ocampo.
“It’s something that we couldn’t afford to happen during games,” Varas said about Bombino’s red card. “I know emotions are running high, but we have to stay level-headed in big games like this.”
Vancouver slotted home its fourth goal of the match in the 75th minute, after Ralph Priso tapped in White’s original headed attempt on goal on a cross by Sebastian Berhalter.
After a minute of stoppage time, 18-year-old Bryan Zamblè scored his second goal of the season, cutting the lead to 4-2. But, the late rally wasn’t enough as Vancouver closed out a 4-2 win and picked up three value points to remain in first place of the Western Conference heading into the break.
“They’re the number one team in the Western Conference, no doubt,” said midfielder Manu Duah. “They punish mistakes and don’t make many themselves. When you make as many mistakes as we did, the scoreline reflects that.”
SDFC’s next match is scheduled for July 22, a home match against the Colorado Rapids at 6:30 p.m., following a break for the World Cup.
