San Diego Smash Shatters MLS Points Record in Heart-Stopping Victory
San Diego FC has secured their place in the history books.
The 30th MLS expansion franchise entered its debut campaign with modest expectations, and apart from some seasoned MLS players and Mexican national team star Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, there was little indication they would achieve success, much less break records.
Jump ahead to Saturday evening and their second-to-last regular season match, and the situation couldn't be more transformed.
Through a 4–2 victory against Houston Dynamo FC, San Diego shattered the expansion season points record, reaching 60 points and eclipsing LAFC's 2018 benchmark of 57 points.
However, they made it dramatic, netting an 89th-minute decisive goal, and depending on one of this season's top breakthrough performers in Anders Dreyer, who netted twice, taking his tally to 17 goals and 18 assists, further establishing himself as an MLS MVP candidate.
The outcome also ended Houston's MLS Cup Playoff hopes.
"You've got to celebrate that achievement," head coach Mikey Varas stated, having guided the team to this historic milestone in his first full-time professional coaching position. "You've got to celebrate that. 60 points. Nobody can strip that from us, it's documented right now until someone else surpasses it, and that's a massive tribute to these players and their dedication. We accomplished it our way."
Diverse Roster Strategy Drives Achievement
While Dreyer's excellence and Lozano's nine goals and 10 assists have spearheaded the squad, it has been a collective achievement, showcasing a thoughtful roster construction that has utilized multiple pathways, from MLS expertise to global talent and the alliance with Danish club FC Nordsjælland, which belongs to the Right to Dream professional and academy network, like San Diego.
Beyond the star pair, the organization has witnessed outstanding seasons from USMNT midfielder Luca de la Torre, defender Luca Bombino, and keeper CJ dos Santos, among others. Through their performances, Bombino has drawn international attention, and Dos Santos has established himself as a crucial MLS starter, despite never holding such responsibility before.
Meanwhile, midfielder Jeppe Tverskov made an immediate impact and represents the first of potentially numerous success stories from Nordsjælland, which may continue providing players to San Diego through their development pipeline.
MLS Cup: Chicago Fire's 1998 Achievement
While San Diego can commemorate the expansion season milestone, their pursuit of the Supporters' Shield regular season championship also concluded on Saturday, as Philadelphia Union secured the trophy heading into the final matches.
However, it's MLS Cup that holds paramount significance, and San Diego could have a legitimate opportunity at the championship, with a possibility to potentially secure first place in the Western Conference on Decision Day, depending on Vancouver Whitecaps FC's results, who have a match remaining.
Should San Diego advance all the way to an MLS Cup championship, they would become only the second expansion franchise to ever capture it, following the path of the 1998 Chicago Fire FC, who accumulated 56 regular-season points before creating history in the playoffs.
"So thrilled for these players. We consistently discuss game changers entering and making an impact, because this concerns the group. It's not about one individual or two individuals; it's not about me. I'm one minor component of this massive undertaking," Varas shared with media.
"We're here to triumph, but how we triumph and with whom we triumph matters, and these players embodied that, and I believe you must celebrate that."
With a top-four position locked in, San Diego will commence the playoffs on Oct. 24 with the opening round, a best-of-three format. Should they claim the Western Conference's top seed, they would maintain home field advantage through the Western Conference championship, before potentially traveling to Philadelphia for MLS Cup on Dec. 6.