San Diego FC Stuns LAFC With 89th-Minute Winner

Cristina Burgos

Los Angeles FC dominated the pressure, created chances and had Son Heung-Min at the center of the attack. But when the moment arrived, San Diego FC delivered the knockout punch.

San Diego stunned LAFC 1–0 with a late penalty from Anders Dreyer in the 89th minute, turning a scoreless battle into a dramatic victory and leaving the home side with nothing to show for its late push.

The first half was a tactical fight with neither team willing to give the other an easy opening. Son looked dangerous from the start, while Denis Bouanga continued to provide LAFC with another attacking outlet. But San Diego's defense stayed organized, and both teams went into halftime still searching for the breakthrough.

LAFC increased the pressure after the restart.

Son tested San Diego's defense with another effort, Ryan Hollingshead came close with a header, and Bouanga forced a save from goalkeeper CJ dos Santos. The chances were beginning to arrive, but the goal remained elusive.

As the clock continued to disappear, the tension inside the stadium grew.

Son kept demanding the ball. Bouanga kept attacking. LAFC kept pushing forward.

But San Diego waited for its opportunity.

That opportunity came in the 89th minute.

LAFC conceded a penalty, and Dreyer stepped up with the pressure of an entire match resting on one kick. He calmly sent his left-footed penalty into the corner, giving San Diego a stunning 1–0 lead with virtually no time left for LAFC to respond.

The final minutes became chaotic.

LAFC threw numbers forward. Son delivered a dangerous corner. Nkosi Tafari sent a header just wide, while Mathieu Choinière saw another effort blocked.

Then, in the seventh minute of stoppage time, Bouanga had one final opportunity.

His shot missed.

San Diego survived.

And moments later, the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Dreyer received a second yellow card. But it did not matter anymore. The damage had already been done.

Final: LAFC 0, San Diego FC 1.

For LAFC, it was a devastating ending to a match in which the team had spent much of the second half searching for the winning goal.

For San Diego, it was a victory built on discipline, patience and one perfectly executed moment when the pressure was at its highest.

Son had the spotlight.

LAFC had the chances.

But San Diego had the goal that mattered.

And in a match decided by the smallest of margins, that was enough to steal the night.