SANDY, Utah — In an electrifying match, San Diego FC emerged victorious with a 3-1 win against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night, marking a noteworthy triumph for the expansion team. Anders Dreyer, shining in his debut season with San Diego, found the net on his own during the first minute of second-half stoppage time. This was Dreyer’s third goal, showcasing his vital role in the team. Moments later, Marcus Ingvartsen bolstered the team’s position by scoring an additional goal, sealing the win with a decisive play five minutes later.
Real Salt Lake initially took the lead in the 17th minute with a well-coordinated goal from Ariath Piol, a 20-year-old forward making strides early in his career. Piol capitalized on assists from teammates Dominik Marczuk and Diego Luna. Marczuk marked his first assist of the season, contributing to his second in a budding 10-match career, while Luna recorded his first of the season, adding to his impressive tally of 16 assists over four seasons.
San Diego equalized right before the halftime whistle courtesy of Franco Negri’s effort in the 43rd minute. This goal, Negri’s first in his professional career, came after his previous stint with Inter Miami last season. Tomás Ángel provided the assist, the second of his nascent career, having initially featured in matches with Los Angeles FC.
San Diego’s goalkeeper, CJ dos Santos, made critical contributions, thwarting five attempts on goal in what was his third start for the team. Dos Santos, with prior experience from his time at Inter Miami, has shown promise early in San Diego’s campaign. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake’s Rafael Cabral, in his own right, demonstrated resilience with five saves during his third start.
This match adds to Real Salt Lake’s historical journey with a record of 9-4-3 when encountering expansion clubs in Sandy for the first time. Despite their initial lead, Real Salt Lake, under coach Pablo Mastroeni, now holds a 35-6-12 record while leading in matches since Mastroeni’s tenure began four seasons ago.
Looking ahead, Real Salt Lake is set to visit Houston Dynamo on Saturday, whereas San Diego FC will host the Columbus Crew in their next clash, further anticipating to build on their recent victories.
