March 1, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego FC midfielder Anders Dreyer (10) kicks the ball against St. Louis CITY SC midfielder Christopher Durkin (8) during the first half at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Abe Arredondo-Imagn Images Anders Dreyer and Marcus Ingvarsen each had a goal and an assist as San Diego FC continued its strong start with a 2-0 win away to St. Louis City SC on Sunday.
Dreyer scored after three minutes off an assist from Danish compatriot Ingvartsen. The roles changed early in the second half when Dreyer assisted Ingvartsen’s finish in the 54th minute for his second goal in as many games.
San Diego goalie Duran Perry made three saves. Roman Burki, a two-time All-Star and 2023 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, made four saves and played in every game for St. Louis against San Diego’s relentless barrage.
Dreyer, who already has one goal and four assists in four games in all competitions for San Diego, leads the way.
The 2025 MLS Rookie of the Year finished second as league MVP behind Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi after scoring 19 goals and 18 assists in his MLS debut.
He had two assists in a 5-0 win over Montreal last season. It didn’t take long for him to open his 2026 league account in the team’s second game.
Onni Valakari dribbled to the center and sent the ball to Ingvartsen, who with one touch sent the ball straight to Dreyer. Dreyer opened his hips and fired a left-footed shot past Burki and into the opposite corner.
With the goal, Dreyer, who has been contributing an average of more than one goal per game since joining the expansion club ahead of last season, again became the second fastest player in MLS history to have 20 career goals and assists, behind Messi.
He almost scored a brace four minutes later, but his right-footed effort went over the crossbar.
Burki blocked Balakary’s header attempt at the near post in the 10th minute of the first half, and Ingvarsen’s attempt two minutes later.
St. Louis almost scored an equalizer in the 23rd minute of the second half. Chris Durkin pushed Miguel Perez into the box and he fed Simon Becher on the doorstep, but the forward failed to finish.
Perez was placed in the starting lineup in place of Marcel Hartel, who scored an assist for Becher in last week’s season-opening 1-1 tie with Charlotte. Hartel, who scored five goals in six recent regular season games, was away from the team to give birth to her second child.
Both teams missed opportunities early in the second half, but Ingvarsen doubled San Diego’s lead in the 54th minute.
Dreyer produced a tremendous individual effort and opened up the St. Louis defense by feigning a left-footed shot attempt and sending a finish to Ingvartsen.
Burki prevented San Diego from adding to the scoresheet, coming off his line at the right time to deny Anahl Pellegrino in the 68th minute and denying him again with a kick save in the 74th minute.
St. Louis nearly halved the deficit in the 83rd when Cedric Teuchert burst into the box and squeezed the ball past Perry, but Kieran Sargent pushed the ball over the line.
San Diego is now 3-0 with two clean sheets in all competitions at home this season, and has outscored opponents Pumas, CF Montreal and St. Louis by a combined 11-1.
–Field level media
