San Diego FC, San Diego Wave both play to 1-1 draws

ATLANTA, Ga.  — Miguel Almirón powered it past CJ dos Santos on a penalty kick in the 61st minute, Jayden Hibbert made a nice save of Hirving “Chucky” Lozano’s header in stoppage time and Atlanta United played San Diego FC to a 1-1 draw on Saturday in the first-ever matchup between the teams.

Atlanta (5-13-12), which was already eliminated from playoff contention, has only one loss in its last four games.

SDFC (17-8-6), which leads the Western Conference, moved into a tie with the 2018 LAFC team for the MLS expansion record of 57 points. San Diego is also tied with St. Louis for the most wins in a debut season at 17, set in 2023.

“Overall thoughts is we will take the point,” said coach Mikey Varas. “It’s an important point at the end of the season, but we’re disappointed with the point. Feels like two points dropped because I think we started pretty decent, good first half, not excellent, but good. And then the second half, we weren’t good. We didn’t have a good second half, and I think we’re fortunate to come out with a point. But we take it. That’s part of the learning process. And we’ll take the learning lessons from this.”

Anders Dreyer opened the scoring in the 32nd with his 15th goal this season for SDFC. He has 33 goal contributions this season. Lozano stole it deep in Atlanta territory and fed it across the goal for a wide-open Dreyer.

“I think first half was, was a good half. I think we controlled a lot, and they were not dangerous,: said Dreyer of the match. “We were dangerous. And then, because the goal is a good pressure and Chucky played a square pass, and it’s, it’s the opening goal, and it’s nice, but yeah, of course, the thoughts are on our second half, which wasn’t good enough, and that’s something we have to go home and look at.

“It’s nice (to score a goal), but I think right now, which is on my mind, is that we didn’t get the three points. That’s something that is more crucial than scoring goals for me.”

A victory would have made San Diego the first team in MLS history to win eight consecutive road matches. Four other teams have won seven straight away from home, with Cincinnati the last to do so in 2024.

San Diego FC returns home next Saturday to take on the San Jose Earthquakes. The 7:30 p.m. game at Snapdragon Stadium is Fan Appreciation Night.

Wave, Portland play to draw

Portland’s Reyna Reyes scored in the 87th minute, and the Portland Thiorns forged a 1-1 tie with the San Diego Wave late Friday in Oregon.

Savannah McCaskill snapped the Wave’s four-match-plus scoring drought in the 56th minute, when  she punched in a shot from the top of the box. The lead held for 31 more minutes before the Thorns pulled even.

Both teams are now 8-6-7.