Enlargement membership San Diego FC will look to construct on a historic opening win after they play their first-ever dwelling match in opposition to St. Louis Metropolis on Saturday evening.
San Diego (1-0-0, 3 factors) pulled off one of many largest upsets in league growth historical past, defeating the defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy 2-0 in Carson, Calif., on Sunday due to a pair of second-half targets by Anders Dreyer.
Coach Mikey Varas acknowledges that as shocking because the opening win was, he views it as a mere appetizer in comparison with the feelings of greater than 30,000 followers who’re anticipated to look at the primary dwelling match for the league’s thirtieth membership.
“All of us are honored by the chance,” Varas mentioned, “and on the finish of the day, we additionally cherish the accountability that comes with it. And it is a huge accountability, as a result of we all know the membership shall be right here 100 years from now, however we cannot. However the steps that we take now are going to be pushing this membership on a trajectory.”
Enlargement golf equipment sometimes wrestle to contend for the playoffs of their first season. Belying that assertion, nonetheless, is Saturday’s opponent. St. Louis completed atop the Western Convention in its inaugural marketing campaign simply two seasons in the past.
However St. Louis (0-0-1, 1 level) regressed in 2024 partially resulting from a dismal 1-8-8 away report that led to the midseason dismissal of supervisor Bradley Carnell. His successor, Olof Mellberg, has made enhancing that away report one in every of his first targets within the membership’s third season.
“I do not assume we must always examine an excessive amount of with final season,” Mellberg mentioned. “We have labored actually laborious this week with a extremely good sport plan for Saturday’s sport, and we really feel assured in that. And I feel that is what the gamers want, to really feel that they’ve plan.”
Mellberg’s squad settled for a scoreless draw in opposition to the visiting Colorado Rapids in its opener, regardless of dominating the circulation of the sport.
Joao Klauss and Simon Becher every pressured Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen into a number of saves, and St. Louis goalkeeper Roman Burki was not pressured to make a single save.
–Subject Stage Media