SDFC took their 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One series victory on Sunday night, dominating the visiting Portland Timbers 4-0 in a winner-take-all match at Snapdragon Stadium to book their spot in the Conference Semifinals. 

After splitting the first two matches in the best-of-three series, all that was left was a dramatic winner-take-all game three between SDFC and Portland, with the winner advancing to the Western Conference Semis and the losing club seeing their 2025 season come to an end. 

SDFC opened the series, taking game one at home on Oct. 26, bringing down the Timbers 2-1 with Anders Dreyer and Onni Valakari leading the way for the club’s first-ever MLS Cup Playoff win. 

With a chance to clinch the series and progress in the postseason, SDFC traveled to Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, on Nov. 1 for game two. The Timbers were able to fend off the potential elimination match as they equalized in the 90+8 minute and tied the series after a 3-2 penalty shootout win. 

A dominant ball possession start to game three ended with SDFC’s MVP and the 2025 MLS Newcomer of the Year winner, Anders Dreyer, finding the net within the first five minutes from the kickoff whistle to give SDFC the early 1-0 lead.

Starting from a counterattack, SDFC midfielder Onni Valakari down the left wing whipped in a left-footed cross for Dreyer waiting inside the box as he first touched volleyed in a low-driven shot, rolling past Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis.

SDFC forward Amahl Pellegrino continued where he left off last week, getting back onto the scoresheet on Sunday night in the 17-minute to double up his squad’s advantage. 

Coming off another backpost cross, Pellegrino got his initial header attempt on goal denied, but quickly after meeting the loose rebound, he stabbed the ball into the left side of the goal.

Filling in for injured CJ dos Santos, goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega made the goalline goal-saving play in the 27-minute. A close-range deflected shot off defender Christopher McVey saw the ball heading into the goal, with Sisniega denying Portland’s first goal of the game with his right knee blocking any entry.

SDFC didn’t take their foot off the gas to start the second half, with Amahl Pellegrino doubling up for his second goal of the night to record a brace in the 53-minute and put a no-doubt finish to the series, as SDFC went up 3-0.

On a third backpost cross to set up the goal, with Pellegrino unmarked inside the penalty area. Only this time, Pellegrino didn’t need two attempts, putting a perfectly timed volleyed missile shot into the roof of the net for the third SDFC goal of the game.

The homeside wasn’t done on the attacking end, with Anders Dreyer joining Amahl Pellegrino on the brace list, being serviced by subbed on star forward Chucky Lozano, as Dreyer, with the unmarked in-behind run, finished the play with a first-timed left-footed rocket of a shot into the right side of the goal to put SDFC up big in the 79-minute, 4-0. 

The growing pressure and physicality throughout the series was set off in a moment of frustration in the 80-minute, as Timbers defender Juan Mosquera looked to have made contact with Chucky Lozano’s face following a foul, prompting referee Joe Dickerson to hand out a direct red card for the offense. 

The final whistle blew at Snapdragon Stadium with that 4-0 scoreline as SDFC took the winner-take-all game three win and the series victory to keep their MLS Cup hopes alive, as well as their first-ever trip to the Conference Semis.

Following the 4-0 victory over the Portland Timbers, SDFC head coach Mikey Varas spoke at the post-game press conference on the win and looking ahead to the next round.  

“The most important thing is that we celebrate this, this milestone, because we continue to write history for a brand new club in a city that loves Football. I think that’s the most important thing right now. Then tomorrow, it doesn’t matter what happened in this game tomorrow, we’ve got to start preparing for a totally different test in the next round.”

“And in the next round, it’s not going to look like this round. It’s going to look different. And we’ve got to be up for that challenge, and we will be getting a couple of weeks before you play again.”

“No, beautiful passes from my teammates, Onni (Valakari) and Corey (Baird),” SDFC forward Amahl Pellegrino said on his goals against Portland. “So it’s like I just got the last thing to do, like the finish, and 90% of the goal was from my guys. So, I was just there, and that’s why I scored, because I’m in a good position to score goals.”

SDFC is now headed and hosting the Western Conference Semifinal single-elimination matchup against Minnesota United, with MUFC securing the Round One sweep against the Seattle Sounders to advance.  

SDFC and MUFC split the season series in 2025, with both clubs earning the three points on the road in the two matches.

It’s all set to go down at the home of the number one seed in the West, with San Diego FC taking on Minnesota United at Snapdragon Stadium on Nov. 24, for a 7 p.m. kickoff.