It wasn’t just a goal. It was a statement. In front of a roaring crowd at Snapdragon Stadium on Monday, November 24, 2025, Anders Dreyer unleashed a left-footed thunderbolt that sent San Diego FC to the Western Conference FinalSan Diego — and silenced every doubter who thought an expansion team didn’t belong here. The 1-0 win over Minnesota United FC wasn’t pretty by possession standards. It was brutal in its efficiency. And it was all thanks to Dreyer, the Danish forward who’s become the heartbeat of a team that rewrote the MLS rulebook in its first year.
A Team Built on Grit, Not Glory
San Diego FC didn’t arrive with star power or a billion-dollar budget. They arrived with a plan: build from the inside out. And it worked. Finishing atop the Western Conference with a record 68 points — the most ever by a first-year MLS club — they didn’t just qualify for the playoffs. They dominated them. This wasn’t luck. It was execution. Coach Mikey Varas had said before the match: “I think in the long run that was very beneficial because it’s our first time doing that together as a group. And now we know who we are going into these kind of matches.” He wasn’t just talking about tactics. He was talking about identity.The Goal That Changed Everything
The play started deep in San Diego’s half. A long ball, chased by Corey Baird, the San Diego native who’s played more than 100 MLS matches across six seasons. Baird, with his back to goal, did something almost impossible — a back-heel flick that spun the ball into space like a magician’s card trick. Dreyer, sprinting in from the right flank, didn’t hesitate. One touch. One swing. A left-footed blast that kissed the near post and buried itself past goalkeeper Thor’s hammer — as the MLS YouTube recap put it — was the perfect metaphor. It wasn’t just power. It was precision. The 72nd-minute strike was San Diego’s only shot on target. Minnesota, sitting back with just 39% possession, had spent the entire match waiting for a mistake. They didn’t get one.Dreyer: The Engine Behind the Miracle
This was Dreyer’s fourth goal in the 2025 playoffs. His sixth goal contribution. And now, his 44th total in MLS — 23 goals, 21 assists — in just 38 appearances. He didn’t just score. He carried this team. After returning from Denmark’s World Cup qualifying campaign, he didn’t miss a beat. He was named MLS Newcomer of the Year after a regular season that saw him match goals and assists (19 each). Only he and Finnish midfielder Onni Valakari have played every minute of San Diego’s 35 regular-season and 4 playoff matches. That’s not just durability. That’s devotion.
Minnesota’s Strategy: Play Defense, Hope for Lightning
Minnesota United came in with a blueprint: concede possession, absorb pressure, strike fast. After selling striker Tani Oluwaseyi to Villarreal in the summer, their attack lost its backbone. They held over 50% possession in just five of their 34 regular-season games. Against San Diego, they didn’t even try. They parked the bus. And for 71 minutes, it worked. But football isn’t played in spreadsheets. It’s played in moments. And Dreyer didn’t just score. He exposed the flaw in Minnesota’s philosophy — you can’t defend forever against a team that never panics.A Historic Run, With More to Come
Only twice in the last three seasons has an expansion team finished atop the Western Conference. San Diego FC is now the second to reach the conference final. They’re 2-1-0 all-time against Minnesota United — and this was their most consequential win by far. The team has already shattered attendance records, sold out Snapdragon Stadium for every home match, and turned a city that once had no MLS team into a soccer hotbed. Now, they’re one win away from the MLS Cup Final.
What’s Next? The Unknown Opponent
The Western Conference Final opponent hasn’t been decided yet. Could it be LAFC? The Seattle Sounders? The Dallas Cowboys? No — wait. Dallas. FC. The real question isn’t who they’ll face. It’s whether anyone can stop them. Dreyer is in peak form. Baird, Tverskov, and Valakari are locked in. And Varas has a squad that knows how to win under pressure. This isn’t a Cinderella story. It’s a blueprint.Frequently Asked Questions
How did Anders Dreyer become so dominant in his first MLS season?
Dreyer’s success came from combining European discipline with MLS’s physicality. After playing in Denmark’s Superliga and the Dutch Eredivisie, he brought a clinical finishing touch and relentless work rate. His 19 goals and 19 assists in the regular season weren’t flukes — he took 89 shots, 38 of them on target, and converted at a 21.3% rate, well above league average. His chemistry with Baird and Tverskov was built through daily training, not just matches.
Why is San Diego FC’s expansion success so rare in MLS?
Only two expansion teams in the last 15 years have finished top of their conference: San Diego FC and Atlanta United in 2018. Most new teams struggle with roster depth and tactical cohesion. San Diego avoided this by signing experienced players like Baird and Tverskov, investing in youth development, and letting coach Varas build a system tailored to their strengths — not a copy of other clubs’ styles.
What role did Corey Baird play in the winning goal?
Baird’s back-heel flick was the catalyst. With his back to goal and two defenders closing in, he used his athleticism to redirect the ball into the path of Dreyer — a move that required perfect timing and spatial awareness. It was his third career playoff assist, and it came at the most critical moment. His deep understanding of the team’s system, forged over years in MLS, made him the ideal playmaker in high-pressure situations.
How did Minnesota United’s tactics backfire in this match?
Minnesota’s low-block strategy worked against Seattle in the previous round, but San Diego didn’t panic. Instead of forcing chances, they maintained structure, waited for openings, and punished mistakes with surgical precision. With no striker to stretch the defense and limited creativity in midfield, Minnesota couldn’t generate a single clear chance. Their 0.2 xG (expected goals) was the lowest of any playoff match this season.
What’s the significance of Jeppe Tverskov’s assist on the goal?
Tverskov’s assist was his first in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs — a milestone for the San Diego FC captain. His role as a deep-lying playmaker allowed him to control tempo and deliver the long ball that started the sequence. Though he didn’t touch the ball on the final pass, his distribution from the back initiated the attack. His leadership, both on and off the pitch, has been vital in keeping the team focused during high-stakes matches.
Will San Diego FC be favorites in the Western Conference Final?
Absolutely. With Dreyer scoring at a 0.6 goal-per-game rate in the playoffs and a defense that’s conceded just two goals in four postseason matches, they’re the most balanced team left in the West. Their home-field advantage at Snapdragon Stadium, where they’ve won every playoff game, and their experience playing under pressure make them the team to beat — even if they’re still technically the underdogs in the eyes of traditionalists.
