Anders Dreyer and Marcus Ingvartsen each had a goal and an assist as San Diego FC continued their strong start with a 2-0 shutout over visiting St. Louis City SC on Sunday.
Dreyer scored in the third minute off an assist from Ingvartsen, his Danish countryman. The roles reversed early in the second half when Dreyer assisted on Ingvartsen’s finish in the 54th minute, his second goal in as many games.
San Diego goalkeeper Duran Ferree made three saves. Roman Burki, a two-time All-Star and 2023 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, made four saves and was in form all game for St. Louis against San Diego’s relentless offensive onslaught.
Dreyer, who already has a goal and four assists in four games in all competitions for San Diego, led the charge.
The 2025 MLS Newcomer of the Year finished second to Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi for league MVP after 19 goals and 18 assists in his MLS debut.
He had two assists in last week’s 5-0 win over Montreal to open the season. It didn’t take him long in the team’s second game to open his 2026 league account.
Onni Valakari dribbled down the middle and sent the ball up to Ingvartsen, who one-touched it right to Dreyer. Dreyer opened his hips and finished a left-footer into the opposite corner past Burki.
With the goal, Dreyer, who is averaging more than a goal contribution per game since joining the expansion club ahead of last season, became the second-fastest player in MLS history to 20 career goals and assists, again behind Messi.
He nearly made it a brace four minutes later, but he slid a right-footed attempt over the bar.
Burki turned away a 10th-minute header attempt to the near post from Valakari and stopped Ingvartsen’s attempt two minutes later.
St. Louis nearly equalized in the 23rd minute. Chris Durkin sprung Miguel Perez in the box, and he fed Simon Becher on the doorstep, but the forward could not finish.
Perez was in the starting lineup in place of Marcel Hartel, who scored off an assist from Becher last week in a season-opening 1-1 draw with Charlotte. Hartel, who has scored five goals in his last six regular-season matches, was away from the team for the birth of his second child.
Both sides had opportunities turned aside early in the second half before Ingvartsen doubled San Diego’s advantage in the 54th minute.
Dreyer had a tremendous individual effort and opened up the St. Louis defense by feigning a left-footed shot attempt before sending it forward to Ingvartsen for the finish.
Burki kept San Diego from adding to the score sheet, coming off the line in a well-timed challenge to stop Anahl Pellegrino in the 68th minute before turning him away again in the 74th with a kick save.
St. Louis nearly halved the deficit in the 83rd as Cedric Teuchert broke into the box and squeezed the ball past Ferree, but Kieran Sargent cleared the ball off the line.
San Diego is now 3-0 with two clean sheets in all competitions at home this season, outscoring opponents Pumas, CF Montreal and St. Louis by a combined 11-1.
–Field Level Media
