By Tyler Sonderholzer

With a sold-out Snapdragon Stadium and passionate atmosphere, San Diego defeated Minnesota United FC 1-0 in the MLS Western Conference Semifinals. 

“We have landed in a football city,” SDFC captain and midfielder Jeppe Tverskov said. “It feels like it from the first day I was here and you feel the passion too. It’s just in people’s blood, because it’s not something you can just create, it’s real.”

Out of the gate, SDFC controlled possession and the tempo of the game, but they were not able to put any shots on net. 

SDFC faced a difficult Minnesota United defensive strategy, which was to park the bus and put as many defenders in the 18-yard box as possible. With this strategy, San Diego were unable to find the space needed to put a quality shot on net.  

It took until the 45th minute for the first shot on target of the game as Minnesota left midfielder Joaquin Pereyra shot in right into the chest of San Diego goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega. 

Following four minutes of added time, SDFC found themselves going into halftime with a 72%-28% possession advantage, but no shots on net as all seven shots missed the target. 

Minnesota came out of the halftime break swinging and had the best scoring chance of the game on the counter attack in the 47th minute. Right midfielder Robin Lod’s shot got past Sisniega, but right back Ian Pilcher made a goal line save to keep the ball out of the net. 

After SDFC forward Anders Dreyer found open space, his cross found a wide-open fellow forward Amahl Pellegrino, but his shot sailed over the net. 

San Diego’s defense bailed them out again as in the 64th minute as a stumbling Sisniega dove for the ball and cleared it after Yeboah failed to control his first touch. 

“I unfortunately slipped,” Sisniega said. “It was one of those moments where it’s like, I go all in. I just saw the ball in front of me, I went with my hands, and I got it right as he made contact, so it was good timing.”

Dreyer’s season has been nothing short of magical and his magic continued as he scored the first goal of the game in the 72nd minute after a beautiful pass from forward Corey Baird. 

Following four minutes of added time and the San Diego players ensuring that as much time was wasted, SDFC held on to their 1-0 lead all the way to the final whistle. 

After the game, however, multiple players questioned the quality of the pitch following SDSU’s football game from two games prior. 

“I think that’s the worst day it’s been for the season,” Tverskov said. “Unfortunately, there was an American football game two days ago and that made it way more difficult for us, because the condition and the amount of sand on the pitch made it difficult to get under the ball and move it quickly, which you need to do against a team like Minnesota.” 

With the victory, San Diego FC advance to the Western Conference Finals where they will play the Vancouver Whitecaps at Snapdragon Stadium on Nov. 29 with a kickoff time of 6:15 p.m.

‘These guys continue to write history, because nobody can take that performance away,” head coach Mikey Varas said. “The next game will be completely different, and our focus will be on recovery, the two to three most important points for that game, and then going out there and just playing as hard as we possibly can.”