San Diego FC players celebrating with Frontera SD after their 1-0 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinal victory over Minnesota United on Nov. 24, 2025, at Snapdragon Stadium.Angel RodriguezTue, November 25, 2025 at 8:20 AM UTC·5 min readSAN DIEGO -- The historic inaugural season continues for the Chrome & Azul, with SDFC advancing to the Western Conference Final after a Monday night 1-0 Conference Semifinal win over Minnesota United FC.
With Round One in the MLS Cup Playoffs all concluded, it meant single-match elimination games for the rest of the tournament, as San Diego FC and Minnesota United took the field with a Conference Final match berth at stake.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThese two clubs split the season series in the 2025 regular season, with the away sides claiming both of the wins.
SDFC took the first meeting at Allianz Field in a 4-2 goal fest on June 14, with Minnesota United finding victory in the most recent matchup, ending 3-1 on Sept. 13 at Snapdragon Stadium.
As for how these two teams got to this point, both clubs finished a gruelling three-match series in Round One of the Western Conference playoffs.
SDFC got braces from Anders Dreyer and Amahl Pellegrino in a 4-0 home win over the Portland Timbers to book their spot in the Conference Semis, as Minnesota ended their series in a more dramatic finish, with a slim 7-6 Allianz Field penalty shootout win against the Seattle Sounders.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe first half of this conference semi felt like a chess match between the two clubs' distinct and different play styles, clashing to a scoreless first 45-minutes as both teams were unable to fully execute on their game plans.
Minnesota looked to keep numbers behind the ball, cutting off potential gaps in attacking SDFC areas, leaving SDFC unable to register a shot on goal despite holding a heavy possession lead all around their attacking third.
Defensively a win for Minnesota, but unable to attack on the counterattacks as the SDFC continued to pile on the pressure in sight of the first goal.
As for SDFC’s first half performance, a dominant control of the match tempo, but the failure of the final pass and shot added to Minnesota United’s heavy protection of their own goal, led to a stale offensive half.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAn eventless first half was immediately countered with SDFC on their back foot, with Minnesota connecting on a dangerous counterattack within two minutes of the half, leaving midfielder Robin Lod through on goal as he got past SDFC defender Manu Duah and got his low shot around goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega, headed into the goal.
But it was SDFC defender Ian Pilcher for the rescue, making the 47-minute goalline saving slide to keep Lod’s shot from crossing the line, as the match stayed scoreless.
Despite having no shots on goal up until the 72-minute mark, SDFC’s final ball finally arrived with forward Corey Baird played into the box over the top, getting a backheel flick back into the penalty area.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt landed for who else other than the 2025 MLS Newcomer of the Year and SDFC’s MVP player, Anders Dreyer, as he sent a first-time left-footed missile towards the near post, with Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair unable to keep the ball out of the net, as SDFC took the pivotal 1-0 lead.
Dreyer continued his regular-season form into the playoffs, netting his fourth goal of the postseason.
SDFC were able to hold on to its slim one-goal lead to close out the 1-0 Conf. Semi Snapdragon Stadium victory over Minnesota United to advance to the MLS Western Conference Final.
San Diego FC’s Pablo Sisniega and the backline recorded back-to-back clean sheets, having only conceded one goal in the three home playoff matches.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Yeah, obviously it's special," Sisniega said on the clean sheet against Minnesota United. "Have a clean sheet. But I think the clean sheet is kind of a team achievement. It's not just me."
SDFC head coach Mikey Varas spoke at the post-match press conference after defeating Minnesota United in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference. Semi on what his squad represents, celebrating the current achievements, and looking ahead to the Conference Final.
“This club is founded on hard work, intensity, relentless ambition, just like the community, because there's so many people in San Diego who have to make massive sacrifices and work so hard to live here. And we said we wanted to be a reflection.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Right now, it's about having this mini moment to recognise the fact that these guys continue to write history, because nobody can take that performance away against a very, very good team.”
“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.”
Now, what awaits the newly formed Southern California club is a home conference final matchup against the second-place Vancouver Whitecaps, a first versus second faceoff to see who will represent the West in the MLS Cup Final.
These two clubs went the entire regular season battling it out for the right to the top seed in the West, coming down to the final matchday and a tie breaker as both ended with 63 points, as SDFC’s win and draw over the Whitecaps gave them the edge and home field advantage over the West.
San Diego FC are now set to host the Western Conference Final on Nov. 29 for a 6 p.m. kickoff in what could be their final match at Snapdragon Stadium this season, depending on the Eastern Conference Final result.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
