Expansion San Diego beats MLS champion Galaxy in franchise opener - ESPN

Anders Dreyer scored a brace and Carlos Dos Santos recorded three saves for his first career clean sheet as visiting San Diego FC stunned defending MLS champ LA Galaxy 2-0 on Sunday in the season-opening match for both teams in Carson, California.

It began as a celebration for both teams — the inaugural match in club history for expansion San Diego as well as the unveiling of the Galaxy's championship banner for their league-record sixth title earned in 2024.

But this match finished as one for San Diego (1-0-0, 3 points) to remember and the Galaxy to lament.

With five starters gone from the championship side because of either injury or trade/transfer, this was not the same Galaxy squad that won the crown. And no one knew what to expect from a San Diego side that has been cobbled together from the expansion draft and a bevy of signings.

The last thing the Galaxy (0-1-0, 0 points) needed was to hand the keyed-up visitors a goal, but that's what happened in the 52nd minute. LA goalkeeper Novak Micovic sent a bad pass to defender Emiro Garces that could only be deflected toward San Diego's Hirving Lozano.

Lozano pounced on the mistake and passed to Dreyer, who ripped a left-footed shot past Micovic to score San Diego FC's first official goal.

After the giveaway, Micovic did his best to make amends, producing sterling point-blank saves on Dreyer in the 59th minute and then on Lozano seven minutes later.

Dos Santos, who was making just his third start in his four-year MLS career, earned the team's first shut out, making two difficult saves in the 79th and 80th minutes.

The Galaxy pressed for the equalizer, which left them vulnerable for a counterattack from San Diego. Tomás Ángel rushed down the field with the breakaway in the