Saturday, March 29 | 7:30 p.m. PT
🏟: Snapdragon Stadium - San Diego, CA
LAFC travels two hours south to San Diego on Saturday for its first-ever match against Major League Soccer’s newest club, San Diego FC. Kickoff at Snapdragon Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT (MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, ESPN LA app, 710 AM ESPN LA, 980 AM La Mera Mera).
For LAFC, Saturday’s matchup with its new southern California foe falls in the middle of a challenging stretch in MLS and Concacaf Champions Cup play in which six of eight games on the Black & Gold schedule are on the road. Additionally, LAFC faces a quick turnaround after this San Diego trip, with Inter Miami visiting BMO Stadium in Los Angeles next Wednesday for the first leg in their two-leg Quarterfinal in Concacaf Champions Cup.
For now, though, LAFC’s focus is on earning three valuable points against a San Diego side that has looked mature, resilient, and dangerous over the first five games in its history.
LAFC enters the match in third place in the Western Conference, with nine points from five games and a league record of 3W-2L-0D. San Diego FC sits in fourth place in the 15-team conference, with eight points and a 2W-1L-2D mark. LAFC has scored six goals and conceded six so far in 2025. SDFC has netted seven and allowed four.
LAFC is undefeated when facing an expansion team for the first time, with a 6-0-0 record in such matches.
PRODIGAL SON
Saturday will mark a homecoming of sorts for LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo, who grew up in San Diego and starred at local Nomads Soccer Club and Mt. Carmel High School before embarking on a decorated playing career with the U.S. Mens’ National team and in the German Bundesliga. This will be the first MLS game that Cherundolo, 46, has coached in his hometown.
BOUANGA’S BACK
LAFC welcomes forward Denis Bouanga back into the fold after the perennial MLS MVP candidate traveled to Africa last week to compete for his country, Gabon, in two World Cup qualifying matches. Bouanga played all 180 minutes in Gabon’s wins over Seychelles and Kenya, scoring twice against the former side.
Playing without Bouanga, LAFC defeated Sporting KC on the road last Saturday behind goals from his fill-in at left winger, David Martínez, and defender Aaron Long.
STAYING CLASSY
San Diego FC conceded first-half goals to Austin FC’s Brandon Vazquez and Jon Gallagher last weekend in a 2-1 road loss to the Verde. It was the first defeat in SDFC’s history. The new club started its inaugural season by defeating the Galaxy (2-0) and Real Salt Lake (3-1), and drawing with St. Louis (0-0) and Columbus (1-1).
SDFC’s success has come for the most part without its blockbuster offseason acquisition, Mexican star Chucky Lozano, and fellow attacker Marcus Ingvartsen – both of whom have missed time due to leg injuries. Forward Anders Dreyer has been one of the most exciting players in MLS through his first five games in the league, playing all 450 possible minutes and scoring three goals, including the first in club history.
Led by head coach Mikey Varas, who was hired last September after serving as Interim Head Coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team, San Diego was described aptly by MLSSoccer.com analyst Matthew Doyle, who wrote of their strong start: “They are well-structured and well-coached, and are going to keep being a tough out.”
THE BLACK & GOLD WILL WIN IF
Bouanga and recently acquired right winger Cengiz Ünder continue doing damage in wide areas near the opposing goal. Time will tell whether LAFC has the most exciting trio of outside forwards in MLS in 2025 – Martínez being the third – but these three are making a compelling early-season argument. Bouanga’s 40 MLS goals over the last two years speak for themselves. Ünder, meanwhile, has made an immediate impact since arriving on loan from Turkish side Fenerbahce three weeks ago. The 27-year-old registered an assist in his first appearance for LAFC (3/11/25), added a secondary assist on a free kick last week against SKC, and like Bouanga and Martínez, keeps opposing back lines off balance with his mere presence.
SDFC CAN WIN IF
It finds a 1-0 lead that pumps belief into players and fans alike. Facing an established LAFC side that has won more games and scored more goals than any team in MLS since it entered the league in 2018, the San Diegans will be eager to add another SoCal scalp to the one they earned against the Galaxy in the season opener. Scoring the game’s first goal against LAFC, which is 0-4-0 this year when falling behind 1-0, would go a long way toward helping SDFC earn its first ever home victory.
Tickets On Sale Now
LAFC hosts Inter Miami and global soccer icon Lionel Messi at BMO Stadium on April 2 in the Champions Cup Quarterfinals.
