San Diego FC Stuns Minnesota United, Secures West Final Spot
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San Diego FC's Anders Dreyer scored the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute, propelling the expansion team to a 1-0 victory over Minnesota United in the Western Conference semifinals. This historic win marks the first time an expansion side has reached a conference final since the Nashville SC in 2020. In a thrilling matchup, San Diego FC's Pablo Sisniega made three crucial saves, including a clean sheet in his second consecutive playoff game. Despite being outshot 11-10 and having a 4-1 advantage in shots on target, Minnesota United fell short in their pursuit of a second West final appearance. The decisive moment came when Jeppe Tverskov's through ball found Corey Baird on the right wing. Baird cleverly backheeled the pass into the space behind him, setting up Dreyer for the game-sealing strike. The Danish forward's powerful finish beat Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, securing a spot in the West final for San Diego FC. If the team emerges victorious against No. 2 Vancouver on Saturday, they will become the first expansion side to reach the MLS Cup final since the Chicago Fire in 1998. San Diego FC's impressive run has been marked by their resilience and determination, and they will look to build on this momentum as they face the Whitecaps in the West final.
