San Diego FC tasted victory for 90 minutes on Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium, only to have it cruelly snatched away in the dying moments. A stoppage-time equalizer from LAFC forced a 2-2 draw, extending SDFC's winless streak to eight MLS matches and deepening the frustration for the home side.

Coming into the match desperate for a turnaround, San Diego had lost five straight and hadn't won in seven league outings. The task was made even tougher by the arrival of their in-form Southern California rivals, LAFC—a team sitting near the top of the Western Conference with just two defeats in their first ten matches.

But history was on SDFC's side. After sweeping LAFC in both home and away fixtures last season, San Diego aimed to make it three consecutive wins over the Black & Gold. The energy at Snapdragon Stadium felt different from the start.

A major boost came in goal, where CJ dos Santos made his first start of the 2026 season. The 24-year-old goalkeeper hadn't played since November 1, 2025, when he suffered a season-ending fractured cheekbone during the MLS Cup Playoff Round One against the Portland Timbers. Before that injury, dos Santos had been the backbone of SDFC's inaugural campaign, starting 30 of 34 league matches.

San Diego wasted no time showing their intent. In the 7th minute, the Danish connection struck again. Anders Dreyer delivered a pinpoint corner kick to the near post, where Marcus Ingvartsen rose above the defense and powered a header into the ground and into the net. LAFC's star goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had no chance on the reaction save.

It was Ingvartsen's sixth goal of the 2026 MLS season, extending his lead as the club's top scorer. Dreyer collected his fifth league assist, continuing to build chemistry with his fellow Dane.

The first half belonged entirely to SDFC. They controlled possession, created the better chances, and limited LAFC's opportunities. The 1-0 lead felt secure, and the home crowd dared to believe the losing streak might finally end.