San Diego FC rescues 3-3 draw against FC Cincinnati in historic night for Dreyer

May 16, 2026, MLS – Regular Season (Photo: SanDiegoFC)

San Diego FC experienced a special night at Snapdragon Stadium, not only because of the dramatic draw against FC Cincinnati, but also because it marked the first bobblehead giveaway in club history. The honor went to Anders Dreyer, who has become one of the team’s most important players following the absence of Hirving Lozano.

The match started in the worst possible way for the home side. In the 11th minute, Cincinnati found space down Luca Bombino’s side, and the play ended with a completely open finish in front of goal to give the visitors the lead. The crowd had barely started its chants when the goal arrived, creating a difficult atmosphere early for San Diego.

Dreyer quickly had a dangerous chance near the edge of the box, one of those opportunities that seemed automatic goals last season, but this time his shot narrowly missed the target, reflecting the team’s inconsistent momentum. Later, in the 25th minute, a dangerous cross forced Pablo Sisniega into an impressive save to prevent a second goal for Cincinnati.

San Diego continued to push forward and had another clear chance when Dreyer found himself alone with a teammate also wide open, but chose to take the shot himself. The visiting goalkeeper responded with a huge save, raising questions about whether collective play should carry more weight in those situations.

The equalizer finally came in the 32nd minute. A quick combination play ended at the feet of Marcus Ingvartsen, who fired a low and powerful shot into the net to level the match and reignite the stadium. However, as has happened several times this season, the end of the first half slowed down considerably, with both teams relying on sideways passing and showing little attacking urgency.

Early in the second half, Evander nearly scored a spectacular free kick in the 48th minute, but the play ended in a corner after a save from the goalkeeper. Moments later, Cincinnati capitalized on a defensive mistake and regained the lead in the 50th minute.

San Diego answered once again through a brilliant attacking move that started from the back line. A line-breaking pass found Alejandro Pellegrino, who controlled the ball beautifully before finishing to bring the home side level once again and energize Snapdragon Stadium.

The closing minutes also featured controversy, including the prohibited chant in Mexico directed at the opposing goalkeeper during goal kicks. Despite the tension, San Diego found the equalizer one final time at 90+6 through Marcus Ingvartsen, rescuing a dramatic 3-3 draw at home.

The result leaves mixed feelings for San Diego FC: resilience and character to fight back, but also lingering defensive issues and costly mistakes that continue to affect the team. 🔥⚽

JOCHESPORTS

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