SDFC falls to Portland on penalty kicks, pushing series to third match

Published: Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 6:41 am

Timbers Force Decisive Match Against San Diego FC After Penalty Kick Victory

Portland Timbers secured a dramatic victory over San Diego FC on Saturday, forcing a decisive third match in their best-of-three first-round series for the MLS Cup. The game, filled with late-game drama, ended in a penalty-kick shootout after a 2-2 tie in regulation.

The Timbers' Gage Guerra scored a crucial header in the eighth minute of stoppage time to equalize the score, setting the stage for the shootout. Kristoffer Velde had previously put Portland ahead with a goal in the 18th minute. San Diego FC's goals came from Hirving Lozano in the 51st minute and Amahl Pellegrino in the 12th minute of stoppage time.

The penalty shootout saw Antony Alves Santos score the winning goal for Portland. Goalkeeper James Pantemis made three saves for the Timbers, while Pablo Sisniega, who replaced an injured teammate, made two saves for San Diego.

The match was marred by an injury to a San Diego FC player, who was stretchered off the field after a collision.

The series now shifts back to San Diego on November 9th for the final match, where the winner will advance to the Western Conference semifinals. San Diego FC coach Mikey Varas emphasized the need for his team to recover and use the loss as motivation for the upcoming game.

BNN's Perspective: This series highlights the unpredictable nature of playoff soccer. While San Diego FC, the regular-season Western Conference champions, suffered a setback, the Timbers demonstrated resilience. The final match promises to be a compelling contest, with both teams eager to secure their place in the next round.

Keywords: MLS Cup, Portland Timbers, San Diego FC, Penalty Kicks, Playoff Series, Gage Guerra, Kristoffer Velde, Antony Alves Santos, Hirving Lozano, Amahl Pellegrino, James Pantemis, Mikey Varas, Soccer, Sports, Western Conference

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