Amahl Pellegrino and Anders Dreyer every scored twice and San Diego FC eased into their first-ever Western Convention semifinal look with a 4-0 victory over the visiting Portland Timbers to clinch their first-round sequence on Sunday evening.
Dreyer additionally picked up an help on Pellegrino’s second purpose whereas serving to top-seeded San Diego safe a house semifinal towards fourth-seeded Minnesota after the November worldwide window.
The pair have every scored three objectives this postseason, and so they have mixed for 13 of San Diego’s 16 whole objectives during the last 5 matches extending again to the common season.
With goalkeeper CJ dos Santos nonetheless recovering from concussion signs following his exit from Recreation 2, Pablo Sisniega made two stops to protect San Diego’s first playoff clear sheet.
Portland was outscored by 5 objectives over the three-game set — incomes a Recreation 2 victory solely on penalties following a 2-2 draw — however nonetheless secured its greatest end to a season since reaching the 2021 MLS Cup closing.
Timbers defender Juan Mosquera was despatched off within the eightieth minute for violent conduct on San Diego substitute Chucky Lozano, a minute after Lozano arrange Dreyer’s second purpose.
With 19 objectives and 19 assists within the common season, Dreyer has earned MLS MVP finalist consideration. His opening purpose on a header of Onni Valakari’s cross within the fifth minute might nearly be thought of anticipated.
However Pellegrino, who joined San Diego from San Jose in a commerce for $300,000 in allocation cash in late August, has given supervisor Mikey Varas’ aspect a stunning new dimension.
After registering solely 12 purpose involvements in 45 regular-season appearances for San Jose, the 35-year-old Norwegian now has 9 for his new membership in simply 10 appearances between common season and playoff matches.
His first purpose Sunday arrived 12 minutes after Dreyer’s opener, additionally through Valakari’s cross. This time James Pantemis saved the preliminary try, however Pellegrino dispatched his personal rebound.
Pellegrino added his second six minutes after halftime on a crisply taken volley of Corey Baird’s well-placed cross after Dreyer additionally figured into the assault.
–Subject Stage Media
