SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, USA — Snapdragon Stadium was the setting for a one-sided masterclass as San Diego FC dismantled CF Montréal 5-0 in a performance that was as clinical as it was commanding. From the opening exchanges, the hosts controlled the tempo, and by the final whistle, the scoreline told only part of the story of their utter dominance over a visiting side that fell apart in every department.
Christopher McVey set the tone early, rising to meet Anders Dreyer's pinpoint cross from a corner in the 14th minute and powering a header to the bottom left corner. It was a well-worked set-piece routine that exposed Montréal's vulnerability in the air and gave San Diego the platform they needed. Dreyer, operating with confidence and precision on the right flank, was a constant menace throughout the first half, stretching the Montréal backline and creating space for teammates to exploit.
The visitors struggled to establish any foothold in the contest. San Diego FC dominated the ball with 69% possession, pinning CF Montréal back for long stretches and rarely allowing them to build any sustained pressure. The hosts went into the break with a 2-0 cushion after Amahl Pellegrino added a second in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, drilling a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the centre of the goal. Montréal had briefly threatened moments earlier when Olger Escobar fired from outside the box, but goalkeeper Duran Ferree was equal to it, saving comfortably in the centre of his goal.
The second half began with Montréal already on the back foot, and any hope of a comeback was extinguished swiftly. In the 50th minute, Tomás Avilés was shown a red card following a VAR review that upgraded his initial punishment — a moment that effectively ended the contest as a competitive fixture. CF Montréal were reduced to ten men, and San Diego wasted no time capitalizing.
Onni Valakari struck in the 53rd minute, receiving a pass from Marcus Ingvartsen and rifling a right-footed effort from outside the box into the bottom left corner. It was a composed, assured finish that underlined the quality San Diego possessed across their entire lineup. Six minutes later, Ingvartsen got on the scoresheet himself, tucking a left-footed shot from the centre of the box into the top left corner after Dreyer's delivery from a corner found him perfectly positioned. San Diego were clinical, putting 7 of their 11 shots on target, and the numbers reflected a team operating at a high level of efficiency.
Ingvartsen and Valakari were both withdrawn at the 59th minute mark, replaced by Alex Mighten and David Vazquez respectively, with the game already well beyond Montréal's reach. Substitute Bryan Zamblé added the fifth in the 85th minute, latching onto Jeppe Tverskov's assist and slotting a right-footed shot from the left side of the box into the bottom left corner to complete the rout.
The statistics painted a damning picture for Montréal. San Diego outshot them 11 to 6, held a commanding 69% share of possession, and registered 7 shots on target compared to Montréal's 2. Ferree was rarely tested, making just 2 saves, while Thomas Gillier in the Montréal goal was kept far busier. A red card for Avilés and a yellow for another Montréal player summed up a night when discipline crumbled alongside defensive organization. San Diego also earned 5 corners to Montréal's 2, reflecting their sustained territorial dominance throughout.
Confidence will be high when San Diego FC face St. Louis CITY SC at home next, while CF Montréal must dust themselves off before travelling to face Chicago Fire FC on February 28 — a fixture that now carries added urgency after this chastening defeat.
