San Diego FC will head into Wednesday’s trip to the Portland Timbers without Anders Dreyer, a notable setback in a Western Conference meeting between teams level on points.
Dreyer earned a suspension after receiving two yellow cards in the 90th minute of San Diego FC’s 1-0 win over Los Angeles FC last time out. The penalty he converted in the 89th minute was the difference in that match, but the late bookings now force him to sit out a game that could matter in the standings.
Mikey Varas said the absence is a blow for San Diego FC. He noted that the club has played a couple of matches without Dreyer before, but that the winger has been a major part of the team’s attack and has played the majority of the minutes. Varas also said the staff is analyzing how to replace him tactically against Portland.
San Diego FC needs to adapt quickly
The timing matters because San Diego FC had just steadied itself after the World Cup break. The club went three MLS outings without a win, posting one draw and two losses, before beating Los Angeles FC. That made Dreyer’s late winner feel even more important, and it also highlighted how much San Diego FC relies on him in the final third.
The broader picture is still encouraging, though not without pressure. San Diego FC is unbeaten in three MLS matches after the World Cup break, but this next test comes away from home against a Portland side that already knows how to make life difficult for it. On April 25, Portland earned its first win ever over San Diego FC with a 2-1 away victory. San Diego FC, however, responded by knocking Portland out of last year’s playoffs in the first round.
Portland brings its own changes
Portland’s recent form has also been uneven. The Timbers were unbeaten in four matches before losing Marti Cifuentes’ first MLS game in charge, a 2-1 defeat to the Chicago Fire on Sunday. Cifuentes said his team is still building the relationships needed to make its style work, especially against deeper blocks. He added that the details matter and that there is still work to be done.
That makes Wednesday’s match interesting on both sides. San Diego FC has to find a way to replace its most productive attacker, while Portland is still adjusting under a new coach. Finn Surman added another layer to the matchup on Sunday by scoring his first MLS goal for Portland with a header, following the headed goal he scored for New Zealand during this year’s World Cup.
With both clubs level on points entering the match, Dreyer’s suspension could be one of the more important personnel changes of the week. Varas called it a chance for someone else to step up, and San Diego FC will find out quickly how much that matters in a tough road test.
