San Diego FC earned its second-straight win after a dramatic 2-1 victory over St. Louis City SC on Saturday to keep the team in fourth place in the Western Conference.

All the scoring took place in the second half with the home side creating the better offensive opportunities in the first half, but unable to convert on any. SDFC almost scored first in the 56th minute when forward Anders Dreyer hit the post on a left-footed shot from 20 yards out and then again in the 79th minute when forward Milan Iloski missed on a chance from close range that went just wide.

Feeling that the momentum had shifted in its favor, San Diego FC kept up the pressure forcing a turnover that Iloski converted with a right-footed shot from just outside the box for the 1-0 lead. This was the second goal by the Escondido native with the first in the 5-0 victory over FC Dallas on May 3.

The visitors kept up relentless pressure that eventually bore fruit in the 87th minute when Dreyer sneaked a cheeky left-footed shot from a tight angle that beat goalkeeper Ben Lundt.

Feeling a sense of desperation, St. Louis pushed its lines forward to try and eventually scored in the first minute of second-half added time on a free kick that was initially deflected by goalkeeper CJ dos Santos, bounced off the post, and headed in by defender Kyle Hiebert.

SDFC walked away with the three points after the two sides had settled for a scoreless draw in their first meeting at Snapdragon Stadium on March 1.

“The game picture that we anticipated changed a little bit because we didn’t anticipate that they would man-mark us all over the field for 90 minutes and that’s a credit to them,” said San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas.

SDFC returns for a three-game homestand starting with a meeting on Wednesday to face the Colorado Rapids, followed by a match with Sporting KC on Saturday, May 17, and then against the LA Galaxy on May 24.

Photos courtesy SDFC