Cédric Bakambu converted a stoppage-time penalty to rescue a point for San Diego FC, who came from two goals down in the second half to draw 2-2 with Seattle Sounders at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night. The Sounders had looked set to take all three points after Joveljić and Gomez struck in quick succession early in the second half, but Bakambu’s brace, capped by a 90th-minute spot kick, denied Brian Schmetzer’s side. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Bakambu’s stoppage-time penalty kick proved the decisive moment of a chaotic final half-hour.
Key Moments
- 45′, Seattle make a half-time change, bringing on Gomez for Ferreira before the second half begins.
- 50′, Joveljić breaks the deadlock for Seattle, finishing a goal to put the Sounders ahead.
- 53′, Joveljić picks up a yellow card for not retreating, just three minutes after his opener.
- 55′, Gomez doubles Seattle’s lead, finishing a move assisted by Dotson to make it 2-0.
- 58′, VAR confirms a penalty for San Diego after a foul involving Pellegrino.
- 60′, Dreyer misses the penalty, but Bakambu follows up to convert the rebound and pull San Diego back to 2-1.
- 61′, San Diego make three simultaneous substitutions: Tverskov, Ingvartsen and Valakari all come on.
- 90′, Bakambu steps up and converts a second penalty in stoppage time to level the match at 2-2.
Tactical Breakdown
San Diego controlled the ball for most of the evening, finishing with 59% possession and an xG of 2.41 against Seattle’s 1.37, firing 13 shots to the visitors’ 12. Mikey Varas set his side up in a 4-3-3, and the home team’s patient build-up play generated the better quality chances on paper, but they went into the break goalless and were then hit hard by a sharper Seattle side in the opening minutes of the second half.
The match turned on a two-minute burst from Seattle between the 50th and 55th minutes. Joveljić’s close-range finish gave the Sounders the lead, and Gomez, introduced at half-time for Ferreira, immediately justified the change by adding a second with a Dotson assist. That 2-0 lead looked decisive, but VAR’s confirmation of a penalty at the 58th minute changed everything. Dreyer’s spot kick was saved, yet Bakambu pounced on the rebound, and the three triple substitutions Varas made in the 61st minute kept fresh legs on the pitch for the final push.
Seattle’s inability to hold on came down to discipline and game management. Joveljić earned a yellow card moments after scoring and was withdrawn at the 80th minute, while Roldan was also booked and substituted. The Sounders allowed San Diego to generate late pressure and ultimately conceded from the spot in stoppage time, a frustrating end for a team that had looked in full control at 2-0.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
The draw leaves San Diego FC 12th in the Western Conference on 35 points, still outside the playoff positions, while Seattle Sounders remain seventh on 43 points, inside the top eight but eight points off the conference’s top three of Vancouver Whitecaps, FC Dallas and St. Louis City. For Seattle, dropping two points at Snapdragon Stadium after leading 2-0 with half an hour to play will sting, and their form now reads back-to-back draws. San Diego will take the point, but their playoff picture remains difficult.