Dreyer relishing the pressure on San Diego in playoff race

Anders Dreyer is enjoying the pressure placed on San Diego FC as they continue to fight for their MLS playoff place against the Houston Dynamo.

With six games left to go in the regular season, San Diego currently sit 12th in the Western Conference, four points behind the LA Galaxy in the final playoff spot.

Their recent form has been a cause for concern, having gone winless in their last six league matches, stretching that run with a disappointing 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls at the weekend.

That was a game in which Dreyer missed a penalty at the end of the first half – when San Diego already trailed 3-0 – but he is confident they can still make it to the postseason.

"There's pressure on us. It's nice; we like that," he said. "It's about finding your level in this league, and that's what we're trying to do.

"Last year was nice; we were number one in the league after 34 games, and it was nice going into the playoffs with maybe more pressure on our shoulders.

"This year, if we reach the playoffs, we'll be underdogs, and we can only surprise."

As for the Dynamo, they are currently fifth in the West, with their recent four-game winless streak seeing them slip down the table slightly.

In fact, they have won just one of their last eight MLS games, though they came from behind to snatch a late 2-2 draw with Minnesota United last time out.

Lyle Foster scored his first goal for the club in that game, and head coach Ben Olsen was impressed with what he saw from his new striker.

"This is the first time that a number nine has scored, and we had two of them," Olsen told iDiski Times.

"So there's a big positive with this group, and we've been asking for that.

"You can see the part when he does have chances; it's pretty easy for him. He understands that part. That's what we've seen when he is in good positions."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

San Diego FC – Anders Dreyer

Dreyer set up Cedric Bakambu for San Diego's lone goal on Saturday, his 32nd regular-season MLS assist and 29th primary assist.

It was Dreyer's first assist for Bakambu, who became the 13th different player to receive a primary assist from Dreyer in MLS.

Houston Dynamo – Duncan McGuire

Duncan McGuire scored the equalising goal in Houston's 2-2 draw with Minnesota in the second minute of stoppage time.

It was the seventh tying or go-ahead goal scored in stoppage time by the Dynamo since the start of the 2025 season.

MATCH PREDICTION: SAN DIEGO FC WIN

Houston have won two of their three all-time meetings with San Diego (L1), including a 1-0 home win on April 22.

San Jose (three in four) are the only team to defeat San Diego in three regular-season matches.

But after a five-match winning streak from July 25 to August 19, the Dynamo have one win in their last eight matches (D4 L3), including going winless in four straight (D2 L2). They have allowed two goals in each of their last three league matches after conceding more than once in just three of their previous 19.

And as such, the Opta supercomputer expects San Diego to use their home advantage, despite being winless in six straight matches (D2 L4), a run that includes consecutive home defeats.

This is the fourth time San Diego have lost consecutive home league matches, but they have never lost three in a row at home in regular-season play.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

San Diego FC – 44.1%

Draw – 26.8%

Houston Dynamo – 29.1%