SAN DIEGO — If you went to Saturday’s soccer game in Mission Valley, you won’t soon forget how it ended.

The game-winning goal and the explosion of joy it unleashed was a reminder of why sports events remain king in the country’s crowded media market, and why fans put up with the hassle of traffic and other inconveniences to attend games.

San Diego FC star striker Hirving “Chucky” Lozano rose up and headed the ball from 7 yards out inside the far post in the home team’s 2-1 victory against defending league champion LA. Galaxy.

The sight of Mexico City’s Lozano, a 5-foot-9 1/2 left winger, nodding a perfect crossing pass from Denmark’s Anders Dreyer, a right winger, rewarded most of the folks in an announced crowd of 30,144.

Years from now, attendees will recall Lozano, wearing No. 11, soaring at the perfect moment. The timely soccer magic will stand as a foundation-builder for a first-year franchise.

Memorable, too, was the celebration that followed.

The crowd roared for Lozano, who in turn pointed to Dreyer to acknowledge his assist.

Then came loud singing from thousands of fans. “Hey, Chookie Lozaaano … Hey, Chookie Lozaaano.”

When the final whistle sounded two minutes later, SDFC’s players gathered in front of the north goal where Lozano had just netted his fifth goal this season, then sprinted toward the supporters section and clapped for the fans.

Coach Mikey Varas snapped off several salutes toward the crowd. Dreyer pumped a fist in appreciation.

So many things fell into place Saturday afternoon for the first-year club, you wondered if SDFC had struck a deal with the soccer gods.

Before the match, dark blue Lozano jerseys were the most popular choice, by far, of the fans who gathered in the gravel parking lots.

A few Dreyer jerseys (No. 10) were spotted, too. Thankfully, at least one fan wore the No. 6 of SDFC’s steadiest player, defensive midfielder Jeppe Tverskov.

As you’d expect, fans wore jerseys of global soccer stars known by one name — French star Mbappe, Spanish teenager Yamal, to name two — but it was Lozano who most resonated. And when fans walked through the turnstiles, Lozano’s greetings in Spanish were among the messages booming from stadium speakers.

Lozano’s final message was the spinning header — his most artistic goal of this season.

Recognized as well by most fans, San Diego native Luca de la Torre drew loud applause in introductions.

The attacking midfielder attended Torrey Pines High School as a freshman and has impressed with his ball skills, which are crucial to SDFC ranking among MSL leaders in ball-possession this season.

So if SDFC had its druthers, goals by de la Torre and Lozano would be a great way to thrill an enthusiastic crowd eager to see a second victory over the Galaxy, complementing the 2-0 win in Carson to open the season.

De la Torre obliged the fans first.

In a well-timed simultaneous vertical run with Tverskov, de La Torre got toTverskov’s clever through ball and ripped a low grounder past the goalkeeper. The goal, his third, tied score 1-1 less than two minutes after L.A. had gone ahead late in the first half.

Overall, it was a physical, chippy match, worthy of a nascent rivalry.

Lozano, 29, showed good speed with the ball, but for the most part, appeared frustrated with not getting more calls from the officiating crew. He and a Galaxy player squared off at one point.

Though he’s a star striker, Lozano showed once again he’s also a willing and capable defender.

In the 84th minute, he ran some 60 yards in pursuit of Galaxy right wing Gabriel Pec and stole the ball to snuff a numerical disadvantage. Varas rated that play as memorable as the game-winning goal.

“Hirving is a talented player, creative and he’s willing to do that work for the team,” Varas said. “That play and this game is an embodiment of what we want to be as a team.”

Did the Galaxy make their own deal with the soccer gods entering last season? They won their sixth MLS Cup, but at 0-11-4 are still winless in a 2025 season that began with a well-deserved loss to the San Diego newbies, who got two goals from Dreyer that night. Before the opening kickoff Saturday, SDFC’s supporters raised a large banner in honor of that debut. It read, What a dream night, LA 0, SD 2.

To begin the game-winning sequence in the rematch, SDFC received a huge gift from a Galaxy defender, Carlos Garces, 23, who hit the ball high and backward after a San Diego player had boomed a long clearance just beyond the midstripe.

SDFC’s top two offensive players turned the chance into the game-winning goal.

Dreyer got to the ball fast, drove into the box, cut back and fed Lozano, who’d taken a perfect angle.

“Anders has really great instincts about anticipating mistakes from defenders,” de La Torre said. “You saw it (in the 2-1 road victory) against St. Louis. Lot of credit to him, just being in the right place at the right time and then obviously Chucky finishing the action. It was well deserved, the win at the end.”

Where were you when Chucky Lozano and friends beat L.A. in the 2025 match in San Diego?

Years from now, a good number of San Diegans will be able to talk about it, because it was that memorable.

The soccer ball is bouncing higher and higher in Mission Valley, eight years after the Chargers moved north.

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