San Diego FC beats Colorado Rapids 3-0 as summer additions shine

SAN DIEGO — Onni Valakari and Elias Achouri scored first-half goals to help San Diego FC beat the Colorado Rapids 3-0 on Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium.

Valakari opened the scoring in the 27th minute after a Rapids giveaway in their defensive third, finishing with a first-touch shot from point-blank range. Achouri doubled the lead in the 36th minute, his first MLS goal, after a pair of Rapids defenders allowed the ball to drop in the center of the area and he slammed home the loose ball.

Gabriel Pirani capped the scoring in the 71st minute, his second goal in as many games for San Diego (7-8-6). Pirani combined with Marcus Ingvartsen on a give-and-go before finishing the move for a 3-0 lead. Ingvartsen had entered the match four minutes earlier, replacing Valakari, and Amahl Pellegrino also came on in the 67th minute, replacing Achouri.

New signings make immediate impact

Achouri, acquired from Danish Superliga powerhouse FC Copenhagen on July 24 and signed as a Designated Player, was making his first start for SDFC in his first appearance at Snapdragon Stadium. His goal was also the 100th regular-season goal in club history, arriving in SDFC's 55th MLS match.

Achouri nearly opened his account five minutes earlier after being played in by Oscar Verhoeven, but a defender pulled him down on a breakaway. No foul was called, drawing a sustained chorus of boos from the home crowd.

Pirani scored his first SDFC goal Wednesday at Portland, and the goals from Achouri and Pirani offered an immediate return for a club that reshaped its attack during the summer transfer window.

Match details and statistics

CJ dos Santos had two saves for San Diego, with his first save coming in the 57th minute on a Paxten Aaronson attempt. Nico Hansen had one save for the Rapids.

The Rapids held 53.5% of the first-half possession, and the teams were even with four shots apiece; San Diego put three on target and Colorado none. Aaronson had Colorado's best first-half chance, a wide right-footed shot from outside the box.

Colorado (9-11-1) arrived having won three straight matches, all by shutout, and had conceded just once in five games since the World Cup break.

Looking ahead

San Diego FC entered the match needing to capitalize on a favorable stretch in its schedule. Four of SDFC's next five matches are at Snapdragon Stadium, before closing the regular season with six of its final nine on the road.

Coach Mikey Varas said: "You're talking … 15 points available. How do you maximize as many of those points as possible in the mission of climbing the ladder?"

SDFC hosts the LA Galaxy next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium, a match expected to mark Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano's return after his midseason loan to the Galaxy.