Knights Score Twice in 2nd Half to Win Home Opener

San Diego City opened the 2025 season with a 2-1 comeback home victory over East L.A. with Briseis Gutierrez scoring the game-winner in the 85th minute. It is the first time since 2021 that the Knights have won a season opener. 

The Knights were looking like the better team for most of the first half as they got several balls into the final third, but couldn't get a shot on target. East L.A. ended up outshooting City, 5-3, and scored the first goal of the match in the 45th minute when Jennifer Gallardo's chip shot from 40 yards out went over goalkeeper Ximena Flores' head and into the net.

San Diego City kept trying to put together a combination of passed that led to a goal and it finally happened in the 69th minute. Juliette Salgado Garcia sent pass to Christiana Macias who headed it over to Abril Mejia Ruiz. She then put a through ball to Alisson Tavarez who's shot bounced off the crossbar. 

Luckily for the Knights, Grecia Lopez had made a run towards the far post where the ball landed. She took a touch past a defender and then nutmegged the goalkeeper for the tying goal.

The Knights had the momentum in their favor now and they eventually found the game-winner in the 85th minute. Right-back Haley Zinga sent a ball into the box from midfield where an East L.A. defender headed it out towards the top of the box where Gutierrez was waiting. She one-timed the loose ball over the goalkeeper's head and hit the back of the net for the game-winner.

East L.A. did take a couple shots in the closing minutes, but none were on target as the Knights held on for the first win of the new season. 

City's next game will be on September 5 at Compton at 2 p.m. The Knights will be back home on September 12 to start the PCAC season against Miramar.