At this time a year ago, San Diego FC had five signed players on other teams, no coach, no jersey design, no season-ticket holders and a 33-year-old general manager who officially was given the job a week earlier.

And now?

The expansion club has clinched a spot in the Major League Soccer playoffs … with six regular-season games remaining.

Or, more accurately, 6½.

They entered Saturday night needing a win or tie against the visiting Portland Timbers and drew 0-0 before an announced crowd of 27,810 at Snapdragon Stadium. By halftime, they had already mathematically secured one of the Western Conference’s nine postseason spots. That’s because there were 12 other scenarios to clinch, and the 11th was happening in three stadiums across the country.

San Diego FC needed a Houston loss (2-1 a

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