San Diego FC Blows Past Pumas in Champions Cup Debut

By Alonso Contreras

San Diego FC announced itself on the international stage in emphatic fashion, turning a tense night into a statement win with a 4–1 comeback over Liga MX powerhouse Pumas UNAM in Concacaf Champions Cup Round One, Leg One at Snapdragon Stadium.

What began as a warning shot from the visitors quickly turned into a showcase of San Diego’s identity: relentless pressure, youth-driven energy, and total control.

Early Shock, Total Response

Pumas struck first in the 11th minute, stunning the home crowd when Robert Morales finished acrobatically with a bicycle-style effort from close range after a teasing ball from Adalberto Carrasquilla. It would prove to be the visitors’ lone moment of true danger for much of the night.

From there, the match tilted heavily toward San Diego. SDFC pinned Pumas deep, dominated possession, and forced the Mexican side into survival mode, even if the breakthrough took time to arrive.

Second-Half Surge

The dam finally burst in the 68th minute. Defender Manu Duah rose highest on a corner from Anders Dreyer, powering a header off the post and past Keylor Navas to level the score and ignite the stadium.

Just eight minutes later, teenage midfielder David Vazquez completed the turnaround, beating his marker in the air to nod home a pinpoint cross from Wilson Eisner. The floodgates were open.

Alex Mighten added a third in the 81st minute, pouncing on a rebound after Vazquez’s initial effort was denied, and Luca Bombino capped the night in the 86th, calmly tapping in after chaos in the six-yard box.

Four goals. Four unanswered. Four scorers under the age of 23.

Numbers Tell the Story

San Diego finished the night with a staggering 73% possession, 22 total shots, and 10 corner kicks, completely suffocating a Pumas side that managed just four shots overall. What looked like a heavyweight clash on paper turned into a one-sided display of control and composure.

A Night of Firsts

The victory marked:

• SDFC’s first-ever Concacaf Champions Cup win

• First professional goal for Manu Duah

• First Champions Cup goal for Vazquez, Bombino, and Mighten

• First goal contribution for Wilson Eisner in his club debut

It also reinforced San Diego’s growing confidence against Liga MX opposition, improving the club’s record to 2–2 in official competition and 4–2 overall across all matchups.

What’s Next

San Diego FC now heads to Mexico City for Leg Two on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Estadio Olímpico Universitario, carrying a commanding three-goal cushion. Before that, the club will turn its attention to the domestic stage, opening the 2026 MLS season against CF Montréal on Feb. 21 at Snapdragon Stadium.