On Friday night, San Diego FC secured a 1-0 victory over Nashville SC, who were second in the Eastern Conference. This win marks one of San Diego’s strongest performances in recent weeks and provides much-needed momentum heading into the Leagues Cup on Tuesday.

Solid First Half

San Diego’s starting lineup remained unchanged from their previous match against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Head Coach Mikey Varas continued to rely on the youngest backline in MLS, with Pablo Sisniega as goalkeeper. This strategy proved somewhat effective in the last game, as SDFC conceded only one goal, an own goal by Manu Duah, against Vancouver. Additionally, Paddy McNair and Anibal Godoy were healthy enough to be listed as bench players, providing more options for San Diego.

The first half saw no shots on goal from either team, indicating strong defensive play from both sides. Both San Diego and Nashville maintained a compact shape, making it difficult to complete passes in the penalty area. San Diego FC dominated ball possession with 61% and registered four total shots compared to Nashville’s one. Touches in the opposition’s box were even, with both teams having six in the first half.

A pivotal moment occurred in the 13th minute when Nashville’s Sam Surridge and Oscar Verhoeven collided while going for the ball. Surridge required trainer assistance due to a cut above his left eyebrow and wore a head wrap for the remainder of the match, suggesting that one of Nashville’s top scorers was not at full strength. Manu Duah was instrumental in defense, using his 6’4’’ frame to block shots and clear Nashville’s scoring opportunities. Overall, the first half was solid and provided a strong foundation for San Diego to build upon.

Second Half Action

San Diego significantly increased their intensity in the second half. Within five minutes, Chucky Lozano registered the first shot on target for either team, hitting the crossbar and signaling San Diego’s intent to score. Lozano soon had another opportunity. Luca De La Torre’s attempt to pass into the six-yard box was intercepted by Edvard Tagseth. Palacios then cleared the ball to Hany Mukhtar, who spotted Sam Surridge making a run. However, Mukhtar’s pass was intercepted by Jeppe Tverskov. Tverskov then delivered a through pass to Anders Dreyer, who was on the nearside. Chucky Lozano, positioned to Dreyer’s left, had only Walker Zimmerman to beat. As Zimmerman closed in on Dreyer, space opened up for Lozano, who capitalized on the opportunity. Lozano’s shot from inside the penalty area found the back of the net past the goalkeeper’s left side, marking his seventh goal of the season. Dreyer earned his MLS-leading 14th assist, and according to fbref.com, he and Lionel Messi are tied with 25 goal contributions. This was the third time this season Lozano received an assist from Dreyer.

After the goal, Nashville increased their shots on target and maintained more possession in San Diego’s half. In response, Mikey Varas brought Anibal Godoy into the midfield to solidify the defense, replacing Tomas Angel. Emmanuel Boateng also entered the match late for Chucky Lozano.

In the 81st minute, during a corner kick, Dreyer’s kick was deflected by Nashville out of the penalty area. Verhoeven headed the ball to Luca Bombino on the far side. Bombino passed to Boateng in the penalty area, who then passed to Valakari. Valakari was fouled by Patrick Yazbek inside the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick for San Diego FC. Anders Dreyer took the penalty, but his low shot to the right was saved by goalkeeper Joe Willis. This was San Diego’s first failed penalty kick of the season. Dreyer had previously taken three penalty kicks this season, all low and to the left, suggesting a need for a change in strategy for future attempts.

Despite the missed penalty, San Diego maintained strong defense, closing out the match with a 1-0 victory. Pablo Sisniega recorded his first clean sheet of the season with four saves. Ian Pilcher made four blocks, including one shot and three passes blocked. Manu Duah led the team with nine clearances, significantly more than Luca Bombino’s three. The defensive line’s performance demonstrated their ongoing development and strong play.

Leagues Cup Preview

San Diego FC’s next challenge is the Leagues Cup, a competition primarily featuring teams from MLS and Liga MX. This differs from the Concacaf Champions Cup, which includes teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. This year marks the fifth edition of the Leagues Cup and introduces a new format.

The top eighteen MLS teams from the 2024 season will participate, with the exception of the Vancouver Whitecaps, who have been replaced by San Diego FC due to their participation in two other competitions this season. All 18 Liga MX teams will also compete.

The Leagues Cup format divides teams into Western and Eastern Clubs based on geographical and performance criteria. Teams are also tiered from 1 to 3, with each team facing an opponent from a different tier. In the first round, each team will play three matches based on their tier. For example, San Diego FC, a Tier 3 team, will play against Tier 1 Club Tigres, Tier 2 Club Pachuca, and Tier 3 Mazatlan.

The competition features separate Liga MX and MLS tables. To advance to the knockout stage, teams must finish in the top four of their respective tables. The first round of the knockout stage, the quarterfinals, will feature an MLS team competing against a Liga MX team. The tournament will run for a month, from July 29th to August 31st. There are no ties in the Leagues Cup; a winner must always be determined. If a match is tied after 90 minutes, both teams receive one point, and the winner of a penalty shootout earns an additional point. Teams winning within regulation time receive three points. To learn more about the Leagues Cup format, click here.

On July 29th, San Diego FC will begin their Leagues Cup campaign against Pachuca. Pachuca holds significance for Chucky Lozano, as it was the club where he started his senior career. In four seasons with Pachuca, Lozano scored 28 goals and provided 18 assists across all competitions. Pachuca is currently coached by former Mexican National Manager Jamie Lozano. In the Clasura, Pachuca finished eighth in the league table and reached the quarterfinals before losing to Club America.

On August 1st, San Diego FC will face Tigres UANL. Tigres finished fourth in the Clasura and reached the semi-finals in May, where they lost to eventual champions Toluca. Tigres is led by 35-year-old Guido Pizzarro, who played for the club from 2013-2017 and again from 2018-2025, with a season spent at Sevilla. Another notable player on their roster is Andre-Pierre Gignac, who has scored over 157 goals and provided 37 assists for Tigres in 11 seasons since joining from Marseille in 2015.

Finally, San Diego FC’s third opponent in the Leagues Cup group stage will be Mazatlan. Mazatlan finished 16th in the Clasura and did not qualify for the Liguilla. Mazatlan, established in 2020, is the newest club in Liga MX, formed after Monarcas Morelia relocated to Mazatlan. This move was unpopular at the time, leading to the creation of Atletico Morelia, which plays in the second division of Liga MX. Mazatlan hired Robert Siboldi in May, who previously coached Club Tijuana in 2021.

A recap of the first two Leagues Cup matches will likely be provided after Friday’s game, offering an update on San Diego FC’s standing in the competition and their potential for winning a trophy this season.