San Diego FC advances past Pumas UNAM in Concacaf Champions Cup behind key saves and discipline

San Diego carries first-leg cushion through a difficult second leg in Mexico City

San Diego FC advanced to the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 after defeating Pumas UNAM 4-2 on aggregate in a two-leg Round One series. The newly minted MLS club built its advantage with a 4-1 home victory on February 3 at Snapdragon Stadium, then absorbed sustained pressure in a 1-0 loss on February 10 at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City.

The aggregate result underscored a clear split between legs: San Diego’s attacking surge in the second half of the opener created separation, while the return match demanded game management and goalkeeping under heavy volume.

Four-goal second half at Snapdragon Stadium set the tone

Pumas struck first in San Diego, taking an 11th-minute lead through Robert Morales. San Diego responded after halftime with four goals in an 18-minute span, turning the match decisively in its favor.

• Manu Duah equalized in the 68th minute with a header from a corner delivered by Anders Dreyer.
• David Vazquez put San Diego ahead in the 76th minute, finishing a cross from Wilson Eisner.
• Alex Mighten made it 3-1 in the 81st minute on a rebound.
• Luca Bombino added the fourth in the 86th minute from close range.

San Diego controlled possession for long stretches of the first leg and generated repeated set-piece pressure, finishing with a multi-goal advantage that shaped the tactical reality of the second leg.

Second leg: early second-half goal, sustained attacks, and a critical goalkeeping workload

Pumas won the second leg 1-0 on February 10, with Pedro Vite scoring in the 47th minute to reduce the deficit. From that point, the match became a test of San Diego’s defensive organization and its ability to limit second-chance opportunities without conceding the additional goals Pumas needed to flip the tie.

Pumas produced a high shot volume in Mexico City, including multiple efforts on target. San Diego’s goalkeeper was credited with eight saves in the match, a decisive factor in preserving the aggregate lead through extended pressure and late-game sequences.

Across the two matches, San Diego’s path to advancement combined a dominant attacking spell at home with a lower-possession, higher-defending performance away.

What comes next

With the Round One series complete, San Diego FC advances to the Round of 16, where the bracketed opponent is Toluca FC. The club’s first Champions Cup tie ends with a clear statistical narrative: an explosive first-leg turnaround and a second-leg performance defined by defensive discipline and high-impact goalkeeping.

San Diego will now balance its international schedule with the start of its MLS campaign, which opens February 21 at Snapdragon Stadium against CF Montréal.