San Diego FC surge past Pumas UNAM 4-1 at Snapdragon in Concacaf Champions Cup debut

Four second-half goals put San Diego in control of two-leg series

San Diego FC opened its 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup campaign with a 4-1 first-leg victory over Mexico’s Pumas UNAM on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Snapdragon Stadium, producing a decisive second-half surge after trailing at halftime.

Pumas struck first in the 11th minute through Robert Morales, who finished a cross with an acrobatic scissor-style strike to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. San Diego carried much of the early rhythm but went into the break behind despite sustained pressure.

Set pieces and pressure flipped the match after the hour

The turning point came in the 68th minute on a corner kick delivered by Anders Dreyer. Manu Duah rose to head home the equalizer for his first professional goal, changing both the scoreline and the shape of the contest. San Diego added a second goal eight minutes later when David Vazquez converted a headed finish from a service into the box.

The lead expanded quickly. In the 81st minute, Alex Mighten scored from close range after a save by Pumas goalkeeper Keylor Navas left a rebound in a dangerous area. In the 86th minute, Luca Bombino capped the scoring when Pumas failed to fully clear in front of goal, allowing San Diego to turn a loose ball into a fourth goal.

Match indicators underscored San Diego’s control

Beyond the final score, the underlying match profile reflected a one-sided night in San Diego’s favor. San Diego finished with 73% possession and a 10-0 advantage in corner kicks. The home side also led 22-4 in total shots and 7-2 in shots on goal, consistent with a game in which Pumas spent extended stretches defending and struggled to relieve pressure after halftime.

What the result means for the return leg in Mexico City

The Round One matchup is decided on aggregate score across two legs. San Diego will take a three-goal advantage into the return match on Tuesday, Feb. 10, in Mexico City at Estadio Olímpico Universitario. With the series now tilted heavily toward the MLS club, Pumas faces a steep task in the second leg to reverse the deficit.

• First leg (Feb. 3, San Diego): San Diego FC 4, Pumas UNAM 1

• Second leg (Feb. 10, Mexico City): Pumas UNAM vs. San Diego FC

• Next round: The series winner advances to face Toluca in the Round of 16

San Diego’s four-goal burst in a 17-minute span transformed a one-goal deficit into a commanding aggregate lead heading into the second leg.