Midway through the season came and went. The break is over. The battle for first place in the West takes place on Wednesday.

San Diego FC travels to Canada to play the Whitecaps for sole possession of number one, something that’s surely been on everyone’s mind, right?

“I honestly haven’t thought about it one time before we just brought it up,” says SDFC head coach Mike Varas. “Now I’m thinking about it.”

Typically, during a short break, many players try to reset and focus on things that matter most in life, such as family, mental health, and friends. For some, though, flipping that switch isn’t easy.

“You never really switch off. You’re always thinking about it a little bit,” says SDFC midfielder Onni Valakari. “I think that’s a problem for many footballers. It’s harder to switch off than to keep staying focused.”

Maybe that is a testament to Mikey Varas and the coaching staff as they prepared their squad to be mentally focused on the road ahead. After all, not many people thought SDFC would be in a position to battle it out for first place just past the halfway point of the season. What a privilege it is – for an expansion team to have a chance at first place, and the players know it.

Scoping the Opposition

The opportunity to wear the Western Division crown comes at a good time for San Diego. The Whitecaps are missing some of their best players due to Gold Cup obligations. Most notably, Brian White, who is amongst the league leaders in goals scored (10), and Sebastian Berhalter, an outside midfielder whose ability to create chances with accurate passing and quick movement earned him a USMNT call-up.

The Canadian side will be without key local talent for the upcoming clash against San Diego, as starting wingers Jayden Nelson and Ali Ahmed have been called up to represent Team Canada at the Gold Cup. Their absence marks a proud moment for the club, but a significant gap in the lineup – and it shows.

A Rare Loss

Last Saturday, the Whitecaps lost only their second match of the season, falling 1-2 to the Columbus Crew. While Columbus is a great team and nothing should be taken away from their performance, the Whitecaps clearly played a level below their typical showing. One major gap where they struggled was in transition.

Vancouver pressed high up front and played a high line in the back, both of which Columbus took advantage of. Notice how Vancouver got caught pressing high and were slow in transitioning back, which led to a quick counterattack with some slick passing and a clinical finish for the first goal of the game.

IBRACADABRA 🪄
THAT WAS FAST ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Q0qo2imgag

— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) June 14, 2025

Keys to the Game

This is an area where San Diego excels. If Vancouver plans to deploy a high press, they’ll need to proceed with caution—San Diego thrives on exploiting aggressive setups and ranks among the league’s best at turning pressure into opportunity.

Vancouver played a high defensive line against the Crew, and although dangerous, they did a good job of keeping a disciplined line. Columbus had three goals disallowed due to offside calls. Say whatever you want, but that is a lot of chances given up. Yes, they didn’t count, but some were just slightly offside. San Diego is great at attacking space and sending overhead passes into the attacking zone. Matter of fact, they’re one of the best at it.

The Latest on Chucky Lozano

I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that Mikey Varas confirmed that Chucky is good to go. The bad news is that the earliest he will be available is during the weekend match at Dallas.

“Yeah, he’s looking really good,” says Varas. “He would have been available for Vancouver, but we had the CBA break, so we’re just out of precaution and making sure we’re thinking long term, he’ll be available for Dallas as long as everything looks good.”

SDFC’s International Call Ups

This means that SDFC is closer than ever to being back at full strength. Luca de la Torre and Anibal Godoy, both of whom saw their respective teams advance to the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup, will remain unavailable until further notice. Head Coach Mikey Varas recently spoke with the two and gave some encouragement as they prepare for the knockout round of the tournament.

“Just let them know we’re keeping an eye on them. We’re really proud of their performances, but that we miss them and are looking forward to them doing well there and then coming back.”, Varas said.

In their absence, guys like Alejandro Alvarado and Onni Valakari have been given more playing time. Alvarado’s performances have visibly improved, whereas Valakari’s form looked shaky at times. The Finnish international will look to put in a hard-working shift on Wednesday.

‘Super Sub’ or Starter?

At this point, it’s anyone’s guess when it comes to Milan Iloski starting or being available off the bench. Iloski has been wonderful during the international window, with many fans calling for him to start. Despite what the fans want, it’s impossible to ignore the success he’s had off the bench. Deemed ‘Super Sub’, Iloski doesn’t mind either way as long as his name is called upon to help the squad in any way possible.

An Important Week

This week is pivotal for San Diego. A chance at first place in the West on Wednesday, and a possible privilege to defend the throne on Saturday. Surely, the players are focused on one step at a time.

“We’re not thinking far ahead because football doesn’t work like that. You have to be present in the moment, build the team, and establish the identity of how we want to play. And then, when the games come, you’re ready for the games,” says Valakari.

Two games in four days are tough on any team. One thing is for certain – San Diego FC was built for this.

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Dmitry Anisimov

Dmitry Anisimov is a San Diego native who played soccer up to the college level when he represented the SDSU Men’s Club Soccer team. Growing up in San Diego, Dmitry is a fan of all the home teams but he specifically couldn’t wait until San Diego got an MLS team. Once that dream became reality, Dmitry married his love for writing and the game of soccer to portray a voice of the San Diego soccer community. There is a deep-rooted love of soccer culture in San Diego and Dmitry hopes to bring it to light through his pre and post-game coverage of all things San Diego FC.