San Diego FC hosted Toluca FC for the first leg of a round of 16 CONCACAF Champions Cup match this Wednesday, March 11, at Snapdragon Stadium.

SDFC defeated Pumas UNAM in the first round of the competition and were looking to repeat that magic in the second round. San Diego defeated Pumas 4-1 at the Mission Valley Fortress, but there seemed to be more uncertainty heading into this game.

There were some surprises to the starting 11 as Duran Ferree received another start after being the consistent starter in MLS play. This was a surprise in net as Pablo Sisniega had been the starter in both previous games against Pumas in the Champions Cup.

Plenty of Toluca FC fans already around Snapdragon Stadium, like sole captured in this image. #SDFC@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/ushBFtPXMr

— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) March 12, 2026

Oscar Verhoeven received his first start of the year in the right-back slot. David Vazquez filled a void in the midfield left by Anibal Godoy, who was out of this match due to yellow card accumulation.

Godoy’s absence seemed significant in this match that required his type of physical presence in certain moments. However, Vazquez really stepped up in a monumental way against Los Diablos Rojos. The game flow took an immediate turn early in this match as Marcus Ingvartsen received a red card in just the 12th minute.

A careless challenge by the Danish striker on Marcel Ruiz inside the box cost him the red card. Jesus Gallardo stepped up to take the penalty, and the Mexico international finished the opportunity with ease.

¡Gallardo desde los once pasos! 💥 pic.twitter.com/1zD4QIZdCp

— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 12, 2026

San Diego was now down 1-0, down a man, and had less possession than the opposition. This is a rarity at Snapdragon Stadium and across the MLS, as SDFC usually likes to maintain control of the sphere.

Mikey Varas changed his usual style of play very early on and now tries to bank on quick-paced counter-attacking play. This worked out in the 32nd minute when David Vazquez was able to tie up the score.

10-man San Diego levels it with Liga MX’s Toluca! 💥@TheChampions pic.twitter.com/TC4e9oq2VB

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2026

Luca Bombino passed the ball to Amahl Pellegrino, who glided into the box and was able to find Vazquez in between three defenders. The young midfielder really came through with his clinical ability to tie the score.

Toluca suffered a big loss in the 41st minute as Marcel Ruiz had to be replaced by Nicolas Castro due to an injury.

The first half became heated in the final moments of it with some pushing and shoving from both sides. Everardo Lopez pushed Anders Dreyer and received a yellow card as a result of it. This is where someone with the physicality and toughness of Anibal Godoy would come in handy.

Surprisingly, Mikey Varas made no changes at halftime after that red card to Ingvartsen. The home team came out with tremendous energy at the start of the second half, and David Vazquez immediately scored his second of the night in the 46th minute.

David Vazquez again just mere seconds into the second half! 🤯

10-man San Diego leads 2-1 on Toluca. | @TheChampions pic.twitter.com/h5T6XxAVSC

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2026

The 20-year-old midfielder was able to again finish with calmness inside the box, this time off an assist by Luca Bombino. SDFC struck again in the 53rd minute with Anders Dreyer providing yet another goal contribution this year.

Bombino passed the ball to Dreyer on the edge of the box and sent a lobbed shot that curled its way into the back of the net. SDFC miraculously was now up 3-1 with a man down against the back-to-back Liga MX champions.

Anders Dreyer banger against Toluca to make it 3-1! 🚨@SanDiegoFC | @TheChampions pic.twitter.com/MjGoqqROpb

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2026

Varas did not make his first changes of the game until the 61st minute when Ian Pilcher and Lewis Morgan came on for Oscar Verhoeven and David Vazquez.

Vazquez had provided a career game, improvising as a forward with Ingvartsen’s red card. Morgan now received minutes in his second consecutive game after being one of the more notable signings for San Diego in the recent offseason.

Antonio Mohamed kept on pushing to try and gain a better result by bringing on players like Helinho and Alexis Vega in the second half.

The expected game script for this game was nothing like how it played out, with SDFC having less possession but being up on the scoreboard. Despite seeing more of the ball, Toluca’s offense was lacking in a major way.

By the 80th minute, Los Escarlatas only had three shots on target and just one in the second half. Top goalscorer Paulinho did not have a shot in the game until the 80th minute, when an attempt of his soared off target.

Toluca was desperately seeking at least one more goal out of this game, while San Diego was defending this unexpected lead. The visitors regained some hope in this search when a handball by Manu Duah was called inside the penalty box in the 87th minute.

A shot by Paulinho was blocked, but Duah clearly made contact with his arm as he was shown his second yellow card and was also expelled from the game.

Helinho stepped up to take the penalty and struck it with plenty of confidence to make it a 3-2 game. San Diego was now down to nine men and only had a one-goal lead with two away goals to worry about.

¡Penal ejecutado con firmeza! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/PwSFtRoSCd

— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 12, 2026

In stoppage time, Varas made two adjustments to try to close out the game with a lead. Pedro Soma and Osvald Soe came on for Amahl Pellegrino and Onni Valakari. Dreyer was then replaced in the 95th minute for Bryce Duke.

Toluca now seemed like the team in full control in this series, with the return leg in Toluca and just a slim lead to overcome. Given the circumstances, this was a positive result, especially considering the early red card.

However, heading into Toluca with just a goal advantage, two away goals to worry about, and without two key starters is worrisome for SDFC.

San Diego fought with plenty of intensity in this match and will now need to work even harder to maintain this slim lead at La Bombonera.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 28, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego FC, San Diego Wave. I have covered Liga MX, MLS, Mexico National Team, USWNT, Copa América and European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.