San Diego FC defeat Mazatlan FC 2-0, eliminated from Leagues Cup
Credit: SDFC
San Diego FC played its last game in the 2025 Leagues Cup this Tuesday, August 5, against Mazatlan FC at Snapdragon Stadium. It was an uneventful tournament for SDFC with previous defeats against Pachuca and Tigres UANL at home.
However, it was a very good result against Mazatlan with a 2-0 victory against Los Bukaneros at the Mission Valley Fortress. Manager Mikey Varas had been using an alternate lineup all tournament and continued with that trend in this third and final game.
This was the lineup that Varas used: CJ dos Santos, Franco Negri, Manu Duah, Christopher McVey, Hamady Diop, Anibal Godoy, Luca de la Torre, David Vazquez, Alex Mighten, Hirving Lozano, Tomas Angel.
Key players such as Anders Dreyer and Onni Valakari began the game on the bench. While other players like Jeppe Tverskov and Paddy McNair are still struggling with injuries.
Mazatlan FC had won its first two games against LAFC and Houston, and were fighting to qualify to the next round in this match. The team from Sinaloa put out a strong lineup, but really struggled to see much of the ball throughout the match.
SDFC controlled 78-percent of the sphere in the opening 45 minutes and the visitors had no shots in that first half. San Diego had three shots on target in the first half, but were unable to be clinical in front of the net.
San Diego continued to see over 70-percent of the ball in the second half, really taking command of the game. Varas made his first substitution of the game at the start of the second half as Ian Pilcher replaced Christopher Mcvey.
Varas then made three changes in the 63rd minute when Onni Valakari, Pedro Soma and Anders Dreyer came on for Luca de la Torre, Anibal Godoy and Hirving Lozano. The San Diego manager was clearly going for an aggressive approach, while resting some key players like Lozano and de la Torre.
Those changes proved to be crucial to San Diego’s eventual victory as they responded on the pitch.
Onni Valakari scored the first goal of the match in the 65th minute via a well-located shot from the edge of the box. The scoring drive started with an offensive run by Anders Dreyer, who assisted Valakari on the play.
San Diego goes up! ☝️
Onni Valakari slots the breakthrough against Mazatlán. #LeaguesCup2025 | 📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/Og037JOKeA pic.twitter.com/pIzYNkZ5oq
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 6, 2025
Valakari went on to net a brace with a second goal in the 74th minute as he scored via a shot from inside of the box. Newcomer David Vazquez assisted the Finnish player on the goal with a perfect pass near the edge of the penalty area.
Valakari finishes it again on Mazatlán! ✌️#LeaguesCup2025 pic.twitter.com/odmyxK1tNr
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 6, 2025
Soon after the goal, Mazatlan’s Nicolas Benedetti received a red card and the game was a lock for SDFC. However, there was nothing on the line for San Diego, nothing to gain from this victory.
After a nonchalant display from Mikey Varas with his lineups throughout the tournament, qualification to the next round was not possible. San Diego will get right back to work on the MLS campaign, visiting Kansas City this August 9.
SDFC’s next home game will be on August 23 against Portland at Snapdrgon Stadium.
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.