San Diego FC eliminated from Champions Cup with 4-0 loss to Toluca
Credit: Liga MX
San Diego FC played the return-leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup series against Toluca this Wednesday, March 18. SDFC had defeated Toluca 3-2 in the first-leg at Snapdragon Stadium in what was a very physically draining game.
San Diego was without Marcus Ingvartsen and Manu Duah for this return leg, given that the pair had received red cards in the first-leg. Lewis Morgan filled in for Ingvartsen, while Ian Pilcher assumed the defensive responsibilities for Duah.
Estadio Nemesio Diez 🔥 pic.twitter.com/G3Yp9CTWRM
— Darren Smith (@DSmithShow) March 19, 2026
The rest of the starting 11 was as expected, with Duran Ferree getting the nod in between the sticks. Luca Bombino, Christopher McVey, and Oscar Verhoeven rounded up the rest of the backline.
#SDFC lineup to face Toluca. Lewis Morgan in for Ingvartsen, Pilcher in for Duah. pic.twitter.com/IyNDiIC08z
— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) March 19, 2026
The midfield consisted of Jeppe Tverskov, Anibal Godoy, and Anibal Godoy. Anders Dreyer and Amahl Pellegrino accompanied Morgan in the frontline.
This was expected to be a much different game than the initial clash with the massive home-field advantage for Toluca. The Estadio Nemesio Diez has the highest altitude (8,757 feet) out of any professional soccer stadium in North America.
This was always going to be a factor, and Mikey Varas and several players made note of this heading into this away game.
Toluca controlled possession out of the gate and bombarded Ferree’s net with plenty of strikes. The young goalkeeper responded with some crucial saves in the first half, but ended up making a crucial error towards the end of the first half.
Toluca pressed San Diego, and Ferree ended up giving the ball away to Nicolas Castro in San Diego’s penalty area. Castro hit the post on his strike, but Jesus Angulo was there to score on the rebound and make it a 1-0 game in the 43rd minute. Before this goal, Ferree had made some saves, and a goal by Toluca’s Bruno Mendez was even disallowed.
¡Angulo define adentro del área y empata el global para Toluca! pic.twitter.com/z1iwxOdRTJ
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 19, 2026
San Diego had some luck before that goal, but Toluca’s persistent press was too much to handle for Ferree and SDFC.
Mikey Varas’ team had just 31-percent possession and one shot to Toluca’s 14 in the opening 45 minutes. The dominant display put on by Toluca only grew in the second half, with three more goals to come.
Paulinho scored a beautiful goal in the 56th minute to make it 2-0. The Portugal international had a lovely back-heel finish to extend the home team’s lead and realistically put the series to bed at that point.
¡Increíble definición de Paulinho! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rCA1Pw46Ah
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 19, 2026
San Diego’s sense of urgency after that goal was really nowhere to be seen as the offense continued to be nonexistent throughout this match. Jesus Angulo scored his second goal of the match in the 59th minute to make it 3-0 and really take away any glimmer of hope for the visitors.
Varas did not decide to make any changes until after that goal, as David Vazquez and Osvald Soe replaced Lewis Morgan and Ian Pilcher in the 62nd minute.
Alex Mighten, Wilson Eisn, er and Anisse Saidi all came on in the later minutes, but no one was able to save this series for SDFC. Christopher McVey inclusively received a red card in the 85th minute as the suffering was not yet over for San Diego.
Jesus Gallardo rocketed a shot from just inside of the box to make it 4-0 in stoppage time after the red card. Toluca was the only team competing on the night and deservedly advanced to the next round of the competition.
El golazo de Jesús Gallardo 🤯 pic.twitter.com/rvJcglrsf9
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 19, 2026
San Diego’s result was overstimulated in the first leg due to the early red card for Ingvartsen. However, it was clear that a one-goal lead was never going to be enough against the back-to-back Liga MX champions.
While the defensive miscues were emphasized in this result, the lack of offensive production was also a deciding factor. It took Anders Dreyer 82 minutes to get a shot in this game, and the team finished with five shots to Toluca’s 27.
San Diego FC will now solely focus on MLS league play and will get back to work immediately. The Southern California side will host Real Salt Lake at Snapdragon Stadium this Sunday, March 22.
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.