Before facing San Diego FC, Nashville lost one match in their last ten. That loss came against Miami.

Winning against a surging team like Nashville, whether it’s at home or away, is anything but easy. SDFC stifled one of the top-scoring offenses in the league. San Diego rose to the occasion, showed character, and played true to its style.

In the next two weeks, SDFC will play four games. Three Leagues Cup games, which start on Tuesday, July 29, and one MLS game away vs. Sporting Kansas City on August 9. With the transfer window now open, Sporting Director Tyler Heaps strengthened a depleted roster by bringing in Pedro Soma and David Vazquez. Both players are 19 years old and are former U.S. U-20 internationals.

As always, let’s get into it!

Passing a Tough Test

The buzz was in the air on Friday evening in San Diego. 28,000 and change filled Snapdragon Stadium in anticipation of hosting a heavyweight contender. The game started fairly uneventfully – both teams played accurately, defensively, and were not willing to take risks. Both understood that one mistake, one goal, can be the difference in this game. It was.

In the 53rd minute, All-Stars Hirving Lozano and Anders Dreyer combined to put SDFC up 1-0. Jeppe Tverskov intercepted a bad pass in the midfield and sent a beautiful through ball to Dreyer. Lozano made a run into the box, and Dreyer found him with a slick pass that Chucky one-timed into the back of the net.

Good morning San Diego…

…enter the rest of your Comic-Con weekend pic.twitter.com/x4DsOKXGBH

— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) July 26, 2025

Onni Valakari showcased quick footwork when he was fouled inside the penalty box in the 83rd minute. Dreyer stepped up to take the kick but was denied by the Nashville keeper, Joe Willis. Dreyer had a chance to redeem himself in the final minute of the game, but it was not to be.

The SDFC defense launched a long ball forward, and Dreyer chased it down, carrying it all the way into the Nashville penalty area before calmly slotting it into the back of the net. However, the goal was disallowed—referee Drew Fischer had blown the final whistle just as the ball was cleared from the SDFC box.

The biggest question mark heading into the match was San Diego’s young back line facing a high-scoring Nashville offense. Head coach Mikey Varas put together a game plan where the youngsters didn’t need to take on the full brunt of the attack. He dropped his midfield back, where the LCM and the RCM played a pivotal role, while also helping to defend deep. This proved successful, as Nashville didn’t see much of the ball, with San Diego holding a 60-40 possession advantage.

After the game, Varas spoke about how proud he is of his team. “I’m proud of this group because, yes, we have talent and yes… we have a style of play that they commit to. That helps up and can be our competitive advantage… but this group also has a ton of character. Character was a massive, massive factory in this game, and that’s what makes me so excited.”

Analyzing SDFC’s Gameplay

Take a look at San Diego’s passing map below. Even though Varas played Luca de la Torre in the center, where Jeppe Tverskov typically plays, de la Torre spent most of his time on the left side of the field, providing an outlet between the left back and the offense.

Tverskov and Valakari found themselves playing a center pivot point, allowing the wing backs to move forward into the attack. This triangle system ensures an overload on counterattacks while still preserving a defensive presence. The result baffled Nashville’s defense and confused their midfield, leading to a turnover from a bad pass and the eventual game winner.

Leagues Cup

Tuesday marks the first time San Diego FC plays a meaningful match outside of the MLS. Leagues Cup is here, and SDFC has three Liga MX opponents lined up. The first and most difficult challenge will be against Pachuca, a decorated, historic Mexican club.

The storyline that will grab headlines surrounding this match will be Chucky Lozano’s connection to Pachuca. Lozano came up through the Pachuca youth system (2006-2014) and earned himself a start in the first team. He dominated Liga MX with Pachuca, scoring 31 goals in 120 appearances. That opportunity, that club, paved the way for a successful European career with PSV and Napoli.

It’ll be the first time that Lozano faces his boyhood club. Pachuca has been active in the transfer market, bringing in former Nashville SC striker Jhonder Cadiz to help fill the gap left by Salomon Rondon, who was loaned to La Liga side Real Oviedo.

Los Tuzos also boast standout talent in midfield, including Alan Bautista and Elias Montiel. They’ve further strengthened the squad with the high-profile signing of former Portugal international William Carvalho, who arrives in Liga MX after stints with Sporting CP and Real Betis.

It’ll be interesting to see how San Diego stacks up against one of the best from Mexico. Just like the game against Nashville, this will be a huge test for the Azul and Chrome. You can learn more about Leagues Cup by following the link here.

How to watch & stream

• Apple TV – MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+
• FS1

When

• Tuesday, July 29 | 11 pm ET/8 pm PT

Where

• Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego, California

First Signings of the Transfer Window

As rumored, San Diego FC officially signed midfielders Pedro Soma and David Vazquez. Soma seems more ready to step into a sub-role right away. His playing style suits San Diego’s, where he can be brave on the ball when playing out of the back and slowly builds up in the attack. Vazquez spent a lot of time with the Philadelphia Union’s B squad in MLS Next, so it may take a bit longer for him to reach a point where he can be a steady contributor to this San Diego team.

“He’s an intelligent midfielder with a very high level of technical ability and game understanding. He’s excellent in tight spaces, comfortable under pressure, and confident playing through the lines. Defensively, he brings an aggressive edge and a strong counter-pressing mentality. We’ve tracked him for some time and believe he can contribute immediately while continuing to develop in the years to come. We look forward to seeing his growth with San Diego FC,” said sporting director Tyler Heaps.

He also had promising words to say about Vazquez. “David is a high-potential player who fits the way we want to play. He’s creative in the final third, comfortable between the lines, and shown the ability to create with a final pass or shot. We’re excited to bring him closer to home and provide him with an environment where he can continue to grow.”

If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider following me on Instagram @sdfcnation and check out my website.

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.