SAN DIEGO — San Diego FC doesn’t have time to dwell on its exit from the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. The membership’s first run within the event resulted in a humbling trend in opposition to Deportivo Toluca F.C., the back-to-back Liga MX champions.
San Diego surprised Toluca within the first leg of the Spherical of 16, incomes a gritty 3-2 win at Snapdragon Stadium. That outcome got here regardless of taking place a person early and conceding a penalty. The return leg, nevertheless, instructed a unique story.
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At Estadio Nemesio Díez, the mixture of altitude, expertise, and physicality proved an excessive amount of for the most recent MLS enlargement membership. Toluca pulled away to safe a 6-3 mixture victory.
Head coach Mikey Varas instructed the media on the Sharp HealthCare Efficiency Heart on Friday that his staff is set to ship a “bounce-back efficiency,” and that his squad might be at full energy, with no gamers resting and no new accidents to report.
“An important factor is that the staff went for it,” Varas stated concerning the event. “We had been actually courageous to go for it. We left all the things on the sector. We’ve acquired a terrific preventing spirit about us—a no excuse mentality, by way of having a brief preparation and a shorter break and nonetheless making run.”
The Sporting Tribune requested ahead Marcus Ingvartsen concerning the staff’s emotions after their Champions Cup elimination, and he stated the group needed to “do one thing particular.” He went on to say that it was a troublesome recreation, however the staff has been enjoying properly and sees room for enchancment.
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SDFC now turns its consideration again to MLS play, closing out a demanding stretch of 5 matches in 15 days. Subsequent up is a house match in opposition to Actual Salt Lake on Sunday at Snapdragon Stadium, simply earlier than the March worldwide break.
March 20, 2026: San Diego FC ahead Marcus Ingvartsen at coaching forward of their Western Convention conflict in opposition to Actual Salt Lake.
Sebastian Sanchez – The Sporting Tribune
March 20, 2026: San Diego FC ahead Marcus Ingvartsen at coaching forward of their Western Convention conflict in opposition to Actual Salt Lake.
Salt Lake is off to a promising begin, successful three straight in opposition to Seattle Sounders FC (2-1), Atlanta United (3-2), and, most just lately, Austin FC (2-1). They misplaced their season opener to the Vancouver Whitecaps. It needs to be Western Convention conflict.
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The Utah staff has 5 completely different objective scorers. Aiden Hezarkhani, an 18-year-old ahead, leads the way in which with two objectives. Diego Luna, a two-time All-Star, returned to motion this previous weekend after lacking the primary three video games. New designated participant Morgan Guilavogui has contributed an help however continues to be searching for his first MLS objective.
Varas had excessive reward for the opposing staff, saying they’re an excellent, well-coached staff with younger gamers. They’re a staff that performs with high-press, their three center-backs are aggressive, they usually use the goalkeeper very successfully.
“It’s going to take our best possible this weekend,” he stated.
In the meantime, San Diego is likely one of the 5 unbeaten groups heading into MLS Matchday 5. Of their final league match, they dropped two factors within the remaining moments, conceding a objective to FC Dallas 5 minutes into added time. SDFC has a +8 objective differential by 4 video games.
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San Diego has protected its dwelling pitch in 2026. Throughout all competitions at Snapdragon Stadium, they’ve scored 14 objectives and allowed simply three.
Ingvartsen and Manu Duah will return to the lineup this weekend after serving their crimson card suspension on Wednesday. In Dallas, Pablo Sisniega began on the goalkeeper place, however we’ll possible see 19-year-old Duran Ferree again within the internet.
March 20, 2026: San Diego FC goalkeepers Pablo Sisniega, Duran Ferree, and CJ dos Santos.
Sebastian Sanchez – The Sporting Tribune
March 20, 2026: San Diego FC goalkeepers Pablo Sisniega, Duran Ferree, and CJ dos Santos.
Ferree allowed 4 objectives in opposition to Toluca and made a vital mistake on the primary objective, however the loss was not fully his fault. The Liga MX staff had 27 pictures, with 12 of them on the right track, and the younger keeper made 9 saves underneath fixed stress.
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Varas was happy with Ferree’s efficiency, viewing it as a superb studying expertise in coping with excessive stress. “General, the man made some unimaginable saves and was actually courageous in that match,” he stated. “It was a terrific stepping stone for him.”
The upcoming worldwide break comes at time for San Diego, providing an opportunity to reset after a packed schedule. Six gamers are heading to their nationwide groups: Anders Dreyer (Denmark), Anisse Saidi (Tunisia), Aníbal Godoy (Panama), Onni Valakari (Finland), David Vazquez (United States U-20), and Luca Bombino (United States U-20).
After the break, they’ll return to motion on April 4 in San Jose.