San Diego FC Beats Mazatlán 2-0 in Final Leagues Cup Match

San Diego FC Closes Leagues Cup with 2-0 Win Over Mazatlán in an Empty Snapdragon Stadium

Valakari scores a brace as San Diego finishes group stage with a win, but fans send a clear message

SAN DIEGO, CA (August 5, 2025) — In what felt more like a preseason scrimmage than a tournament fixture, San Diego FC secured its first and only victory of the Leagues Cup with a 2-0 win over Mazatlán FC on Tuesday night. The empty stands at Snapdragon Stadium served as a striking backdrop for a team that entered the competition with high expectations — and left with disappointment.

Slow First Half, Electric Second

Despite a flat crowd atmosphere, San Diego began the match with intent, pushing forward and trying to salvage some pride from the group stage. Mazatlán, the surprise team of the tournament, stayed compact in defense and held San Diego to a goalless first half.

The turning point came in the 58th minute, when Mazatlán's Colula committed a reckless foul. VAR reviewed the incident, but to the frustration of the home side, the decision stood as a yellow rather than a red.

Just minutes later, in the 65th minute, the breakthrough finally arrived. Saku Ylätupa Valakari opened the scoring with a brilliant strike from outside the box, assisted by recent substitute Marcus Dreyer. The shot curled into the top corner, giving the hosts a much-needed lead.

Valakari Delivers Again, CJ Dos Santos Shines

In the 71st minute, a defensive lapse from San Diego nearly gave Mazatlán a way back in — but goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos, returning to the lineup, made a world-class save in a one-on-one situation. The play was ultimately called offside, but Dos Santos’ intervention highlighted what the team had been missing in prior matches.

Valakari struck again in the 74th minute, calmly slotting home his second of the night after a defensive breakdown from the visitors.

Moments later, Mazatlán’s Benedetti lost his cool after a foul call and confronted the referee — earning a straight red card in the 78th minute and leaving his team with ten players.

Dos Santos would again come up huge in the 86th minute, winning another one-on-one battle to preserve his clean sheet.

A Win, But Not Redemption

While the 2-0 victory puts San Diego on the board, the empty stadium spoke louder than the scoreline. The fans' absence was a message of frustration — a sign that hopes had been dashed long before kickoff.

With the Leagues Cup now behind them, San Diego must shift its focus to the MLS campaign, where the club remains in the hunt for the top spot in the Western Conference. The playoffs are drawing closer, and the team has a golden opportunity to make a mark in its inaugural season.

But after a Leagues Cup filled with missed chances, the question remains: will it be enough?