San Diego FC loses 2-1 to Tigres and is nearly eliminated from Leagues Cup 2025

San Diego FC falls 2-1 to Tigres at Snapdragon and is all but out of the Leagues Cup

The team from California couldn’t rise to the occasion in a must-win match and now faces early elimination

A do-or-die match slips through their fingers

San Diego, August 1 – With their tournament life hanging by a thread, San Diego FC hosted Tigres UANL in a decisive Leagues Cup fixture on Friday night. After losing 3-2 to Pachuca earlier in the week, this match was a must-win—but the result was a crushing 2-1 loss that virtually ends their hopes of progressing.

From the start, Tigres took control, frustrating San Diego with direct attacks and dominating possession. At minute 31, a long-range shot spilled by goalkeeper Sisniega led to Ángel Correa pouncing on the rebound for the opening goal. The goal highlighted the continued absence of CJ Dos Santos, whose presence has been sorely missed.

Brief reaction not enough to change the outcome

San Diego came out of halftime with renewed urgency, and in the 55th minute, Tomás Ángel capitalized on a rare chance to bring the match level at 1-1. The goal injected energy into the home crowd at Snapdragon Stadium and gave the team a glimmer of hope.

One of the surprises was Hirving “Chucky” Lozano starting on the bench. He entered in the 61st minute to try and tip the balance. At the same time, Tigres introduced their legend André-Pierre Gignac, signaling their intention to take full control of the match.

Another defensive lapse proves costly

Barely five minutes after the substitutions, San Diego's defensive vulnerabilities were once again exposed. A poor clearance by Duah in the 66th minute allowed Ángel Correa to score his second of the night and put Tigres back in front 2-1.

After the go-ahead goal, San Diego struggled to find rhythm. Despite having attacking talent on the field, they failed to generate dangerous chances. With the clock ticking, frustration set in and the team could not mount another comeback.

Mathematical hope, but practical elimination

While San Diego FC is not yet mathematically eliminated, the chances of advancing are now almost nonexistent. Tuesday’s final group stage match against Mazatlán FC may be seen as a formality—although Mazatlán has shown fight in recent editions of the tournament.

Head coach Mikey Varas will face a decision: rest starters to focus on maintaining top position in the Western Conference of MLS, or try to salvage pride in front of their fans.

A bitter disappointment at home

In a match that was billed as the most important of their short Leagues Cup campaign, San Diego FC fell short once again. With defensive errors, missed opportunities, and a lack of late-game urgency, the result leaves the team on the brink of early elimination.

Now, all that remains is to regroup, reflect, and refocus on league play. For the supporters who filled the Snapdragon, the disappointment was palpable.