February 10 – Pumas UNAM has the Mt. Everest of comebacks on their hands after a 4-1 loss on the road to tournament debutants San Diego FC in the 1st leg of the opening round of the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
The three-time champions will welcome SDFC to the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City for the Second Leg, knowing the scenarios for advancement are clear but herculean. Win 3-0, by a four-goal margin, or repeat the scoreline of last week and send the tie to penalties.
San Diego FC arrives in Mexico on the back of one of the great MLS performances in the history of the competition.
Despite falling behind to a spectacular scissor kick from Robert Morales, San Diego responded in style. Goals from Manu Duah, David Vazquez, Alex Mighten, and Luca Bombino sealed the comeback, however the key to the result was the form of playmaker, Anders Dreyer, whom Pumas had no answer to. Mike Varney’s side is firmly in control of the series, and the head coach was clearly elated after the match.
“First and foremost, I think the most important thing is just to take a second and recognize the moment that we just lived right now, because these boys had three and a half weeks of training. Their break got cut by a week, they had to come back a week earlier, and they played against a team who’s four games into their season, and not one excuse dripped from a single pore of them. And, I think you’re not always rewarded in life for having the right mentality, but when you are rewarded, how sweet it is,” said San Diego coach Mikey Varas.
For Pumas, the defeat was historic as it marked only the second time they have lost to a debuting club in the competition, with the first coming way back in 1978 against U. de Guadalajara. They also became just the third Mexican club to concede four goals away from home in the first leg of a two-legged tie.
New head coach Efraín Juárez is now under immediate pressure from a fan base that demands excellence.
The tactic of parking the pass after opening the scoring in San Diego clearly failed, and a new approach will be required to overcome a deficit.
February 10th – 2nd Leg: Pumas UNAM (1) – (4) San Diego FC