February 11 – After one of the most dominating Champions Cup displays ever seen by a Major League Soccer team, San Diego FC carried a three-goal cushion to the home of Pumas UNAM in the 1st round of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
It would prove enough as the three-time winners of the tournament could only find one goal, losing 4-2 on aggregate.
San Diego coach, Mikey Varas, obviously loved what he saw last week at Snapdragon Stadium and named the same team that had scored four in an explosive 20-minute period in the second-half. A quite remarkable spell considering it was SDFC’s first competitive game of the season.
With rumors of the sack swirling around, Efraín Juárez, the Pumas coach rolled the dice and completely changed his system of play. From the conservative 5-4-1 of the away leg, he switched to a 3-4-3 as he knew his side would have to chase scoring opportunities.
Playing 7,000 feet above sea-level in the Mexican capital, the home team would have a clear advantage; a fast start was paramount.
With attack being the best form of defense, they opened the game on the front foot, creating chances. First Juninho, then Rubén Duarte, and Jordán Carrillo, all made Pablo Sisniega work in the San Diego goal in the first 14 minutes.
With Pumas pushing players forward, they would always be vulnerable to counter-attacks, and when 1st leg tormentor, Anders Dreyer, teed up Amahl Pellegrino, only the post saved Pumas from falling further behind.
Juninho and Carrillo continued to push the pace, prompted by Pedro Vite, but with Sisniega in imperious form, San Diego kept Pumas at arm’s length.
With the half-time whistle, Efraín Juárez could admire most of the stats. Twelve shots, over 60% possession, 75% of aerial duels won, but no goals. With a three-goal deficit to make up, a fast start to the second-half would be critical.
Two minutes in, Vite’s left foot was purring as he beat Sisniega from distance with a free-kick. Now, Pumas pressed the accelerator, knowing two more goals and a clean sheet would see them advance on away goals.
Cue, San Diego’s back line to step up and start smothering the game. Both center backs, Christopher McVey and Manu Duah, were coolness personified, nullifying anything positive that Pumas could generate.
For close to 20 minutes, the away team, playing just their second competitive game of the season, took the steam out of Pumas, much to the frustration of Juárez and the home faithful who were growing increasingly restless at the lack of opportunities their team was creating.
With just ten minutes remaining, Juninho tested Sisniega. Then Adalberto Carrasquilla had his opportunity at the San Diego keeper, who denied him superbly.
The race was run for Pumas, and in frustration, Rubén Duarte picked up his second yellow card for a nasty foul. Referee Hector Martinez had no option, and the red card was shown, summing up the evening for the former three-time winners of the Champions Cup. Efraín Juárez will be nervously eyeing his phone tomorrow morning.
For Mikey Varas, this two-legged tie has been nothing short of sensational and transformational for his team. This performance oozed professionalism, and a marker has been thrown down to the Mexican clubs who look at this tournament as their birthright.
San Diego FC are here for real, and their next opponents in the round of 16, Toluca, will realise that both legs will require more than they have shown to date in Liga MX.
The 4-2 aggregate score did not flatter SDFC, and they were more than good value for the performance of the tournament so far.
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