A Giant Performance: The Match That Revealed San Diego FC’s True Ceiling

The fog rolled into Mission Valley right before kickoff. 32,500 fans filled every seat at Snapdragon Stadium as the sounds of the Viking clap were heard in the surrounding community. This was it - the first elimination game San Diego FC had every faced.

The result proved what was expected.

Strong Start

You can feel the tension in the air as SDFC played like they had something to prove after losing the previous match in Portland in a dramatic, last second tying goal and eventual penalties.

As the first whistle blew, the Chrome and Azul came out firing on all cylinders. They won the possession battle 62 - 38 and outshot Portland 10-8. Momentum was on San Diego's side from the beginning of the match until the end.

MVP chants rang out all night long as Anders Dreyer was first to get on the scoresheet. Onni Valakai lobbed a perfectly weighted pass into the opponent's box where Dreyer finished it off nicely.

Analyzing the Second Goal

San Diego FC’s second goal was a clear example of tactical manipulation and vertical efficiency. The sequence began with SDFC deliberately circulating the ball across the back line, a familiar pattern intended to draw Portland out of its defensive structure. As the Timbers committed numbers into a high press, the space they vacated fell right into San Diego's trap.

Once the pressure arrived, Dreyer and Valakari executed a quick combination to break the first line, immediately shifting the tempo from controlled to explosive. With Portland stretched, Valakari drove into the open channel, forcing defenders to collapse on him. His timing was precise—holding the ball just long enough to commit the challenge before lobbing a beautifully weighted ball to Amahl Pellegrino. The ensuing finish was simple, and exquisite.

Finishing the Job in the Second Half

Up two goals in the second half, San Diego FC displayed a level of focus that reflected lessons learned from their collapse in Portland a week earlier. Determined to close this one out properly, SDFC maintained their edge from whistle to whistle. Head coach Mikey Varas prepared his team to play with intensity for 90 minutes while keeping extremely focused on individual and team goals — and his team did.

Spotting Jeppe Tverskov unmarked in the center of the pitch is a rarity — but Luca Bombino seized the moment. The SDFC defender threaded a pass into Tverskov’s feet, and the captain immediately punished Portland’s lapse, driving into the open space all the way to the top of the box.

Dreyer burst forward to join the attack and collected the ball in stride, pulling defenders with him before sliding it out to the right. Corey Baird met it with a one-touch, lofted pass toward Pellegrino. The stadium erupted as Pellegrino struck it cleanly on the volley, smashing it into the roof of the net to push the hosts’ lead to 3–0.

The Chucky Effect (and Mystery)

Theres no doubt about it — San Diego FC are better with Chucky Lozano on the field. His season numbers prove that case. Nevertheless, Varas chose to use him strategically this game. As the game was all but over, Chucky made his way onto the pitch in the 70th minute. In the 79th, he had an assist.

Chucky sprinted as fast as he could to collect a contested ball on the right side of the pitch and took it with intensity. He quickly slid a ground pass into the run of Dreyer, who shot the ball with power into the opposite corner of the net to earn his brace.

The case for Chucky to be a starter in the most important games of the season shouldn't be a contested one. Many feel he provides a spark off the bench, similar to the beginnings of Iloski and what he brought to the team. It's simply not a long-term option.

Chucky is San Diego's designated player, which means the club spent a lot of money on him to do exactly what he's been doing on the pitch - getting goal contributions. It simply doesn't make sense to pay someone of his ability to be a bench piece. His talent is needed by the club to be out on the field.

Now, this can also be a case where Chucky is still proving himself as a team player after his spat in the locker room and going about the situation in a way where he's going to contribute when he's called upon. Whatever the reason may be for Chucky not being on the starting XI, it needs to change before the Minnesota game in the semi-finals. San Diego's playoff life may depend on it.

Unsung Heroes

While the offense was having themselves a great time celebrating goals left and right, the defense was quietly shutting Portland down. Luca Bombino, the left back for SDFC, possibly played the best game of the season. Bombino put in a strong 84 minutes and left everything out on the field. The young wing back never shied away from tough tackles and took a shot off the face in a brave attempt to stop a lofted pass in the second half.

The 18-year-old beamed with confidence and showcased his energy the whole match. Rumors are swirling that San Diego FC is looking to pick up his loan option so Bombino can remain with the squad next year. Wherever the club is at with Bombino's contract negations, he's surely proving himself worthy of a permanent place within the squad.

Another unsung hero is someone who stepped up big when called upon. Pablo Sisniega was excellent all night. He made three crucial saves and kept a clean sheet. There was a sense of confidence about Sisniega that night as he remained cool under pressure of Portland's high press. With CJ Dos Santos likely out for the remainder of the year, Sisniega makes for an excellent replacement.

A Performance to Remember

Mikey Varas called his players 'giants'. In a nearly-perfectly executed gameplan, SDFC should remember this match as an example of who they are. Performances such as these are a stark reminder of a teams' ability to achieve greatness. They give hope and belief in one another.

"These guys are giants and they’ve worked so hard. They started in a clean slate, all meeting each other for the first time 11 months ago. And the work that they’ve done and the sacrifices that they’ve made, 11 months later to put a performance like this in front of their home crowd.

"But we’re hungry for more. This is just one step."

If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider following me on Instagram @sdfcnation and signing up for the email list so that you never miss a new post and SDFC news delivered straight to your inbox