The Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City was buzzing with anticipation as Pumas UNAM hosted San Diego FC for the decisive second leg of their 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup first-round clash. After a humbling 4-1 defeat in San Diego just a week prior, the Liga MX side faced a monumental task: overturn a three-goal deficit against a confident MLS upstart determined to make history.
San Diego FC, under the guidance of coach Mikey Varas, arrived in Mexico with a commanding 4-1 aggregate lead, thanks to a second-half blitz in the first leg. That night at Snapdragon Stadium, Pumas had taken an early lead through a spectacular bicycle kick from Robert Morales in the 11th minute, but the hosts responded with authority. Manu Duah netted the equalizer in the 69th, followed swiftly by goals from David Vazquez (77th), Alex Mighten (81st), and Luca Bombino (86th). The Americans dominated possession, registering 19 shots (six on target) and holding the ball for 73% of the match—a true statement of intent in their Champions Cup debut.
Heading into the rematch, Pumas needed to score at least three goals to force extra time, with the away goals rule looming as a potential tiebreaker. The stakes couldn’t have been higher: the winner would earn a spot in the Round of 16 against Toluca, one of Liga MX’s perennial powerhouses.
Coach Efraín Juárez, facing mounting pressure after the lopsided first-leg loss, struck a defiant tone in his pre-match remarks. “But there are always people who want to take my place, they offer themselves, they swarm around, but it's part of it… I understand. I'm calm, and so is the team. Tomorrow we'll go out and play an important match in front of our fans, at home, and we'll turn things around.” Juárez also confirmed that Adalberto Carrasquilla, though recovering from injury, would be available off the bench: “He’s been called up, he's fine, we have to proceed with caution. I think another rumor is that he was going to be out for longer. We have to use our best players.”
San Diego’s Varas, meanwhile, kept his squad focused on the task at hand, reflecting on the significance of the moment for his young club. “Yes, well, for as long as I can remember, since I've been watching soccer, I follow Mexican soccer a lot, many teammates who have retired were here competing... I think Mexico has always been a home for Panamanians. I think it has always opened its doors to Panamanian players, and I'm always grateful to this country and to the league.”
The match itself unfolded with all the drama one could hope for in a continental knockout tie. Both teams fielded strong lineups: Pumas started with Keylor Navas in goal, Rubén Duarte and Nathan Silva anchoring the defense, and a forward line led by Morales and Juninho. San Diego countered with Pablo Sisniega between the posts, Manu Duah spearheading the attack, and a disciplined midfield anchored by Pedro Soma and Jeppe Tverskov.
The home side came out swinging, pressing high and creating several early chances. Juninho nearly opened the scoring with a scissor kick just three minutes in, and Pedro Vite repeatedly tested the San Diego backline with powerful shots from distance. The visitors, however, held firm, with Sisniega making a series of crucial saves to keep the aggregate lead intact.
It wasn’t until the 47th minute that Pumas finally broke through. After a well-worked free kick, Pedro Vite unleashed a long-range effort that zipped past Sisniega, igniting the crowd and giving the university side hope. Now trailing 4-2 on aggregate, Pumas needed two more goals to force extra time—and the tension inside the stadium was palpable.
San Diego responded with tactical discipline, making defensive substitutions to shore up their lines. Ian Pilcher replaced Luca Bombino in the 82nd minute, while Aníbal Godoy and Amahl Pellegrino entered earlier to add fresh legs and calm nerves. Pumas, for their part, threw on Guillermo Martínez and Rodrigo López in the 72nd minute, seeking to capitalize on their attacking momentum.
As the clock ticked down, the match grew increasingly frenetic. Martínez came agonizingly close to doubling Pumas’ tally with a header in the 85th minute, but Sisniega once again proved the hero, calmly collecting the effort. Moments later, Adalberto Carrasquilla—brought on as a late substitute—fired a powerful shot, only to see Sisniega deny him with another impressive stop.
The drama escalated in the dying moments. Pumas continued to push forward, but their hopes took a devastating blow when Rubén Duarte received his second yellow card and was sent off, reducing the home side to ten men. With five minutes of added time announced, the crowd urged their team forward, but San Diego’s defense held firm, repelling wave after wave of desperate Pumas attacks.
When the final whistle blew, Pumas had secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory on the night, but it wasn’t enough. The aggregate score stood at 5-4 in favor of San Diego FC, sending the MLS newcomers through to the Round of 16 and ending Pumas’ continental campaign at the first hurdle.
For San Diego FC, the result was historic—they became the first MLS club to eliminate Pumas UNAM in the Concacaf Champions Cup, a feat that will surely resonate across North American soccer. Their reward is a daunting showdown with Toluca, but after such a resilient display in one of Mexico’s most intimidating venues, confidence in the San Diego camp will be sky-high.
As for Pumas, the defeat will sting, but the fighting spirit shown in the second leg—combined with recent strong league form—offers a glimmer of hope for the rest of their domestic campaign. Coach Juárez and his men will need to regroup quickly, but there’s no denying the pride with which they represented their fans on a night filled with drama, tension, and no shortage of heart.
With the Champions Cup knockout rounds now set, all eyes turn to San Diego FC and their quest to continue their fairytale run against one of Liga MX’s giants. If the past week is any indication, they won’t be backing down from the challenge.