By Tony Álvarez
San Diego FC gave CF Pachuca all they had in their Leagues Cup debut, but the experience of the Liga MX team showed throughout the game as Los Tuzos held on for a 3-2 victory in their tournament opener.
The home team started off fast with shots by Jeppe Tverskov and Hirving Lozano all in less than 20 minutes of action, giving the faithful supporters a lot to be excited for, but then Los Tuzos took control with a combination of experience and youth.
At the 23 minute mark, Alexei Domínguez controlled a ball on a counter attack that started in midfield and passed it to the other side to a Víctor Guzmán that came in from the left to the box; goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega saved the shot but the ball ricochet off “Pocho´s” head only to end up at the back of the net for the first goal of the game.
That created a lot of uncertainty on defense for SDFC, as three balls were lost by the back line, and those plays almost finished in more goals. But CF Pachuca kept creating chances before the half and another counter attack proved to be fatal, as now it was Guzmán who served Domínguez on the right side of the box; Alexei´s right footed shot was blocked but he got the ball back after the rebound and delivered a clinical finish with his left foot for a second goal in the game.
In the second half, San Diego FC tried to generate danger up front in the 59 minute, when Anders Dreyer stole a ball and served for “Chucky” Lozano, but as he entered the box goalkeeper Carlos Moreno cleared it away. Then, more Pachuca goals.
The high pressure by Los Tuzos was successful, as Domínguez once again made his presence felt in the 68 minute when he recovered a ball and delivered a screamer from a long distance to put the score 3-0.
SDFC tried to create chances near the end with a relaxed Tuzos team, but it was too little too late when Emmanuel Boateng finished a cross by Aiden Harangi in the 88 minute. To add frustration to the end result, Dreyer was sent off on a red card after a foul committed near midfield in stoppage time.
Even after that, San Diego FC still fought hard and got a second goal on a Luca Bombino header in the 90+10 minute, but time ran out on the MLS´s expansion team and that was all she wrote in a tough Leagues Cup debut.
REACTIONS:
- CF Pachuca head coach Jaime Lozano
- “I think today was a very even game. I think we made some mistakes in some decisions that made the result even tighter. We faced a conference leader, a team that has been playing well.”
- “Alexei (Domínguez) is another product of the Pachuca youth academy, you will see him and surely everything will go as it has to date, with (Elías) Montiel playing in the national team for the U20 World Cup (…) he has been one of the most outstanding and has shown the best level and adaptation.”
- “A great start. I think the work culture that this club has had for a long time makes things easier for the coach on duty. There is raw material, there is structure, a work structure, and one has to put in what one feels, and the results also give you credibility.”
- San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas
- “I saw (Hirving Lozano) well, I think he caused problems for them on that end, he created opportunities for his teammates, he had his own, obviously that last action was missing for the whole team in the first half, in the first 70 minutes, and in many ways, he played a good game.”
- “It is a team (Pachuca) well managed by the coach (Jaime Lozano), there is a lot of talent in the group, it shows, it is a team that can play with intensity but also calmly when it does not have the ball and has to suffer a little.”
- “We created very interesting situations to have clear opportunities. I think we were a little more precise in the last actions in the first half and for me it is something when the rival has the talent that they have, when you are a little careless and you make a mistake at the back, they make you pay.”
PLAYERS OF THE MATCH:
- CF Pachuca:
- Alexei Domínguez shined with two goals and a assist in his first career appearance at Leagues Cup
- Sam Diego FC:
- None
GAME NOTES:
- Pachuca got their 4th straight win across all competitions, they're longest winning streak since late 2022
- Hirving Lozano played his first ever game against his former team, and who he made his professional debut with
- After 88 scoreless minutes, Emmanuel Boateng scored San Diego FC´s first ever Leagues Cup goal
- San Diego has struggled recently at home, with just one win in their last 5 home games
- Great support in the stands with 21,872 people in attendance for San Diego FC´s Leagues Cup debut
CARDS/INJURY REPORT:
- Yellow Cards:
- San Diego FC: Luca Bombino, Alex Mighten, Luca de la Torre
- Pachuca: Alexei Domínguez, Pedro Pedraza, Alan Bautista, Elías Montiel
- Red Cards:
- San Diego: Anders Dreyer
LOOKING AHEAD:
- San Diego FC will play Club Tigres at Snapdragon Stadium at 11:00pm ET on August 1
- CF Pachuca will play LAFC at BMO Stadium at 10:30pm ET on August 1
