San Diego FC Finishes Participation in the Concacaf Champions Cup after 4-0 Loss Against Deportivo Toluca F.C.

TOLUCA, Mexico (Wednesday, March 18, 2026) – San Diego FC (SDFC) concluded its participation in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup with a 4-0 loss in Leg Two of the Round of 16 against defending Liga MX champion Deportivo Toluca F.C. at Estadio Nemesio Díez. Toluca advanced to the Quarterfinals by winning the series with a 6-3 aggregate despite losing Leg One 3-2 against a nine-men SDFC on March 11 at Snapdragon Stadium.

SDFC finished its first-ever participation in the international competition with a 2-2 record, having advanced to the Round of 16 after a 4-2 aggregate against UNAM Pumas in Round One.

SDFC will return to MLS action when it hosts Real Salt Lake on Sunday, March 22 for SDFC’s Kids Night, presented by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, as the Club celebrates the next generation of fans where kids run the show at Snapdragon Stadium. The first 10,000 kids (14 and under) will receive a free SDFC-branded lunchbox. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. PT, with live coverage available on Apple TV, as well as an English radio broadcast on San Diego Sports 760 AM. SDFC looks to remain unbeaten in MLS and undefeated at home, continuing to build momentum as one of the most exciting teams in the league. Tickets to Sunday’s match are on sale now at SanDiegoFC.com/Tickets.

TOL – 1-0 – Jesús Angulo, 43^rd minute: Angulo opened the scoring with a left-footed shot from inside the penalty area after a Nicolás Castro effort struck the left post and rebounded into open space, where Angulo charged in to finish.

TOL –2-0 – Paulinho Dias (Jesus Gallardo), 56^th minute: Dias tapped in a rolling ball with his left foot from inside the six-yard box, finishing a quick combination play. Gallardo delivered the final pass after receiving the ball from Angulo in the buildup.

TOL 3-0 – Jesús Angulo, 59^th Minute: Angulo scored his second of the night with a left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area after the ball deflected off SDFC’s Jeppe Tverskov and fell to him unmarked.

TOL 4-0- Jesús Gallardo (Alexis Vega), 90+2: Gallardo capped the scoring with a powerful left-footed shot from just inside the left side of the penalty area, beating SDFC goalkeeper Duran Ferree.

·       SDFC finished its first-ever participation in the Concacaf Champions Cup with a 4-0 loss tonight against Toluca (3-6 on aggregate).

·       SDFC finished the competition against LIGA MX clubs having scored 7 goals while allowing 7.

·       SDFC is now 5-2-1 in 2026 across all competitions (MLS Regular Season 3-0-1, Concacaf Champions Cup 2-2).

·       SDFC has outscored opponents 18-10 across all competitions in 2026.

·       SDFC has now played in eight matches against Liga MX clubs across official competitions and exhibition matches.

·       SDFC has faced seven teams in that span (Toluca F.C. and Pumas UNAM in Concacaf Champions Cup; CF Pachuca, Tigres UANL and Mazatlán F.C. in the 2025 Leagues Cup; and Club Tijuana and Club America in an exhibition matches last season).

·       Tonight marked the second time in team history that SDFC plays outside the United States. It visited Pumas UNAM on Feb. 10, where it advanced to the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16.

·       SDFC is now 3-4 against Liga MX clubs in official competition (beat Mazatlán F.C. in Leagues Cup action, Pumas UNAM (Feb. 3) and Toluca (March 11) in Concacaf Champions Cup) and 4-4 overall across all competitions (beat Club Tijuana and Club América in friendlies).

·       SDFC has now scored 97 goals across all competitions (MLS, Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup).

·       Goalkeeper Duran Ferree made his second international start and second in the Concacaf Champions Cup. He made his international debut against Toluca on March 11 at Snapdragon Stadium.

·       Ferree had a career-high eight saves tonight after facing 12 shots against Toluca who had 25 shots overall.

·       Ferree allowed four goals in a match for the first time in his professional career.

·       Midfielder Aníbal Godoy was back in action after missing the previous match against Toluca due to yellow card accumulation.

·       Midfielder Marcus Ingvartsen missed tonight’s match due to a red card ejection in the Leg One match against Toluca.

·       Defender Manu Duah missed tonight’s match after being shown a red card against Toluca on March 11.

·       Defender Oscar Verhoeven made his second-consecutive CCC start tonight. He made his debut in the competition against Toluca on March 11.

·       Newcomer Osvald Søe made his second consecutive CCC appearance for SDFC. He came on as a substitute for Ian Pilcher in the 64^th minute tonight. He made his debut SDFC and CCC debut on March 11, also coming on as a substitute.

·       Forward Lewis Morgan made his first CCC start for SDFC tonight and his second consecutive appearance for the club in the international tournament.

·       Defender Ian Pilcher made his first CCC start tonight, registering his fourth consecutive appearance in the competition.

^·               Forward Anisse Saidi made his second CCC appearance, coming on as a substitute for Onni Valakari in the 80^th minute.

·       Defender Willy appeared in the 23-man roster for the first time in this competition.

·       SDFC was held to zero shots on goal for the first time in Club history.

·       SDFC secured its first Concacaf Champions Cup participation after a first-place finish in the MLS Western Conference during the 2025 MLS Regular Season, its inaugural season.

·       SDFC is the 52nd club from the United States to participate in the Concacaf Champions Cup and the 26th from MLS.

Match Information
Concacaf Champions Cup – Round of 16 – Leg Two
San Diego FC vs. Deportivo Toluca F.C.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 – Estadio Nemesio Díez (Toluca, Mexico)

TOL (1-0) –Jesús Angulo, 43’

TOL (2-0) -Paulinho Dias (Jesus Gallardo) 56’

TOL (3-0) – Jesús Angulo, 59’

TOL (4-0) – Jesús Gallardo (Alexis Vega) 90+2

TOL – Paulinho Diaz (caution, 12’)

SD – Christopher McVey (caution, 40’)

TOL – Jorge Diaz (caution, 40’)

SD – Jeppe Tverskov (caution, 43’)

SD – Christopher McVey (caution, ejection, 85’)

TOL – Jesús Angulo (caution, 87’)

Lineups:
SAN DIEGO FC: GK Duran Ferree; D Luca Bombino, D Oscar Verhoeven, D Ian Pilcher (Osvald Søe, 64’), D Christopher McVey; M Onni Valakari (Anisse Saidi, 80’), M Aníbal Godoy, M Jeppe Tverskov –C-; F Anders Dreyer, M Lewis Morgan (David Vazquez, 62’), F Amahl Pellegrino

Substitutes Not Used: GK CJ Dos Santos, GK Pablo Sisniega, F Willy, F Bryan Zamblé, M Pedro Soma, M Bryce Duke, D Wilson Eisner, F Emmanuel Boateng, F Alex Mighten

TOTAL SHOTS: 5; SHOTS ON GOAL: 0; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES; 8

TOLUCA FC: GK Luis Garcia; D Bruno Mendez, D Andres Pereira (Luan Garcia, 89’), F Helio Nunes (Diego Barbosa, 69’), M Jesús Angulo (Sebastian Cordova, 89’), M Jesús Gallardo –C–, M Jorge Diaz (Alexis Vega, 65’), F Simon Santiago, M Nicolas Castro (Fernando Arce, 46’), F Paulinho Dias, F Franco Romero

Substitutes Not Used: GK Hugo Gonzalez, D Antonio Briseño, D Mauricio Isais, F Oswaldo Virgen, F Franco Rossi, M Fernando Arce, D Everardo Lopez, M Victor Artega

TOTAL SHOTS: 27; SHOTS ON GOAL: 12; FOULS: 13; OFFSIDES 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 0

Referee: Ismael Cornejo

Assistant Referees: Juan Francisco Zumba, Geovany Garcia

Fourth Official: Julio Luna

VAR: Benjamin Pineda

AVAR: Jesús Montero

Weather: 53-degrees, Clear

Attendance: 23,332