SDFC scores first win in international play, 2-0 over Mazatlán

San Diego FC backup midfielder Onni Valakari scored two second half goals, lifting SDFC to its first win in international competition over Mazatlán F.C. 2-0 Tuesday.

Valakari didn’t see any game action until checking in during the 62nd minute (the 12th minute
of the second half), but it only took about four minutes for him to make his mark by connecting with a left-footed shot from the front of the goal to the bottom right corner of the net.

He followed that up during the 74th minute by hitting a right-footed shot from the right of the goal to the bottom left corner of the net to collect a brace.

SDFC leaves the ongoing Leagues Cup tournament with one victory in three matches.

“We wanted to finish the tournament on a high,” Valakari said in a post-match interview. “Every time we go on the pitch, it’s a pride thing to play for San Diego and we have to show it.

“Now, the focus is back on MLS,” he added, “cause we wanna win every game there, also.”

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What a Finish pic.twitter.com/VxSiRledr1

— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) August 6, 2025

The game was tied 0-0 at the half, but San Diego dominated the opening 45 minutes at
Snapdragon Stadium without scoring. It held possession of the ball 78% of the time, with much of that time on the opponent’s side of the pitch, looking to score.

Back in the starting lineup for SDFC was goalkeeper C.J. dos Santos, who had missed six
consecutive games following surgery to repair a nose injury he suffered in July 5 against the Houston Dynamo.

Dos Santos, who wore a protective face mask throughout, registered his eighth clean sheet of the season Tuesday.

SDFC’s leading scorer, Anders Dreyer, was also back in the lineup – but not in the starting XI
– after serving a one-game suspension due to receiving a red card for rough play during the
club’s match against C.F. Pachuca on July 29.

Dreyer didn’t play at all in the first half, but was finally was brought in as a substitute during the match’s 63rd minute, replacing Chucky Lozano.

Coming into the match, San Diego had zero points in tournament play in losses to
Pachuca F.C. and Tigres UANL, but wound up with three points thanks to the victory over Mazatlán.

The points were not enough to advance to the next stage of the Leagues Cup, but the victory
was San Diego’s first-ever in formal international play, not counting a friendly the club won
against Liga MX side Club América in June. The backups for each club saw the majority of the playing time inthat match.

The tournament was part of a very busy four weeks for SDFC. Counting Leagues Cup
matches, San Diego played eight matches between July 5 and Aug. 5 – double their usual one-
a-week game schedule.

Seven of the matches, however, were at Snapdragon Stadium. Leagues Cup games don’t count in MLS standings, so despite the two tournament losses, San Diego still sits atop the Western Conference table with a record of 14-7-4.

Now, with its participation in the Leagues Cup complete, San Diego returns to regular season MLS action, starting on the road against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, followed by an Aug. 17 match at San Jose.

SDFC returns to Snapdragon Aug. 23, hosting the Portland Timbers.