The portion of the San Diego FC lineup that coach Mikey Varas opted to play in Tuesday’s Baja Cup club friendly with Club Tijuana made the most of the opportunity, rallying for a 4-2 win.

Playing before a lively — and very much split — crowd of 29,171 at Snapdragon Stadium, SDFC scored goals in the 76th and 83rd minutes.

Fireworks erupted and the contingent of the audience in Xolos red and black that was celebrating a 2-1 lead not long before was drowned out by the home supporters in blue.

First, David Vazquez provided the equalizer when he chased down a cross and made a sliding effort to snap a shot through.

Minutes later, Manu Duah punched through a header off a set piece that gave SDFC its first lead of the night.

The home club further spoiled the Mexican Independence Day celebration for its guests from south of the border in the 88th minute.

A breakaway goal capped a torrid 15-minute stretch for the Major League Soccer Western Conference-leading squad, which returns to MLS Cup competition on Saturday in Atlanta.

Varas used a split lineup on Tuesday. Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, Anders Dreyer and Onni Valakari were among the notable SDFC names not in action for the inaugural friendly with Club Tijuana.

Among those stepping up were Alex Mighten, who scored SDFC’s first goal of the night. He weaved through defenders in the 15th minute before collecting his body long enough to fire off a left-footed kick that squeezed.

It was Mighten’s first goal in any competition since March, and it leveled Tuesday’s contest at 1-1.

The Xolos scored first in a fast-paced start, the initial goal coming courtesy of Brazilian forward Vitinho in the fifth minute.

Vitinho recognized Pablo Sisniega out of position after a change of possession and lofted a shot from near midfield that the SDFC goalkeeper could only watch as it sailed with precision into the dead center of the goal.

The opening salvo came after Club Tijuana’s Adonis Stalin Preciado Quintero set an appropriate tone just 63 seconds in. He intercepted an errant pass and booted a clean look that missed just wide right.

Preciado was nearly part of another score when his cross later in the first half found a leaping Joban González. González’s attempt sailed just over the crossbar to deny the Xolos a 2-1 lead.

That didn’t come until the 53rd minute, when Christian Castillo spotted an opening and fired a shot without hesitation from the top of the box, breaking a lengthy stalemate.

Originally Published: September 16, 2025 at 9:22 PM PDT