{"id":123163,"date":"2025-08-06T08:45:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T08:45:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/123163\/"},"modified":"2025-08-06T08:45:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T08:45:14","slug":"sdfc-scores-first-win-in-international-play-2-0-over-mazatlan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/123163\/","title":{"rendered":"SDFC scores first win in international play, 2-0 over Mazatl\u00e1n"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

San Diego FC<\/a> backup midfielder Onni Valakari scored two second half goals, lifting SDFC to its first win in international competition over Mazatl\u00e1n F.C. 2-0 Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Valakari didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

SDFC leaves the ongoing Leagues Cup tournament with one victory in three matches.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to finish the tournament on a high,\u201d Valakari said in a post-match interview. \u201cEvery time we go on the pitch, it\u2019s a pride thing to play for San Diego and we have to show it.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, the focus is back on MLS,\u201d he added, \u201ccause we wanna win every game there, also.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t say it
Don\u2019t say it
Don\u2019t say it
Don\u2019t say it
Don\u2019t say it
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Don\u2019t say it <\/p>\n

What a Finish pic.twitter.com\/VxSiRledr1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) August 6, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\u2019s side of the pitch, looking to score.<\/p>\n

Back in the starting lin eup for SDFC was goalkeeper C.J. dos Santos, who had missed sixconsecutive games following surgery to repair a nose injury he suffered in July 5 against the Houston Dynamo.<\/p>\n

Dos Santos, who wore a protective face mask throughout, registered his eighth clean sheet of the season Tuesday.<\/p>\n

SDFC\u2019s leading scorer, Anders Dreyer, was also back in the lineup \u2013 but not in the starting XI \u2013 after serving a one-game suspension due to receiving a red card for rough play during the club\u2019s match against C.F. Pachuca<\/a> on July 29.<\/p>\n

Dreyer didn\u2019t play at all in the first half, but was finally was brought in as a substitute during the match\u2019s 63rd minute, replacing Chucky Lozano.<\/p>\n

Coming into the match, San Diego had zero points in tournament play in losses to Pachuca F.C. and Tigres UANL<\/a>, but wound up with three points thanks to the victory over Mazatl\u00e1n.<\/p>\n

The points were not enough to advance to the next stage of the Leagues Cup, but the victory was San Diego\u2019s first-ever in formal international play, not counting a friendly the club won against Liga MX side Club Am\u00e9rica in June. The backups for each club saw the majority of the playing time inthat match.<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 double their usual one-a-week game schedule.<\/p>\n

Seven of the matches, however, were at Snapdragon Stadium. Leagues Cup games don\u2019t count in MLS standings, so despite the two tournament losses, San Diego still sits atop the Western Conference table<\/a> with a record of 14-7-4.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

SDFC returns to Snapdragon Aug. 23, hosting the Portland Timbers.<\/p>\n