San Diego FC forward Bryan Zamblé scored the only goal of the match to give his team a 1-0 win over cross-border rivals Club Tijuana in a sold-out Snapdragon Stadium victory on Sunday night.
San Diego FC held off Club Tijuana's late pressure to claim their first win in the 2026 Leagues Cup, with Zamblé netting his third goal for the team in the 22nd minute. The 18-year-old forward claimed the sole goal of the match, with his back-post tapping finish from a pass by Alejandro Alvarado.
The Baja Cup, an unofficial friendly, took place last season between the two clubs as part of their five-year partnership. San Diego FC defeated Club Tijuana 4-2 to claim the first-ever Baja Cup win.
San Diego FC came into the second match looking to claim their first points of Phase One, having left the historic Estadio Azteca on Wednesday night empty-handed against continental giant Club América. The team's All-Star forward Anders Dreyer had a goal disallowed in the early stages of the match after a lengthy VAR discussion.
San Diego FC's goalkeeper CJ dos Santos made two crucial saves to deny Club Tijuana's chances of tying the score. He made a diving save to push Yael Padilla's on-target curling strike away from goal in the 58th minute, and then came up big again to deny Ignacio Rivero's long-range effort on goal in the 67th minute.
Club Tijuana's best chance of the match came in the 72nd minute, with Elias Manoel's right-footed shot going inches away from the equalizing score. His near penalty spot attempt blasted off the right post and off target as San Diego FC's lead survived.
San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas spoke on Bryan Zamblé's performance and goal against Club Tijuana in the postmatch press conference. "I'm just really happy for Bryan because I think more than the goal, he played a really mature game and he kind of gassed out a little bit," Varas said.
San Diego FC remain at home on Wednesday night to close out Phase One of the 2026 Leagues Cup against Club Puebla, slated for a 7:15 p.m. kickoff at Snapdragon Stadium. A top-four MLS table finish to advance into the tournament's knockout rounds will require an SDFC win and many other results around the Leagues Cup as SDFC head into the final matchday three points off the standings leaders.
Source: Yahoo Sports