San Diego FC takes down North American soccer giant, Club América, 3-0

SAN DIEGO -- Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium saw North America’s most decorated club, Club América, brought down by San Diego FC in a dominating 3-0 exhibition club friendly victory. 

It's San Diego FC's first meeting against Club América after the 16-time Primera División/Liga MX winners and seven-time CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League winners agreed to a multi-year partnership with San Diego FC that includes matches in both 2025 and 2027. 

A historic matchup for San Diego FC, with the game versus Club América marking the club’s first-ever international friendly and first-ever match against a club from Mexico and Liga MX. 

San Diego FC has impressed in its inaugural season, sitting in second place in the MLS Western Conference standings through its first 17 matches. 

In their last MLS matchday, San Diego FC took a 2-0 home Snapdragon Stadium victory over Austin FC, getting revenge on the club that handed them their first-ever club loss back on March 23. 

The match between San Diego FC and Club América was originally scheduled for June 21, but with Club América’s late invite for a 2025 FIFA Club World Cup play-in match against LAFC, the match was moved to June 7. 

The May 31 play-in match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, saw LAFC defeat Club América 2-1 in extra time to secure their spot in the quadrennial FIFA Club World Cup and Group D of the competition.

With Saturday night's match taking place in the middle of the Men’s International Break and after Club América’s 2025 Liga MX Clausura, the majority of the two squads were rotation and youth players, with many main squad players out on international duty. 

The goal threats came very early for San Diego, with forward Alex Mighten getting a slipped in a pass inside the penalty box in the 3-minute, but was only able to reach with a sliding poke at the ball as América goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota got the quick body save to avoid the opening goal.

San Diego forward Tomás Ángel saw his 6-minute one-on-one inside the box chance get pushed away and denied by América’s Cota, as San Diego FC were having success with their runs created by their forwards.

Hometown forward Milan Iloski wouldn’t have his opportunity denied, as a one-two with midfielder Jasper Löffelsen led to a backheel layoff pass that had Iloski unmarked at the top of the penalty box. 

Iloski whipped in a left-footed curling shot around a diving Rodolfo Cota and into the left side netting for the opening goal of the match, giving San Diego the 1-0 lead in the 37-minute. 

Tomás Ángel would get the chance to double up San Diego’s advantage right before halftime, but would push his 44-minute left-footed inside the penalty area shot wide left, leaving the halftime score at 1-0 for San Diego FC. 

San Diego FC controlled the first half, not only taking the 1-0 lead into the locker rooms but also without allowing a shot from Club América within the first 45 minutes.  

Milan Iloski doubled up his goal tally and San Diego’s advantage on the night, with a centered ball into the penalty area by defender Oscar Verhoeven, met by Iloski, making the run into the space.

Iloski caught the cross off its first bounce with a sliding touch shot over América’s Cota and into the top of the net for the 2-0 lead in the 63-minute.

An impressive two-goal night on his first start for the club for Milan Iloski.

“For me, it's always great to score goals,” San Diego FC forward Milan Iloski said on his scoring night. “I'm an attacking player, it’s an amazing feeling. It's a night like tonight where we're missing a lot of players. I know it's a friendly, but for me, it's an opportunity to play some minutes and to try to prove to the staff that I can be trusted for more minutes.”

After not converting on multiple chances in the first half, Tomás Ángel found the back of the net off a fantastic direct free kick, right outside the penalty box in the 77-minute. 

Ángel looped his left-footed set-piece shot over the América wall and into the left side of the goal for the 3-0 San Diego FC scoreline, as he celebrated in front of the Snapdragon Stadium fans with a front flip at the corner flag. 

“I kept telling myself that I would have the third one (scoring chance), I would have it, and then the set pieces comes, and it was just the repetitions I've done in training, after and after and just came out,” San Diego FC forward Tomás Ángel said on his mentality on getting onto the scoresheet after missing early opportunities. 

With the full-time whistle, San Diego FC took the 3-0 Saturday night home victory over Club América. Despite the makeup of the two squads, a memorable win for San Diego FC as they took down the North American giant in convincing fashion. 

The win over Club América gave San Diego FC their first-ever international friendly victory and victory over a Liga MX side. 

San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas spoke at the post-match press conference after their 3-0 victory over Club América on the mentality of facing the Liga MX giant and the opportunities for unfamiliar faces at the club. 

“Club América is a historically massive club. So they come here, it doesn't matter. We want to win the game, and this is our home. We want to win in front of our fans and play exciting football.”

“The opportunity that presented itself this week was to grow our squad, to make it bigger, to see some guys who haven't had the opportunity for them individually, to show who they are and how they can add to things when we have everybody.”

A strong defensive outing for the makeshift and shorthanded San Diego backline. Goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega and midfielder Manu Duah, playing center back, got their first action for the club in a clean sheet performance. 

“When the game started, it was like, okay, you got this,” San Diego FC midfielder Manu Duah said on his debut experience. “I’ve played in front of a lot of people, but not like this. It was loud and everything. But after some few minutes, I was fine. So it was exciting.”

“That's probably the first time he's played for more than 500 people," Mikey Varas said on Manu Duah’s professional debut. "So there's a lot of emotions that he could have been going through. 

"I think he did just a fantastic job, he showed a lot of composure, he showed a lot of courage in terms of how he approached the game," Mikey Varas said. 

San Diego FC returns to MLS play next Saturday, as they head to Allianz Field to square off against Minnesota United FC on June 14 for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff, with players out on international duty returning to the club.