Credit: Tammy Ryan/ EVT Sports
San Diego FC has experienced plenty of firsts in its inaugural season.
Last Saturday, however, marked a first the club would rather forget: dropping points from a winning position.
Whether that’s viewed as a minor setback or a red flag depends on your perspective. One thing is certain – a valuable lesson can be taught as a result of this match.
Despite the loss, SDFC continues to enjoy a successful campaign. They’ve minimized errors and capitalized on key chances, a formula that helped them reel off four straight wins. But the dramatic 4–3 defeat to the Houston Dynamo was a jarring reminder that success can breed complacency—and that no lead is ever safe.
A Timely Wake-Up Call
The loss to the Houston Dynamo serves as a stark reminder that teams can become complacent. When a team is enjoying a winning streak, it’s easy to forget the little things. Riding high on a winning streak, San Diego FC fell into the all-too-common trap of complacency — and paid the price. It was a match they had no business losing, but perhaps it arrived at the perfect time.
In the grand scheme, this stumble may be exactly what the team needed. The loss exposed the fine margins that separate contenders from champions. Let’s dive in and discuss why the latest result is a timely learning opportunity heading into the crucial second half of the season.
Recurring First-Half Lapses
San Diego FC’s recurring struggles late in the first half resurfaced against Houston, who took full advantage. In their last four matches, SDFC has now surrendered five goals in the final 10 minutes before the break. So why does this keep happening?
Mikey Varas was asked what his message was to the team before second half. “We have to be consistent in who we are”, he said. It’s true – the team has not been consistent when it comes to finishing the half with the same intensity as the beginning of the match. Individual mistakes will happen, but collectively, San Diego has to hold each other accountable and finish games together.
Mikey Varas on what his message is to the team after tonight’s loss. @EVT_News #sdfc pic.twitter.com/0TTE14P7sq
— SDFC Nation (@SDFC_Nation) July 6, 2025
Luca Bombino’s Big Moment – and Hard Lessons
LOOK WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE YOUNG LAD pic.twitter.com/uGJef8jnHI
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) July 6, 2025
Luca Bombino scored the first goal of his MLS career. A milestone and moment he will never forget. The young wing-back has been improving with each game. Varas gives Bombino the freedom to travel up the field and into the attack. His confidence has grown, as evidenced by the uptick in shots taken, as well as passes into the final third.
But with growth often comes growing pains.
Lawrence Ennali used his blazing speed to get ahead of Bombino and score an equalizer in the first half after chipping goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos. The German winger made his first appearance of the season after tearing his ACL earlier last year.
On a routine clearance out of the opponent’s half, Luca Bombino initially jogged toward the loose ball at a casual pace. It wasn’t until he noticed Ennali charging after it at full speed that Bombino began to accelerate—but by then, it was too late. Ennali, covering 75 yards in a relentless sprint, blew past Bombino and took control of the play. Had Bombino matched that intensity from the outset, he likely wouldn’t have been left chasing from behind.
First start of the season ➡️ First goal
A brilliant effort from Lawrence Ennali 😱 pic.twitter.com/30zbkXDRHx — Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 6, 2025
Credit: Tammy Ryan/ EVT Sports
Costly Error
In the 87th minute, Bombino’s second costly error proved pivotal. A sluggish back pass to goalkeeper Dos Santos turned into a dangerous 50/50 ball, forcing the SDFC keeper to confront a surging Ezequiel Ponce. In his attempt to win the challenge, Dos Santos clipped the Dynamo forward’s feet, missing the ball entirely and bringing him down in the box.
On his way down, Ponce clashed with Dos Santos, which resulted in a bloody nose for Dos Santos. The referee pointed to the spot, and after a lengthy stoppage to attend to the SDFC keeper, Ponce put the ball in the back of the net to level the score at 3-3.
As mentioned earlier in this article, individual mistakes will happen, especially when those individuals are 18-year-old kids. The intensity in the speed of play, as well as attention to details in passing, shooting, and field awareness, are all attributes that can be fixed.
Late Collapse Seals the Defeat
San Diego FC welcomed back Anibal Godoy and Paddy McNair into the starting lineup. Godoy, who just came back from representing Panama in the Gold Cup competition, played a full 90 minutes.
McNair, however, only played 56 minutes in his return after sustaining an injury. His eventual replacement, Ian Pilcher found himself chasing Ponce in the 10th of a total of 17 minutes of extra time at the end of the game. The Dynamo striker slotted the ball into the corner of the net for what would prove to be the game-winning goal.
EZEQUIEL PONCE 🤯 What a strike to give @HoustonDynamo the lead in the 100th minute! pic.twitter.com/ughIuCI1o2
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 6, 2025
Defensive Breakdown in Final Moments
Head coach Mikey Varas will have to fix these kinds of mistakes because they simply cannot happen. Let’s break it down.
No one puts pressure on Ethan Bartlow as he’s allowed to dribble up the field and take his time to pick out a beautiful through-ball pass.
Credit: Apple TV
Ponce is roaming free with Pilcher at least two steps behind his back.
Credit: Apple TV
Without a strong challenge, Ponce is able to turn the through-ball pass into a goal by hitting a one-time shot into the opposite corner of the net. Notice how there are five defenders around him but only one anywhere close to Ponce.
Credit: Apple TV
The Stats Tell a Different Story
Statistically, San Diego looked like the better team. They dominated possession 59% to 41% and outshot the Dynamo 14–7. But the scoreboard tells the only story that matters.
Thanks to a late goal by Nashville against Philadelphia, SDFC managed to hold onto first place in the Western Conference. But standings aside, this was a humbling reminder of the importance of urgency, focus, and finishing.
“Top of the table means nothing” Varas said after being asked his thoughts on being number once, currently. @EVT_News #sdfc pic.twitter.com/fvxQmdElLt
— SDFC Nation (@SDFC_Nation) July 6, 2025
Looking Ahead: Response Time in Chicago
Houston handed San Diego a loss that didn’t hurt in the standings but may prove invaluable in the long run. The mistakes are fixable, and now all eyes turn to how the squad responds on the road next Saturday against the Chicago Fire. Will this be remembered as a turning point or a warning sign ignored? We’ll know soon enough. If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider following me on Instagram @sdfcnation and checking out my blog SDFC Nation.
Dmitry Anisimov is a San Diego native who played soccer up to the college level when he represented the SDSU Men’s Club Soccer team. Growing up in San Diego, Dmitry is a fan of all the home teams but he specifically couldn’t wait until San Diego got an MLS team. Once that dream became reality, Dmitry married his love for writing and the game of soccer to portray a voice of the San Diego soccer community. There is a deep-rooted love of soccer culture in San Diego and Dmitry hopes to bring it to light through his pre and post-game coverage of all things San Diego FC.
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