Not even the goal from Mexican international Hirving “Chucky” Lozano could prevent the catastrophe of San Diego FC at home as they fell to a fired-up Vancouver Whitecaps 1-3 and thus remained outside of their first final in their debut season in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Coach Mickey Varas' decision to leave Lozano on the bench proved too costly, as when the Mexican national team striker, a World Cup player in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, entered the game, it wasn't enough to change the story of Vancouver's three-goal defeat, which included White's third goal in the 45+2 minute.

A negative result from any perspective, but forged due to the great intensity of the Canadians, led by the German Thomas Muller, who overwhelmed the San Diegans in the first minutes of the game, to the point that by the 11th minute they were already losing by two goals.

Brian White's goal for the Whitecaps and the own goal by Mexican goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega in the first eleven minutes of the match were a heavy burden for the team managed by American Mikey Varas, with whom Mexican Lozano had differences and who sent him to the bench at the start of the game tonight, in the end he paid dearly for these decisions.

While it might be said that Varas prioritized the discipline of his squad, in this game he should have gone all out and not waited until the second half to bring on Chucky Lozano, as the Vancouver Whitecaps arrived at a key moment in the season to continue their winning momentum and secure a great victory at Snapdragon Stadium.

Undoubtedly, the Mexican's entry in the second half revitalized a very limited attack from the Californians, and by the time they realized it, the damage was done. Chucky's goal in the 60th minute, a shot from the right side that hit a defender, was not enough to recover on the scoreboard, forcing them to admit a painful defeat in the match to determine Inter Miami's opponent in the grand final of the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season.

The reasons why Lozano didn't start San Diego FC's most important match will remain up in the air: first, they had to secure their ticket before the final; and second, they didn't tighten up their defense, allowing Vancouver's speed to be pure poison, which even led to the play where the goalkeeper of the team from the southern border city of the United States, Pablo Sisniega, was sent off, leaving his team with ten men.

In the end, the price was very high, allowing Vancouver Whitecaps to become the finalist against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami.