SF City come back from a deficit to respond with 5 unanswered goals in a victory over Academica. The 5 to 1 score was enough for the team to clinch a playoff spot in the NorCal Division and their first postseason berth in their 9 year history in the USL PDL/League Two era, with 2020 and 2021 cancelled due to the pandemic during those years.
Matthew Aldana opened up the scoring for Academica 4 minutes into the game, only for Dane Pendleton to respond 10 minutes later with the equalizer. The teams were even at halftime, and the scoring barrage for City came through in the second half with Pendleton responding with another tally in the 50th minute and Ryan Corcoran joining the scoresheet 2 minutes later and once again in the 73rd minute. Pendleton completed the hat trick with his third goal in the 78th minute to seal the dagger and the full three points.
SF City complete their schedule with a mid-week road trip to face Davis Legacy on Wednesday July 8 at 5pm before returning home to Kezar to host Project 51O on Saturday July 11 at noon and the NorCal Division title possibly at stake. Academica will finish their 2026 season with home games Wednesday at 7pm against San Juan SC before closing out hosting the Glens on Sunday July 12 at 6pm.
