On the rare days that San Diego FC has turned in a soccer clunker, the players and coaches have responded.

Now comes another one of these tests.

Saturday night, the lads will try to bounce back against Minnesota United in a homefield rematch of SDFC’s 1-0 victory in November’s Major League Soccer Western Conference semifinals.

In San Diego’s MLS history, the club is 6-2-2 in games immediately following a league loss.

What differentiates this rebound attempt from all of SDFC’s other resets was the low quality of the team’s performance last Saturday, resulting in a 3-0 defeat at San Jose.

I hate to make much of one regular-season match of 34.

But here’s what I saw: the most troubling performance from SDFC … since the franchise first rolled out the soccer balls.

San Jose resembled a team. San Diego played like 11 guys getting to know each other.

The kicker: no obvious reason could explain SDFC getting blown out. Not like this.

Both teams fielded several young players. Each side lacked a star player or two. Nor did the soccer schedule, which can be unfair, set up San Diego FC for a fall.

It was a disjointed, stagnant performance.

Beaten for two quick goals, one set up by a turnover, the other created by a fast break that led to a red card and a penalty kick, SDFC never got its footing.

After most defeats, coach Mikey Varas finds valid reasons to praise his team.

Not this one. San Jose outshot SDFC 24-6, and had 10 shots on goal compared to San Diego’s one.

“No silver linings,” he said.

The result: SDFC’s first MLS match without a goal since last Sept. 27’s 1-0 loss to … the Earthquakes.

Adding significance, San Diego and San Jose have similar templates.

Neither franchise tries to spend with Inter Miami and LAFC, the league’s glamour franchises.

They are classic “all for one, one for all” programs. Displaying great teamwork, Varas’ first SDFC team became just the second MLS expansion club to reach a conference final.

Bruce Arena’s proven talents in that area loom as a tough new test for Varas’ team.

San Jose (5-0-1) is looking much more connected in its second season under the 74-year-old, five-time MLS champion and former U.S. National Team coach.

“It’s a complete effort by the group, and that’s important,” Arena said, “because we’re not competing with Inter Miami and LAFC for top-level players around the world and some other clubs.

“We’re banging away with domestic players, American players, which is highly unusual in our league now. The group is doing very well. The credit goes to the whole group.”

For most of the first half of last weekend’s match, San Jose played with more pace and connection.

“We put them in a few footraces that they couldn’t deal with,” said Arena, who described SDFC as a very good club.

“Speed’s a factor in any sport, but it’s not only physical. It’s mental and technical. And we’re starting to put those pieces together.”

Like SDFC, the Earthquakes will throw talented young players into the deep end of the pool.

Just 20, Niko Tsakiris gave San Jose leads of 1-0 and 3-0 with excellent goals. In the 13th minute, the Bay Area native roofed a near-side, sharp-angle left-footer against San Diego product goalkeeper Duran Ferree.

SDFC allowed a critical breakaway 20 minutes later. It led to defender Manu Duah fouling a player in the scoring box, a penalty kick goal and Duah’s exit on a red card. He will miss Saturday’s match against Minnesota United as a result.

When seventh-place SDFC (3-1-2) lines up against the ninth-place Loons (2-2-2) in Mission Valley, the hope is that the home team’s young players will show less naivete and the veterans will draw upon the resilience that’s kept them in professional soccer.

Box: SDFC trades money for pick

San Diego FC made a minor trade on Friday, sending $200,000 in 2026 general allocation money to Charlotte FC in exchange for $200,000 in next season’s general allocation money and a second-round pick in next year’s Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

The deal presumably gives Charlotte extra money to spend this season while giving SDFC more financial flexibility for 2027 in addition to an extra draft selection.

San Diego FC (3-1-2) vs. Minnesota United (2-2-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Snapdragon Stadium

TV: AppleTV

Radio: 760-AM