Oakland SC has gotten off to an excellent start in its inaugural NPSL season, winning 2 out of its first 3 matches. But on Saturday night, a veteran El Farolito club exposed serious defensive weaknesses in an 8-1 rout in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Oakland Technical High School on Saturday night.
Farolito Scores Early and Often vs. Oakland SC
Erik Arias scored four goals for Farolito and Jesus Moreno added two more.
Ricardo Delgado opened the scoring for El Farolito in the 10th minute, converting a penalty kick after a reckless challenge by an Oakland defender.
They added a second three minutes later, as they intercepted a goal kick at midfield and moved the ball quickly down the field. Moreno was unmarked in the penalty area; his right-footed blast skidded underneath Oakland goalkeeper Kevin Esquivel.
The third came in the 28th minute on a counterattack that resulted in a two-on-one break, Moreno chipped it over Esquivel’s head for the easy finish.
Arias added goals in the 38th and 41st minute to give Farolito a 5-0 lead at halftime.
The second half was more of the same. In the 49th minute, Herlbert Soto took on two Oakland defenders and crossed the ball to Arias in front of the goal for the easy finish.
Oakland’s only goal came in the 54th minute, on Julio Cervantes’ curving free kick from 25 yards out that settled inside the upper right-hand corner of the net.
Arias scored his final goal in the 68th minute, after a sequence of 3 passes that began with a Farolito free kick from just over midfield. He left the match a few minutes later.
Substitute Daniel Gonzalez wrapped up the scoring in the 81st minute, outrunning a tired Oakland defense. Esquivel rushed out to the edge of the penalty area, but Gonzalez slid the ball by him.
Napa Earns Wine Country Derby Win on Penalty Kick
Napa Valley 1839 FC broke a five-team logjam at the top of the conference standings and earned 3 points in the first leg of the Wine Country Derby with a 1-0 win over Sonoma Sol FC.
Dario Pavon scored the only goal in the 3rd minute on a penalty kick. He waited until goalkeeper Colin Coppola committed to his left and directed a soft shot toward the middle of the goal.
Kyle Owings had the best chance to equalize for Sonoma on a cross in the 73rd minute, but his header went over the crossbar.
Sonoma’s Alex Climaco was ejected in the 83rd minute, after previously receiving a yellow card in the 44th minute.
10-Man Academica Rallies to Earn Draw with Sacramento
Academica SC and host Sacramento Gold FC battled to a 1-1 draw that featured 5 yellow cards issued to the host side and 4 to the visitors.
After a scoreless first half, Gabriel Padilla got Sacramento on the board with a goal in the 47th minute.
Academica’s quest for an equalizer became more challenging when Juan Flores was ejected from the match after receiving yellow cards in the 51st and 55 minutes.
But Alejandro Sanchez’s goal in the 77th minute salvaged a point for the visitors from Turlock.
Stompers and Contra Costa Split the Points in Seesaw Match
Both the Oakland Stompers and Contra Costa FC earned a much-needed point in their 2-2 draw at Raimondi Park in Oakland on Saturday.
Going into the match, the Stompers had lost their first 3 matches and Contra Costa lost their first 3 before beating Sacramento Gold on April 10.
The Stompers took a lead into the dressing room at halftime thanks to a goal in the 34th minute from former Ohlone College forward Juan Campos, on an assist by Mikai Jacobs.
But Contra Costa evened the match in the 52nd minute on a goal by Alex Cuellar.
The Stompers appeared to be on their way to earning 3 points when veteran midfielder Prince Bere scored in the 73rd minute, but former Cal defender JJ Foe Nuphaus equalized for Contra Costa 7 minutes later.
The match was very cleanly played, with only one caution issued to each team. Contra Costa goalkeeper Jeremy Zielinski left the match in the 21st minute and was replaced by Luis Felix.
Next Week
On Saturday, Napa Valley hosts the winless Stompers, Oakland SC hopes to get back into the win column when they host Sonoma County, and Sacramento hosts FC Davis.
On Sunday, El Farolito hopes to earn their 4th victory of the season when they travel to Concord to take on Contra Costa FC.
