After 90 scoreless minutes, Daniel Buitrago’s 96th minute goal propelled El Farolito to a 1-0 win over Napa Valley 1839 FC on a frigid night at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.
The win not only enabled Farolito to win the Golden Gate Conference championship for the second year in a row, but also likely ensured them a berth in the 2024 US Open Cup.
The scoring sequence began in the 94th minute, when Herlbert Soto played a two man game with Aly Arriola. Soto’s blast was heading in at the near post, but Napa goalkeeper Carlos Ayala was able to punch it away. The rebound came out to Jehimy Arias, who collided with Napa’s Ivan Sakou just outside the box. Sakou was called for the foul.
Farolito’s free kick was unsuccessful, but Sakou was whistled for a hand ball and yellow carded for unsporting behavior. Farolito was given another free kick from virtually the same spot. Buitrago’s shot cleared the wall and landed just inside the upper right corner of the net, as Ayala made a desperate drive to try and keep it out.
Few Chances Early in the Match
The match was not only a meeting of the two best teams in the conference, but also featured two of the leading scorers in the NPSL. Napa’s Dario Pavon had 14 goals in 9 regular season matches, while Farolito’s Dembor Benson had 13 in 10.
It also featured the Bay Area’s famed microclimates. While the high temperature earlier in the day was nearly 90 degrees in Napa, by game time it was in the mid-fifties at Kezar Stadium, with wind gusts of up to 19 miles per hour.
While there was plenty of action on both sides of the field, the blustery conditions and unpredictable wind currents made it challenging for both teams to create high quality chances. Both sides also put their bodies on the line to prevent giving up a goal that might end their season.
In the 27th minute, Napa had a chance when Victor Cascon was taken down by El Farolito’s Luis Becerra just outside the penalty area. Pavon’s free kick sailed just over the bar.
Farolito responded less than a minute later, after a long ball out of the back by Becerra. Soto crossed it to Elier Aponzá, whose spectacular side volley was saved by goalkeeper Carlos Ayala. Benson was in position to put in the rebound, but he was taken down on a tackle from behind by a Napa defender, as his teammates pleaded for a penalty.
Farolito goalkeeper Johan Lizzaralde also inadvertently made the match more exciting in the 34th minute. Lizzaralde ran nearly to the right sideline to try and track down a Napa long ball, leaving his goal unattended. Oscar Ortiz nearly had a shot at the open net, but the Farolito backline was able to clear the ball away.
Both Sides Look for a Winner in the Second Half
In the 49th minute, Napa’s Alvaro Carreras tried to clear the ball away, but the ball fell to Jehimy Arias just inside the penalty area. Arias’s shot bounced off of a Napa defender and went wide for a corner kick.
Pavon got his first shot on goal in the 55th minute, making a quick turn to redirect a cross by Paris Martins, but he wasn’t able to get much power on it and it was an easy save for Lizzaralde.
In the 58th minute, Ortiz went down in the box, but although the Napa players appealed for a penalty, the referee called the foul on Napa.
Pavon was yellow carded for flopping in the 66th minute, after colliding with Becerra and putting his hands over his face and falling to the turf.
In the 75th minute, Farolito had a chance on a corner kick. The ball was headed down by Jonathan Mosquera and was loose in the box. A Farolito attacker poked it toward goal, but Ayala made the save and held on.
Benson had his best scoring chance in the 88th minute, when Buitrago dribbled around Javier Alcarria and timed his pass to Benson perfectly to beat the offside trap. But Ayala was able to make a kick to send Benson’s shot attempt away.
Lizzaralde saved El Farolito’s season with his 89th minute stop. A Napa corner kick went straight to Ivan Sakou, who passed it to Pavon in front of goal. Pavon’s side volley was headed into the goal, but Lizzaralde went to ground to deflect out of danger.
Napa Desperately Seeks for an Equalizer in Extra Time
After scoring in the 96th minute, El Farolito was content to let the clock run out, but Napa had to go on the attack.
In the 97th minute, Alcarria sent a free kick from distance into the box, but Lizzaralde was able to punch it away.
Napa’s traveling fans erupted in joy in the 98th minute, when a through ball from Alcarria found Cascon open for an easy tap-in, but the referee waved off the apparent goal for offside.
In the second half of extra time, El Farolito continued to possess the ball, but they did have one significant chance. In the 110th minute, Soto delivered the ball to an overlapping Arriola who dribbled around in the box looking for an opening before delivering a weak shot that Ayala was able to smother.
There was an exciting sequence in the 118th minute. Napa’s Miguel Lara intercepted a pass, but the ball rebounded toward Mosquera, who missed the ball completely, nearly gifting Pavon with a great scoring opportunity. Lizzaralde then booted the ball to the other end of the field. Benson had a half-step on the Napa defender, but Ayala was able to kick his shot away.
Napa earned a corner kick in the waning seconds of the match. Everyone crowded into the box, including the goalkeeper, but Lizzaralde caught the ball instead.
After the final whistle, Napa coach Mark Corbett was red carded for getting into a scuffle with one of the officials. Some team staff and traveling Napa fans also exchanged words with both the referees and Farolito fans as both walked toward the exits.
Next Weekend
El Farolito will host Northwest Conference champions Crossfire Red next weekend in a rematch of last year’s Western Regional Championship game. Crossfire (then known as Crossfire Redmond) beat Farolito at Boxer Stadium in a penalty shootout after the match finished in a 2-2 draw.
