El Farolito earned a spot in next week’s NPSL National Championship with a 3-0 win over Duluth FC at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.
El Farolito Takes the Early Lead
The host side jumped out into the lead in the 9th minute on a brilliant solo effort by Jonatan Valdivia. He stole the ball just over midfield, dribbled to the edge of the penalty area, and blasted a shot that landed in the upper left corner of the net.
El Farolito doubled their lead on another shot from distance in the 32nd minute. Valdivia made a run down the right sideline and dished the ball back to Kipre Sacre, who teed it up for Gabriel Arias for a low, hard shot that skidded on the turf and settled in the lower left corner of the net.
But Duluth nearly climbed back into the match thanks to Liam Pritchard.
In the 44th minute, Pritchard found space between two Farolito defenders and made a run into the penalty area, but he was stripped of the ball on a slide tackle from behind by Farolito’s Jesus Martinez. Duluth players and coaches pleaded for a penalty, but their pleas were denied.
In the second minute of first half stoppage time, Pritchard once again beat the Farolito offside trap, but goalkeeper Johan Lizarralde rushed off his line to the edge of the penalty area to deflect the shot away.
Second Half Chances
As the second half began, El Farolito nearly extended their lead in the 51st minute on a loose ball in the box. Edgard Kreye collided with goalkeeper Jamie Colvill before he could get off his shot, but the ball fell to Erik Arias, whose lob was cleared off the goal line by Duluth defender Joshua Bellamy.
Farolito had another chance less than two minutes later. Valdivia’s cross was headed on target by Kreye, but Colvill leaped into the air to bat the ball away for a corner kick.
Pritchard had another chance for Duluth in the 64th minute, but his shot sailed over the bar.
El Farolito’s defense was able to bottle up Duluth’s primary striker, Edouard Nys, for most of the match, but he nearly scored directly from a corner kick in the 67th minute, forcing Lizarralde to punch it over the crossbar for another corner.
Second half substitute Carlos Rodriguez missed a pair of chances for El Farolito, both in the 72nd minute. The first was a mistimed dive on a header, the second on a shot from close range that went wide.
Duluth’s Bellamy made another key save to keep his team in the match in the 79th minute, clearing away Jhohann Yabur’s header.
Rodriguez finally scored El Farolito’s third goal in the third minute of second half stoppage time. Jhonatan Perez’s cross may have been intended for Erik Arias, but Rodriguez stepped in front of him and delivered an emphatic header that sealed the match for El Farolito.
Coaches’ Comments
Duluth’s Head Coach Sean Morgan said he knew going into the match that it would be tough for his team to beat El Farolito.
“I thought it was competitive,” Morgan said. “I thought there were a couple of big calls that maybe didn’t go our way. I thought we should have had a penalty at the end of the first half and probably a red card because he was the last man and I’m not quite sure how that got missed. But, you know, beyond that, I thought we created a couple of chances in the first half, but unfortunately couldn’t take them. It would’ve given the game a different complexion.”
El Farolito’s Head Coach Santiago Lopez was happy with his team’s performance.
“Right from the start, we had a game plan and I think we executed very well in the first 15 minutes,” Lopez said. “We put a lot of pressure on them. We identified their strengths and weaknesses very clearly. And the players were very focused and were able to maintain their intensity throughout the entire game.”
For Morgan and his team, the season now ends.
“It’s been a pleasure to be associated with these boys, to bring them here for the summer and and to go through the journey that we went on over the last couple of months,” he said. “You know, I couldn’t be more proud to to be associated with them and to help them and yeah, it’s devastating the way things finish. And that’s football, someone’s unfortunately got to lose and they did themselves proud right throughout the season to get as far as we did. I’m just heartbroken really.”
Meanwhile, Lopez is ready to take on the challenge of facing top seeded Motown FC in the championship game.
“I’ve seen some games,” he said. “I know they have amazing D1 college players and experienced players as well. I think some ex-professionals. I know how they’re going to play and we just have to analyze more in depth and prepare for that match. And the boys are very, very happy.”
