El Farolito Crowned 2024 NPSL National Champions
By Michael Lewis/NPSL.com
Erik Arias snapped a 1-1 tie in the 62nd minute to lift 10-man El Farolito to the 2024 NPSL National Championship in a lightning-delayed final at Ranger Stadium on the campus of Drew University on Saturday night.
It was El Farolito’s first NPSL crown, but second national title as the team, then known as Club Deportivo Mexico, captured the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship in 1993.
El Farolito finished the season unbeaten with a 14-0-3 record as FC Motown suffered its first loss of the campaign.
Arias fired home a 12-yard shot into the lower left corner past goalkeeper Joshua Schaffer for a 2-1 edge against FC Motown, the 2022 NPSL champions.
The San Francisco-based team was forced to play the final 22 minutes of regulation and seven minutes of stoppage time a man down after Jonatan Valdivia was given his marching orders after he was awarded his second yellow card in the 68th minute.
Due to two lightning delays, the game, which had been scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm ET, did not kick off until 9:11 pm ET.
But the wait turned out to be worth it as both sides came on in an attacking mode in a lively and physical first half.
FC Motown came out with a flurry of shots early on, which included a save by goalkeeper Johan Lizarralde on Joe Holland’s header (opening minute), FC Motown’s Maudwindo Germain hitting the right post (seventh minute) and bicycle kick clearance by Herlbert Soto (ninth minute).
Then it was El Farolito’s turn.
FC Motown goalkeeper Joshua Schaffer cleared a shot off the line early on.
After an FC Motown foul just outside the penalty area, the hosts pulled every player back into the box to defender Gabriel Arias’ free kick in the 15th minute. It worked as Arias not only slammed his spot kick into the wall, but also the rebound.
Three minutes later, the West Region winners were awarded another free kick about 24 yards out, but he hit that attempt into the wall, as well.
Then the game turned physical as referee Patrick Manga handed six yellow cards, three for each side.
Two minutes into first-half added time, El Farolito had a fabulous scoring opportunity as Herlbert Soto, on a counterattack, had his shot saved by Shaffer. On the ensuing rebound, Shaffer denied Kipre Sacre, who crashed into the netminder.
Schaffer was bleeding and needed to be replaced by Ryu Mckinney for the remainder of the half. Schaffer, wearing a head bandage and another numbered jersey – 0 – returned to action for the start of the second half.
After a scoreless first half, both teams had reasons to celebrate as they scored a flurry of goals.
An FC Motown player was called for a hand ball in the box and the visitors were awarded a penalty kick. Jhohann Yabur converted with a hard shot into the lower left corner past a diving Schaffer to lift El Farolito into a 1-0 lead in the 54th minute.
El Farolito’s celebration, however, was short-lived as Christopher Bermudez struck for the equalizer. A fine individual effort by Germain on the left flank set up Bermudez, who drilled a shot from atop the area past Lizarralde two minutes later in the 56th minute.
The visitors came back to retake the lead in the 62nd minute as Erik Arias fired home a 12-yard shot into the lower left corner past Schaffer for a 2-1 edge.
El Farolito, however, was reduced to 10 men in the 68th minute after Valdivia committed a hard foul and was awarded his second yellow card of the match in the 68th minute
The West Coast side withstood FC Motown’s late rally in regulation and some seven minutes of stoppage time to claim the title.
Photo Credit: Mike Langish/NPSL.com
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