The fascinating story of how the El Farolito Burrito Boys brought salsa to soccer and made it look as easy to flip a tortilla is repeated across the country, making it difficult for opponents to believe it was the real thing. Once you understand it, it becomes a little less appealing.
“That's my favorite part,” said El Farolito's Colombian right-back Sebastian Yabru, 25. Equipo de Barrio Because we keep surprising them. ”
On March 19, El Farolito made international headlines when they defeated Major League Soccer's B team, the Portland Timbers, 2-1 in Portland.
And on April 2, El Farolito defeated Merced Central Valley Fuego 2-1 with an 88th-minute goal, making them the first amateur team to defeat consecutive professional opponents in this year's U.S. Open Cup tournament. (a feat later matched by a team from Miami).
The Mission Taqueria soccer affiliate will look for their third straight win against professional opponents on Tuesday when they take on the Oakland Roots at California State University East Bay's Pioneer Stadium in Hayward. It's the same venue where the Roots dispatched them 3-1 in the second round of last year's tournament.
The two teams clashed again this preseason, with Roots winning 1-0. But neither Lopez nor his players are reading too much into that preamble.
Shortly after learning who his next rival was, López said, “We didn't have a plan and strategy set in stone yet.” “Now it's more clear, everyone knows their job and we look like an organized unit.”
Despite early struggles in the 2024 United Soccer League (USL) season, the five-year-old Oakland national team currently ranks ninth out of 12 teams in the Western Conference. The Roots remain a well-sponsored and well-televised pro team. Match. Therefore, it is still a favorite. However, with two come-from-behind victories in the U.S. Open Cup so far, and a pressing style that was sometimes stifling, El Farolito sent the message that “They will have to try harder than us.'' There is.
strength for life
Soccer observers have noted that El Farolito often looked like a professional team in their first and second round matches. That reputation for intensity extends to the team's practice sessions. That's what happened on a recent Thursday on the damp grass of Silver Terrace Athletic Fields at Silver and Bayshore in the San Francisco area of the same name. There, over 30 athletes sprinted, sprinted, and ran through the heavy rain, which was hard to believe for an April night. Contrary to their understanding on the ground, there was nothing but shouts, laughter, and brief expressions of grumbling. All in all, they knew more than they were saying.
It doesn't matter that two-thirds of the team has already played together for several seasons.
“We work really well on and off the field,” said Gabriel Arias, 24. He works at Hayward's power company by day and is an attacking midfielder in Lopez's plans by night. This is his fourth season with the team, and thanks to this continuity, there is a great understanding between young and old, veteran players or players new to the team, but he is also very familiar with the culture. He believes they are happy to accept it.
“A lot of times in teams you want someone to show off more, but here it's different,” he explained. “If someone makes a mistake, we all support him. We understood each other.”
This sentiment is echoed by Sacre Kipre, 21, one of the four Ivory Coast players who joined El Farolito this season. “Although the team is amateur, we act like professionals and train like professionals. Soccer is the same language everywhere. However, my Spanish improves in a month.”
None of the French-speaking journeymen are over the age of 24, but their soccer journey has already taken them to many places. Their professional careers have taken them to Spain, Greece, Austria, Israel, Connecticut, and finally San Francisco (although they live in Daly City). Eager to get another chance in the professional league, they are among the few players on El Farolito's roster who dedicate 100 percent to soccer and the intangible benefit of training: rest. For now, the savings from various professional activities will cover this financial downturn.
Dembor Bengtsson is a 28-year-old Honduran striker who is the top scorer (3 goals) in this Open Cup campaign, grew up in his country's youth national team, played for the first team in the local league, and has two brothers who are still in the national team. There is. Internationally known as “La Vicarra”. In a way, so is he, currently in his fourth season with El Farolito. He was traded to South Hayward four years ago after a brief stint in the Honduran League.
“For those of us who have families, in my case my wife and three children, it's much more difficult to maintain a salary and it doesn't compare to what I can earn here,” he said. .
This season is his best season yet, but coincidentally he's at a bit of a dead end professionally. Mr. Bengtson worked as a cook at an Italian restaurant until his hand injury forced him out of work indefinitely. He wants to get back to his job, but he also thinks he wants to find a way back to being a professional baseball player. The same could be said of his partner in crime, Sebastián Yabre, a former Venezuelan league champion who comes from the youth ranks of Colombian giants Atlético Nacional. He came to the Bay Area to rekindle his highest level and get back on track.
“Dale con fe,” they always say to each other before a corner kick, whether it's practice or a game. “Go in faith.”
With no contracts and free to leave at any time, they remain loyal to each other and their common goals this season. But López knows there are two elements to their ambition, and a better campaign will increase their chances of leaving at the end of the season.
“I hope I can help the Farolito players put themselves out there, get some recognition and give them a chance to go somewhere else,” he said.
“Just us!”
Soccer may be the same language everywhere, but Yabru, who is new to the team, speaks of another common language: sacrifice. It's not just about running long to get loose balls or putting your body at risk.
“It's easier to do that not only because most of us are Latino, but also because we have a lot of professional experience within our team. We know what we need and we do it. makes us feel united at critical moments. We know about each other, our children, our families. How many of us are here alone, and “How much family-like warmth there is in this team,” he explained.
Arias, a midfielder, says the knowledge he has gained from a life of gentle stimulation has lifted up the unworldly teammates around him. He guides them, corrects them, and concerns them with what is right.
“This burrito and taco team works hard to win games, so being called that makes us even more proud and motivated to put El Farolito in the best position possible.” It’s going to get even higher,” he said.
“the Primero nosotros, segundo nosotros, tercero nosotros” Yabru added. “nothing else matters.”
López, the team's coach and general manager of El Farolito's dozen taquerias, spends extra time studying tape of upcoming opponents and sharing it with his players. And while I can't reveal strategic secrets, I can reveal marketing strategies. “We will not be streaming upcoming games in our restaurants because we want people to go to the games.”
This will be the first U.S. Open Cup game in El Farolito to be played within driving or BART distance of the team's home base of San Francisco. Lopez and the boys invite you to see them next at Pioneer Stadium on April 16th at 7:30 p.m.
