El Farolito, who were on the back foot from the start of the second half, couldn't stop a comeback against the Oakland Roots in Hayward on Tuesday night, losing 1-2. The San Francisco-based, Taqueria-backed team became the favorite for this year's U.S. Open Cup, defeating consecutive professional opponents in the first two rounds of the tournament.
“There's no tomorrow, there's today, so let's do our best!'' Head coach Santiago Lopez preached to his players over and over again during warm-ups at Pioneer Stadium, the Roots' home stadium. Assistant coach Marcos da Silva emphasized Roots' “hunger.”
And they did it in a 120-minute battle of attrition. But this time, their collective strength and willpower was no match for their flashy professional neighbors from across the bay.
But it was El Farolito who drew blood first. Won 1-0 in the 12th inningth El Farolito took control of the first half after a minute when Denvol Bengtsson scored another goal (the team's fourth in the competition out of a total of five). However, the team was lackluster in the final third, failing to provide clean balls to their forwards. When the Roots equalized before halftime, the game turned on its head along with El Farolito's strategy. To make matters worse, El Farolito lost midfielder Edgard Clay to a second yellow card in the 51st minute.cent minutes.
El Farolito, accustomed to high pressing and ball control, found themselves at a disadvantage, trapped in their own half and forced to rely on counterattacks.
Eventually cornered within their own box of parking buses, the yellow and blue teams held out until the end of the restrictions. The break for Air Force and Coach Lopez's speeches did not take effect until after the end of '98.th In that minute, Roots took the lead with a goal from Ali Elmasnaoui. Only then did Farolito's players move forward again despite being pressed against the wall.
A goalie one-on-one between Bengtsson and Roots at the end of the first half of overtime had everyone on their feet. His lob was close, but a little too wide. Roots' Trayvon Reed red card in 106th gameth El Farolito remained balanced in the final few minutes, playing 10-on-10 football, but tired legs and a certain kind of impatience that comes with a shaky game ultimately cost El Farolito.
In his pre-Major League Soccer days, El Farolito, the 1993 U.S. Open Cup winner, took solace in the talent he displayed, even though López admits he may not be on the roster for much longer. It will be. He may have lost the game, but the player, the team, and the taqueria gained recognition, new opportunities, and a well-deserved consolation meal at El Farolito. .
Burrito memories from the past:
Briteur!El Farolito team defeats Major League Soccer affiliate team
El Farolito Taqueria's amateur team defeated a team affiliated with a Major League Soccer franchise, perhaps the first in both restaurant and soccer fields. El Farolito's amateur team came from behind to defeat the Portland Timbers 2, a feeder club for Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers, in their opening game Tuesday night.
'Burrito Team:' El Farolito's Cinderella run continues on Tuesday vs. Oakland Roots
Leer en español The captivating story of the El Farolito Burrito Boys, who bring salsa to soccer and pull off comebacks as easily as flipping a tortilla, is repeated across the country as opponents believe they're the real deal. Once you understand that there is, your love for it will fade a little. “That's the part I love,” said Colombian Sebastian Yabru, 25.
