El Farolito Returns to NPSL National Championship with 2-0 Win over Michigan Rangers FC
By Andrew Streitel/NPSL.com
Thanks to an early goal from Kipre Sacre and a late tally in the waning minutes, El Farolito will return to the NPSL National Championship with a 2-0 victory over Michigan Rangers FC in the national semifinals at Davenport University’s Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex on Saturday night. El Farolito will defend its NPSL title when it hosts Hickory FC on August 2 in San Francisco.
“What we saw here today and in Hickory, North Carolina, exemplifies the culture that we want to create at the NPSL,” NPSL managing director Cindy Spera said. “One of our guiding principles is being grassroots and to have young men in their local communities being supported by their towns. We were fortunate to have a lot of people watching these games, whether they were physically here or watching from afar. I was told earlier that this was one of the highest number of streaming views we’ve had in years. With high-quality competition coupled with the energy and excitement from the crowd, it made for a perfect night of soccer.”
Michigan Rangers’ Abraham Arellano kicked things off in the first half with a strike two minutes into the match that sailed just wide of NPSL Golden Glove winner Kevin Gonzalez. El Farolito countered with high pressure that resulted in much of the halves’ possession. Sacre from El Farolito nearly scored in the 14th minute with the first shot on goal of the match and three minutes later, he went on to convert from just outside the six-yard box.
“It went to the wire, and I don’t think an opposing team has pushed [El Farolito] to their limits at this level like we did,” Michigan Rangers head coach Stuart Collins said. “I thought we gave them problems that I’ve never seen them have before. Arguably, we had three great chances in the first half that we could’ve taken, and I think the final ball let us down at times. All credit to them with the experience they have. That knowledge of managing big games really showed at the end. They are a great team.”
In the 17th minute, Jhohann Yabur sent in a cross from the right wing about 35 yards out that curled into the penalty box. With multiple El Farolito players crashing on the ball, Sacre found the back of the net with his volley that tucked into the far corner, which gave the visitors from San Francisco a 1-0 lead.
“I always do this during training sessions, and I have scored a goal like that in each semifinal we’ve been in this year,” Sacre said. “It was a very good moment for me and this club. The team is in their second straight final, and I am so happy.”
The Rangers grew into the game toward the final 10 minutes of the half and had multiple chances from set pieces. Arellano logged the first shot on goal for the Rangers in the 39th minute but Gonzalez maintained his clean sheet and the game headed into the break with El Farolito claiming a 1-0 advantage.
Neither team generated a grade-A opportunity in the second half, as the two teams went back and forth in a stalemate. A lengthy injury stoppage in the 73rd minute delayed the match for 27 minutes. The Rangers went on the offensive following the delay, as they searched for the equalizer and created multiple chances. However, Rangers’ Vianney Durand Mpomo Ambeha received a second yellow card, which resulted in a red card with four minutes remaining, halting Michigan’s momentum.
Quickly after the red card, El Farolito made it a 2-0 contest when Edgard Kreye found Herlbert Soto streaking in the box for the score at the 118th minute mark. El Farolito drained the remaining moments and held on for a 2-0 victory behind a shutout from Gonzalez. El Farolito, who remains undefeated, has now outscored its opponents 43-3 heading into the finals.
“First thing that comes to mind is that we are worried about our injured player, and our thoughts and prayers are with him,” El Farolito head coach Santiago Lopez said. “Overall, it was a very intense game. We knew exactly how they played, and we are very fortunate that our game plan resulted in the win. Our players did a great job in resolving problems on the field that got us the win. This is a great win for this club. We are now in the second straight national title game, and this group deserves it with how united and motivated they are. This is our second golden generation with the club and the first since we won the U.S. Open Cup in 1993. This team knows the responsibility and the talent they have, and they want to mark their history within the club.”
The Michigan Rangers concluded their season with their first-ever trip to the national semifinals. El Farolito will look to capture its second-straight NPSL title on August 2 against Hickory FC in San Francisco.
Photo Credit: Kevin W. Fowler/NPSL.com
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