El Farolito Advances to the U.S. Open Cup’s Third Round
By Favian Renkel/NPSL.com
In another exciting chapter of the U.S. Open Cup, 1993 champions El Farolito are once again setting their sights on a Cinderella run through the tournament.
On a windy and rainy Tuesday night along the California coast, El Farolito once again captured the imagination of American soccer fans. Wrapping up the first set of Round 2 matches in the U.S. Open Cup, the 1993 champions brought their signature grit and heart just over two hours from home to face USL Championship side Monterey Bay FC. In a dramatic comeback, the NPSL club pulled off a stunning 2-1 upset—marking back-to-back tournaments in which El Farolito has delivered a “Cupset” and proven that magic still lives in the oldest soccer competition in the country.
El Farolito entered their second-round U.S. Open Cup matchup as the reigning 2024 NPSL champions and winners of their opening match in the 2025 NPSL season. Fresh off an impressive first-round upset over Real Monarchs of MLS NEXT Pro in Herriman, Utah, the former U.S. Open Cup champions were aiming to repeat last year’s run to the third round. Standing in their way was USL Championship side Monterey Bay FC, as El Farolito traveled to Cardinale Stadium looking to knock off another professional opponent and continue their Cinderella story.
Monterey Bay FC entered this U.S. Open Cup clash riding a strong start to their USL Championship campaign, having won three of their first four matches. With nine points, the Seaside, California-based club sat second in the Western Conference standings. For longtime Bay Area soccer fans, MBFC’s head coach might look familiar—Jordan Stewart, a former San Jose Earthquakes standout and one-time coach of The Town FC, now leads the squad from the sidelines.
El Farolito arrived at Cardinale Stadium already having pulled off one upset in this year’s U.S. Open Cup, and despite facing a higher-division opponent in Monterey Bay FC, they showed no signs of intimidation. The reigning NPSL champions started with their trademark energy, crashing into tackles and pressing high from the opening whistle.
Monterey Bay FC entered the U.S. Open Cup second-round matchup with a heavily rotated lineup, giving several players who hadn’t seen much USL Championship action a chance to start. Despite the changes, the home side came out composed, applying steady pressure on El Farolito’s backline. Midfielder Xavi Gnaulati quickly established himself as the game’s protagonist, tormenting the visitors with his positioning and vision. His one-on-one chance in the 24th minute narrowly missed, and the resulting rebound eventually struck the crossbar in a chaotic sequence. Just minutes later, Monterey Bay FC was awarded a penalty after a corner kick struck the arm of El Farolito’s Dembor Benson. Gnaulati stepped up to bury the spot kick in the 28th minute for his third goal of the tournament, putting MBFC up 1-0 and capping off a dominant stretch of play.
The momentum shifted, however, as El Farolito began to settle into the match. Despite struggling to play out from the back early on, including a pair of nervy clearances from goalkeeper Johan Lizarralde, the reigning NPSL champions found their rhythm before halftime. They created a handful of promising chances, including a flurry in the 35th minute, before their captain Johnatan Mosquera was forced off with an injury.
In the second half, the Burrito Boys took control. After a spectacular save by MBFC keeper Samuel Gomez in the 54th minute to deny a leaping header from Benson, El Farolito equalized just three minutes later. A deep-set piece from Gabriel Arias found Andres Zuluaga at the back post, who bundled the ball home to make it 1-1.
El Farolito head coach Santiago Lopez, who recently celebrated the birth of a child, explained after the match that his team had specifically targeted Monterey Bay FC’s vulnerability on set pieces. “We knew their weakness on set pieces. We practiced that a lot on the training ground, so it worked out on the first goal,” Lopez said.
The NPSL side then pushed relentlessly for a winner, eventually breaking through in the 83rd minute when Edgard Kreye finished a wild, multi-shot sequence inside the box to seal a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory.
As families and supporters poured onto the field to celebrate with the last remaining NPSL club in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup, head coach Santiago Lopez reflected on the significance of the moment and looked ahead to what could come next. “There’s been great Cinderella stories with USL Championship beating MLS clubs. Anything’s possible. This group wants it. We definitely want to make a deep run. And, you know, hopefully, in the future, we could beat an MLS club. That’s the next stage,” Lopez told reporters with pride.
As the last person on the field after the upset, Lopez shared powerful words about how deeply the U.S. Open Cup is woven into El Farolito’s history. “For us, it’s another opportunity to play in very big games against professional clubs. It’s the only avenue, [and] route we have as amateurs, so we will never forget the Open Cup and we will always strive to look for the Open Cup. It’s part of our history; it’s part of our mentality and our hard performance.”
El Farolito now awaits the third-round draw, once again embodying the magic and underdog spirit that defines the oldest soccer tournament in North America.
With the rain-soaked pitch behind them and another professional club in their rearview, El Farolito once again reminded the soccer world why the U.S. Open Cup remains one of the most beloved traditions in American sports. From a relentless second-half comeback to a finish full of raw emotion, the 1993 champions have proven that grit, heart, and belief still mean something in modern soccer. As the last remaining NPSL team in the 2025 tournament, they carry not just their own history but the dreams of every amateur club across the country. With their place in the third round secured, El Farolito’s Cinderella run continues—and the legend only grows stronger.
Photo Credit: Dario Cruz/NPSL.com
