Rain lashed against the floodlights at Cardinale Stadium, turning the pitch into a slick, unpredictable stage for what would become one of the most talked-about "Cupsets" in recent American soccer history. Honestly, it shouldn't have happened. You have a fully professional side, Monterey Bay FC, sitting pretty in the USL Championship, facing off against a bunch of amateurs who literally represent a legendary burrito joint in San Francisco.
That is the magic of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
When the final whistle blew on April 1, 2025, the scoreboard read Monterey Bay FC 1, El Farolito 2. It wasn't a fluke. It was a tactical masterclass by a group of guys who spend their days working regular jobs and their nights terrorizing professional backlines. If you've ever grabbed a late-night carnitas burrito at the 24th and Mission spot, you know the grit we're talking about.
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The Night the Burrito Boys Took Over Seaside
Monterey Bay FC entered the match as the clear favorites. They were riding a wave of good form in the league, holding down the second spot in the Western Conference. Coach Frank Yallop (though rotating his squad significantly) expected his depth to handle an NPSL side.
Early on, it looked like business as usual.
Xavi Gnaulati, a bright spot for the Union, was everywhere. He was a menace. In the 28th minute, after a handball by El Farolito’s Dembor Benson in the box, Gnaulati stepped up and coolly slotted a penalty into the bottom left corner. 1-0. The home crowd felt safe. The professionals were in control, and the rain was just a minor inconvenience.
But El Farolito doesn't play by the script.
Turning the Tide in the Second Half
The second half was a different beast entirely.
The "Burrito Boys" came out swinging. They didn't care about the pedigree of the USL side. Santiago Lopez, El Farolito’s head coach, had spotted a weakness in Monterey’s set-piece defending, and he hammered that point home in the locker room.
It paid off in the 57th minute. Andrés Zuluaga found himself at the back post after a deep set-piece from Gabriel Arias. He didn't just kick it; he bundled it home with the kind of desperate hunger you only see in knockout soccer. 1-1.
Suddenly, Monterey Bay looked leggy. The rotation that was supposed to keep them fresh backfired.
The Chaos of the 83rd Minute
The winner was pure, unadulterated chaos.
If you watch the replay, it’s a comedy of errors for the defenders and a testament to persistence for the amateurs. The ball pinged around the box like a pinball. It hit the crossbar twice. Monterey Bay defenders were throwing bodies in the way, blocking shots with anything they could.
Then, Edgard Kreye found a pocket of air.
He poked the ball into the net in the 83rd minute. The small but vocal traveling support of El Farolito—including that one legendary fan who waves a giant flag for 120 minutes—went absolutely ballistic.
Why This Match Flipped the Narrative
People often think professional fitness always wins out.
Not here.
El Farolito outshot the professionals. They matched them in intensity. By the time Monterey Bay realized they were in a real fight, it was too late. The tactical shift to a high press in the second half forced the Union into sloppy clearances and nervy possession losses.
- Monterey Bay FC (5-3-2): Gomez; Lyons, Muir, Gordon, Lara, Garcia Jr.; Gallaway, Bryant, Fehr; Malango, Gnaulati.
- El Farolito (NPSL): Lizarralde; Borja, Cordoba, Perez, Martinez, Zuluaga; Soto, Buitrago, Ponce, Murillo; Benson.
What Most People Get Wrong About El Farolito
Don't call them a "burrito team" as a joke.
This club won the U.S. Open Cup in 1993 under the name C.D. Mexico. They have history. They have a culture that transcends just being a group of guys from a restaurant. This win against Monterey Bay FC was their second consecutive year knocking off pro teams after they took down Portland Timbers 2 and Real Monarchs in previous rounds.
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They are essentially the last of a dying breed: the true local amateur powerhouse.
Monterey Bay FC, on the other hand, had to face some hard truths. Rotating your squad is a gamble. Sometimes you find a diamond in the rough, but other times you lose the cohesion necessary to stop a motivated underdog.
Actionable Insights for Soccer Fans and Analysts
If you are looking to understand how "Cupsets" like Monterey Bay FC vs El Farolito happen, keep an eye on these factors for the next tournament:
- Watch the Rotation: When a USL side starts more than five players who aren't regular starters, they are vulnerable to the high-energy press of an amateur team with nothing to lose.
- Set Piece Vulnerability: Amateur teams often spend a disproportionate amount of time practicing dead-ball scenarios because it’s the ultimate equalizer.
- The "Home" Disadvantage: Sometimes playing at home creates a "don't lose" mentality that is far more restrictive than the "nothing to lose" energy of the visitors.
The 2025 Open Cup run for El Farolito eventually ended in a gritty 1-0 loss to Sacramento Republic, but the win in Seaside remains the high-water mark. It reminded everyone that on any given rainy Tuesday, the gap between the pros and the dreamers is a lot smaller than it looks on paper.
Follow the NPSL schedule this season to see if El Farolito can maintain their form heading into next year’s qualification rounds. If you're in San Francisco, head to the Mission District and check out the original bar; the 1993 trophy is still there, and the legend of the 2025 run is now permanently etched alongside it.