Strange Season Continues with Loss at Home and Win on the Road
It all comes down to this final week of the season!
(June 29, 2009) A down and up weekend has Real San Jose still in playoff position...barely. With one week of regulation play left in the 2009 NPSL regular season RSJ holds the final spot and has control of their own destiny. That said the situation is anything but a "lock." (Photo: Eric Espinosa had a strong match for the RSJ defense in Sunday's shutout victory. Espinosa made his first start of the season as a defender in place of Anthony Abass who suffered a broken cheekbone against Southern Oregon during Saturday's loss.)
RSJ faces a tough Nor Cal Lamorinda United team at Yerba Buena High School this Friday and a victory would put San Jose in the post season. A loss or a tie and RSJ would need help. Oddly RSJ could learn their fate before Friday when Salinas travels to Southern Oregon for a game on Wednesday. A win or tie by Salinas would eliminate Southern Oregon and put RSJ into the playoffs. If the Fuego win Wednesday and RSJ fails to win Friday then the final playoff spot will be decided in Oregon on Sunday when Lamorinda and Fuego play the final regular season match of 2009. Just how RSJ got in this position can be summed-up by just looking back to this past weekends games. On Saturday RSJ lost to the Fuego 4-1 at home and then went on the road to defeat Salinas 3-0. It has been this way all season long. RSJ has a 3W 1T 2L road record and a 0W 2T 3L home record.
"Most times the situation would be reversed and most points would be made at home. Some how we need to get positive results at home and until that is done then we will continue to struggle in the league standings," said manager Nick Arellano.
On Saturday RSJ got off to a dream start with a goal within ten minutes. Ricardo Moran ripped a cross to Nico Arellano and all hopes were set on another RSJ victory over the Fuego. Unfortunately for RSJ, the Fuego had other ideas. By the end of the first half the Soutern Oregon team had built a 3-1 lead. The Fuego added a forth goal late in the second half to complete an impressive 4-1 victory. Both of their 2009 wins have come in San Jose. After the match manager Arellano held a team meeting to discuss the situation.
"We needed to sort out exactly went wrong and how to fix it. It all started in the back but the players didn't realize it because it has been the guys in front that have failed to hit the mark this season," said Arellano.
RSJ face a "must win" situation the following night in Watsonville as the club faced the Samba for the second time in two weeks. True to the season form San Jose came away with an impressive road win. Three second half goals and a stout defensive effort may have saved the 2009 season for San Jose. Nico Arellano had a goal and an assist and Alfred Grijalva and Anthony Avalos scored the second and third goals respectively.
"We have one home game left this season and if we win then we will host the first leg of the first round playoff series. Some how we need to change our luck at home," said manager Arellano.
RSJ returns to NPSL action Friday July 3 at 7:30pm at Yerba Buena School. A win may be needed in a tough place to play...home
Semi-Professional NPSL
Semi-Professional NPSL
