It was a match that should not have been played for a number of reasons and it turned out to have a place in US soccer history as the only official league match played over parts of two days and months. It happened when Real San Jose traveled to visit the El Paso Indios at the beginning of the lower league explosion which saw the number of amateur clubs playing at the national level grow 10 times between 2007 and 2022.

Midnight Game is based on the true story of how upstart Real San Jose survived a seemingly doomed road trip from Silicon Valley across the southwest to face the would be National Champion El Paso Indios, who were a true second team to a professional Mexican soccer club. Welcome to the Midnight Game!The match in question should not have taken place for several reasons, yet it became a notable moment in U.S. soccer history as the only official league match played over parts of two days and months. This unusual event occurred when Real San Jose traveled to face the El Paso Indios during the early days of the lower league explosion, which saw the number of amateur clubs competing at the national level increase tenfold between 2007 and 2022.

"Midnight Game" is based on the true story of how the upstart Real San Jose embarked on a seemingly doomed road trip from Silicon Valley to the Southwest to challenge the potential National Champion El Paso Indios, who were the second team of a professional Mexican soccer club. Welcome to the Midnight Game!

Welcome to the Midnight Game!

Click Here to Buy Now!

Match Report: Real San Jose vs. Marin County Union
Final Score: Real San Jose 3, Marin County Union 1

Key Highlights

First Half Brilliance

Real San Jose started strong in their matchup against Marin County Union, entering halftime with a solid 2-0 lead. Marlon Marquez was the standout performer, netting two goals in the first half. Both goals were expertly assisted by Hector Herrera, whose precise passes carved open the Marin defense, allowing Marquez to capitalize on the opportunities.

Marin's Response

Marin County Union came back with determination in the second half. They earned a penalty kick early after the break, converting it to make the score 2-1 and putting pressure on Real San Jose. However, their momentum was halted as Real San Jose's defense tightened, keeping Marin from further closing the gap.

Sealing the Victory

All doubts were put aside when Marlon Marquez completed his hat trick with another assist from Hector Herrera, restoring Real San Jose's two-goal lead. This third goal secured the win and demonstrated Marlon's lethal finishing and Hector's outstanding playmaking ability. The game ended with a final score of 3-1, giving Real San Jose their first victory of the season.

Looking Ahead

The win against Marin County Union was a major confidence booster for Real San Jose. They will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming match on November 2 vs JASA at PAL Stadium.

Conclusion

With this victory, Real San Jose showcased a blend of clinical finishing and solid teamwork. Marlon Marquez was undoubtedly the man of the match with his three-goal performance, while Hector Herrera's trio of assists was equally commendable. The result leaves Real San Jose with a 1W 2T 2L record in the NPSL Regional League.

Follow @realsanjose, @npslregion, and @pacificconference for more updates on the season's progress.

Real San Jose welcomes Racing Sacramento for 7:00 pm kickoff at PAL Stadium in a National Premier Soccer League Regional match. RSJ looks to get their first win of the season after letting in a last-minute goal at San Leandro United last week.

Against SLU, RSJ dominated the early part of the game but missed their chances, allowing SLU to take the lead with a 25-yard free kick. Jacob Muniz equalized with a free kick, and RSJ went into halftime level. At halftime, Cristian Cruz and Hector Herrera were brought into the RSJ lineup, and they quickly helped RSJ take a 2-1 lead. The lead seemed secure until the final minute, when an SLU free kick led to a scramble in front of the RSJ goal and resulted in a goal for SLU. A frustrated RSJ team left the match knowing they had dropped two points in the standings. RSJ Manager Nick Arellano expressed confidence, saying, "We're going through a rough patch where we played well but let the last two games slip away. The results will start coming our way as we improve."

We are thrilled to announce that Marlon Marquez, our exceptionally talented midfielder, has been honored with the Alexander Arellano Memorial Award for Best Teammate of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes Marlon's unwavering commitment, positive influence, and integral role within Real San Jose.

The Alexander Arellano Award is presented annually to the Real San Jose player who most exemplifies the ideals of being the ultimate teammate while making the most positive impact throughout the year. The award honors the memory of Alex Arellano, the beloved second son of Real San Jose founder and manager Nick Arellano.

Marlon will be officially presented with the Alexander Arellano Memorial Award at Real San Jose's first game of the new season. Stay tuned for the announcement of the game date.

Upon hearing of receiving the award, Marlon Marquez expressed his gratitude with these heartfelt words:
"Man. First thing, thank god for the opportunity to join this great team. When I asked Nick to give me a chance to play with this team, I promised to do my best to help our team. I want to thank all our players for everything because each player does everything in each game… Thanks for giving me this important award. I don’t have too many words to say, but thanks."

Nick Arellano commented on Marlon's recognition:
"This has been a challenging year for the club, and Marlon still kept 100% commitment as he worked hard, inspired teammates, and helped in any way he could."

Marlon's teammates have shared their thoughts on his exemplary qualities:
Jacob Muniz: "Marlon always shows up and works to make the team better."
Manny Meza: "Marlon has always been the rock of the team. Working hard, being kind to his teammates and honoring the opponent. You can tell by the way he plays, he loves soccer."

Join us in celebrating Marlon Alvarado's remarkable achievements and contributions to Real San Jose. Share your congratulations and support using the hashtag #rsj #realsanjose.