Every team plays to get into the playoffs, a true shot at winning the league title. And nothing is better than a home playoff match. Real San Jose has that home playoff match, sort of. Here’s the situation.

Four teams from the NorthWest Conference advance to the UPSL playoffs. Three teams have already qualified (Victory FC, Boise FC, and Western Nevada). Only RSJ and Magic Valley can claim the last spot and these teams play this Saturday evening at PAL Stadium with the winner advancing to the playoffs. It is that simple “win and you are in.” The first round of the UPSL playoffs consists of an inter-division round where 1st place hosts 4th place and 2nd place hosts 3rd place. The Winners advance to the National Playoffs.

Here is the complete playoff scenario for RSJ:

1. Win: Guaranteed 4th place in Division and a playoff match on the road with #1 California Victory FC. A second win in the last regular season match with CD Aguiluchos will put RSJ in 3rd place and a road game at #2 Boise FC.

2. Tie: RSJ must win versus CD Aguiluchos USA on July 1 at PAL Stadium.

3. Loss: RSJ out.

Notes:

1. The unexpected loss to CD Pampers in Oakland last Saturday hurt RSJ only if the team loses against Magic Valley.

2. Magic Valley defeated RSJ 4-2 in Idaho on May 13.

3. Expect a lot of goals in Saturday’s big match as neither team has shown they care little about playing defense. RSJ has conceded 29 goals in 14 matches and Magic Valley has conceded 35 goals in 15 matches.

4. RSJ Official game jersey will be on Sale at the match for only $40. The only way to purchase any RSJ supporter items is to be at a home game.

Real San Jose has taken other step forward toward the UPSL Northwest Playoffs by defeating FC Sacramento by the score of 6-1 on June 10 at PAL Stadium. Jose Mendoza and Lorenzo Vasquez each scored three goals. Alberto Garcia-Escamilla assisted three times and Jose Avalos assisted twice. Jorge Curiel drew a penalty kick that led to a goal.

For the second week in a row RSJ came storming out of the gate and led 3-0 before fifteen minutes had passed. Only on this night, RSJ would have a 5-0 lead at halftime.

Sacramento, playing their second game after a change of ownership, pulled a goal back early in the second half. But that was all they would get as San Jose answered back with a 6th and final goal on the evening.

Notes:

1. After a slow start to the season RSJ has now won seven of the last nine games and may wrap-up a playoff spot as early as next week when they travel to play CD Pamperos 6:00pm on June 17 at Riamondi Park in Oakland.

2. Real San Jose is now selling official game jerseys at all home games This is the first time supporters can purchase a team jersey. They sell for $40 and are only available at a home game.

Real San Jose scored three times in the first fifteen minutes, withstood a IFX late first half push and then dominated the second half to earn a 5-1 victory and tie for the final UPSL Northwest playoff spot on June 6 at PAL Stadium. RSJ is now in a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot with Magic Valley FC from Idaho and four points behind Western Nevada with two less game played. RSJ hosts Sacramento FC this Saturday, 7:00 pm, at PAL Stadium.

The RSJ striker tandem of Lorenzo Vasquez and Jose Avalos proved to be too much for the IFX defense as they combined for three of the five goals. Avalos setup Vasquez to score in the second minute. Jorge Curiel fired in a loose ball in the fifth minute and Alberto Garcia-Escamilla assisted on a second Vasquez goal in the 15th minute. IFX hit with a goal and had their best chance to get closer blocked by RSJ goalkeeper Jonathan Arellano before halftime.

The second half belonged to Avalos-Vasquez combination and each setup the other to score in the second half.

Notes:

Lorenzo Vasquez: Today’s game was a great game. Coach Marcus (Kothner) demanded that we try and touch the ball more and keep control of the game and that’s what we did. Being able to go up 3-0 in the first 15 minutes was what the coach and team needed. The team was just amazing today.

Jonathan Arellano: The guys were ready to put our last game behind us and came out firing. I think we scored the fastest goal in our club’s history. We jump on IFX early and they didn’t know what hit them.