San Francisco — There are days in soccer when everything clicks… and then there are days when you run into El Farolito.

Real San Jose made the trip north to face the reigning National Amateur Club of the Year and, for one long evening in Boxer Stadium, found themselves on the wrong end of a 12–0 scoreline. Yes, twelve. As in, by the time you finish reading this sentence, they might have scored again.

But here’s the thing — this wasn’t a team that packed it in.

From the opening whistle, RSJ showed up ready to fight. For stretches, they battled, defended, and tried to impose themselves against a side that has made a habit of turning good teams into cautionary tales. And while the scoreboard kept ticking in a direction nobody in red, white, and black wanted to see, the effort never dipped.

No heads dropped. No walking. No “let’s just get out of here.” Just a group that kept lining up, taking the next kickoff, and going again.

Because that’s the part you don’t always see in a scoreline like this.

You see “12–0” and think collapse. But inside it, there’s something else — guys who kept running, kept competing, and kept showing up for each other even when the result was long gone.

Against a powerhouse like El Farolito, that matters.

Real San Jose will take the lesson, take the hit, and keep moving. That’s how this club has lasted 20 seasons. Not by avoiding results like this — but by surviving them.

And if you’ve been around RSJ long enough, you already know how this story goes next.

They’ll be back. Starting this friday when the Oakland Stompers come to PAL Stadium for a 7:45PM kickoff.

Real San Jose came back to earn a 1-1 draw versus San Leandro to set up a massive road game next weekend at Oakland. If Real San Jose wins that game they will be the 8th seed in the UPSL Wild West Division. Last week RSJ defeated San Leandro in a regularly scheduled match and this week was a makeup game from week one which was a rain out.

RSJ saw the services of Benji Joya and Albert Munante, and that sparked an excellent performance that San Jose could easily have won. Joya was a constant threat, and Munante scored the goal. Unfortunately, star midfielder Borja Moya was not in the RSJ line up. Below is a story written by Chris Arellano explaining the plight of Moya, who was a mainstay for RSJ the last three years.

SAN JOSE – Sometimes fans see a soccer player score a goal or make a dramatic tackle and think they know the player.

But whatever emotion Real San Jose midfielder Borja Moya has shown on the field this season does not tell the dramatic off-the-field struggle he has waged to protect his career and life.

Moya probably has played his last game for RSJ as his visa is on the verge of expiring. Barring a dramatic last-minute job offer, one of the team’s mainstays will have to return to his native Spain by June 15.

It is a blow for the 31-year-old player who has worked as a marketing manager for a public relations and communication firm. He paid taxes, maintained a romantic relationship and been a community asset. He wants to stay and keep working for his firm and play for Real San Jose.

“You can imagine how the last month and a half has been for me,” Moya said, referring to the painful preparations he has had to make to brace himself for his departure.

Now, Maya who once played youth football against current La Liga stars such as Adrian Gonzalez, of Malaga, and “Coke” Andujar Moreno, of Levante, while growing up in Madrid, is braced for a return home.

It has been a race against the calendar ever since the government extended his trainee visa for six months in December.

Moya said the only way he can avoid leaving the country is if a different employer hires him.

“The important point is that my company, where I am working now, would like to hire me. But they can’t since the law says that the same host company which hosted a J1 trainee employee cannot apply for an H-1 (work visa) for that person after the end of the program,” Moya said.

The trainee visa program, which Mayo is currently part of, is designed for foreign professionals to come to the United States to sample American culture and learn how to acquire practical American experience in their chosen occupational field, according to the State Department’s Exchange Visitor Program’s web page.

If he leaves, it is possible Moya could return to work in the United States again. But he said he would have to wait two years before applying to do so.

In another era, things might not have gotten to this point.

Historically, people in Moya’s situation might have obtained a H-1 visa. But the Trump administration has tightened the requirements for people like him to receive a H-1 visa. The newer requirements, Moya said, favor tech workers.

Faced with leaving the country, Moya said the “most frustrating thing” has been to find how powerless he has been in the struggle to remain in California.

Moya does not hold himself out as a special target of political abuse, simply as a pawn in the larger changes that have affected the federal government’s visa policy in the post-September 11 era.

Moya said he has enjoyed playing for Real San Jose.

He said he was very impressed by the 3,000 fans who turned out for an away game in Arizona in his third game for the club. As impressive as that turnout was, Moya said that road trip underlined the difference in the Spanish and American soccer culture. He said it would not have been necessary to travel to play a game in Spain.

Now, he reluctantly faces another road trip back home.

(Photo) RSJ enjoys the victory and says good-bye to Borja Moya who is returning to Spain because his visa has expired.

A 44th-minute goal from Jonathan Navarro backed by the best defensive effort of the season allowed Real San Jose to stay in the playoff hunt with a 1-0 victory. The match played June 1 at Burrell Field in San Leandro was an intense affair as both teams challenged hard for every possession.

First half action saw plenty of attractive passing from both teams, but all that ended at the halftime whistle. San Leandro United pushed hard to get the equalizer as an uncharacteristically well-organized RSJ defense weathered the storm. The drama hit its peak in the final minutes when RSJ’s Borja Moya was pulled down in the SLU’s penalty area. Surely the resulting penalty, if converted, would have sealed the victory for RSJ. Unfortunately, the San Leandro goalkeeper made a nice save to keep his team in the match. In the end, it was the RSJ defense that held on for the shut out win.

RSJ is one of three teams battling for the final playoff spot in the UPSL Wild West division. Vacaville currently holds the final playoff spot; however, Oakland or San Jose can move in. San Jose and San Leandro will face off again this time at PAL Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 PM. If RSJ can avoid losing, it will set up a final regular-season match against Oakland to determine which team will claim the eighth and final playoff spot.

(Updated: Mar 4, 08:04 AM) Real San Jose suffered a tough loss in a thrilling match played last Saturday night in Watsonville. It was an exciting match that saw RSJ score early, PVU tally twice before half time, RSJ tie it and nearly pull ahead midway through the second half, and PVU win it with just seconds remaining.

“We saw some glimpses of what the team is capable of, and those are the things we need to build on,” said RSJ Coach Markus Kothner whos post game mood might have been different had RSJ left the 2019 UPSL season opener with a road tie or win.

Kothner’s squad already has shown a marked improvement over last season’s squad that failed to make the Wild West Division playoffs. RSJ came out strong to start the match and then fought back harder after finding themselves behind at half time. Clearly, a different referee decision or a better-timed tackle or pass would have changed the outcome of the match. It was that close.

Real San Jose opens their home schedule of the 2019 United Premier Soccer League season on March 9 versus San Leandro United at PAL Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.