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 opened their 2017 United Premier Soccer League season with a 2-2 draw at Dayton High School in Dayton Nevada on March 18.

Rene Segovia gave RSJ the lead in the 23rd minute when his long-range shot from 45 yards flew high in the air over the stranded keeper and dropped just under the bar. The score stood at halftime.

Borja Moya

Nevada came out strong to start the second half and scored twice. In the 50th minute, WNFC tied the score as Luico Espitia was in place to knock in from a goal line scramble. Then the home side took the lead just five minutes later when Alex Martinez headed in a corner kick.

RSJ answered back with a goal off a corner kick of their own in the 58th minute. Angel Heredia served up a perfect ball to Borja Moya to head in with power. That was the third goal in eight minutes and there were no more as the match ended 2-2 despite plenty of chances from both teams.

RSJ opens the 2017 Home schedule this Saturday, March 25 vs Magic Valley FC from Twin Falls Idaho. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm at PAL Stadium.

RSJ coach Markus Kothner: “A rough start, that did not reflect our potential. We had some last minute changes due to injuries. Which we felt at the beginning. The team caught itself after the first goal, and got better by the minute. The long break due to the injury of Western Nevada’s goalie, wasn’t helping us. We controlled the game but weren’t really decisive. To start the second half, we faced the same issues we face the first 10 min of the game, and WNFC punished us for our mistakes. At the end of the day, I believe this was a good start, and I feel very positive for the next games.”

Rene Segovia: “It was an unbelievable experience to score on my first game and from that distance. It was just what we needed in the game to settle, as they were pressing intensively. In their intent to counterattack, their keeper threw an air ball and after it bounced one time in front of me I just took a shot expecting the best out of it and as I saw how that ball was going down I knew it was going in,” said Segovia.”

Borja Moya: “It was a bad moment in the game for us, they just came back the score and we were losing. As Angel delivered a great ball from the corner kick, I managed to get away from my defender, placing myself between the penalty spot and the small box line. Alone as I was, I headed the ball towards goal. The goalkeeper got a touch on it; but fortunately, he wasn’t able to stop the ball from going in. I am very glad to score my first goal in the UPSL and I am very happy for this, I hope it’s just the first of more, and to help the team to achieve our goals.”

SAN JOSE – Markus Kothner, a native of Germany who played professionally in Europe and El Salvador, will be Real San Jose’s new head coach Saturday night when the team hosts East Bay FC Stompers. Current assistant coach Frank Quintero will stay on in the same capacity.

Real San Jose, in the midst of a struggling season, hosts the Stompers at 7 p.m. at the PAL Stadium.

“RSJ has been looking for a head coach since December and it is a complicated process, and I believe we found the perfect man for the job in Markus,” said Manager Nick Arellano. “We now have two coaches in place and will add a goalkeeper coach when we can.”

Kothner said he is looking forward to the challenge of turning around the team’s fortunes. The team has lost recently, but Kothner said there are talented players on the team, and he is looking forward to working with them.

“I want to be on a team that is competitive and on a team that takes it seriously,” Kothner said, adding he has helped to run recent team practices.

Kothner has played for the youth clubs of Roda Kerkrade of the Netherlands, Borussia Moenchengladbach of Germany. He later played for CD Municipal Limeno of El Salvador, Alemannia Aachen, and various other lower-tier teams.

Kothner, who now lives in Fremont, realizes he assumes the team’s helm with only four games left in the season. He said he believes in “heavy metal soccer,” which he describes as a possession game, in which his team pressures the opposition when it doesn’t have the ball.

“I don’t like to react,” Kothner said. “I like to be the team that has the ball.”

Kothner added he hopes he can help the team win soon, something he thinks might help build confidence in his system.

“Once you have a success, you can say it really works,” he said. “It’s not just someone who talks.”

Eventually, Kothner said he hopes to coach a team that has a winner’s mentality and doesn’t care who the opposition is – like the famous German club, Bayern Munich.

On a practical level, Kothner said he would like to help RSJ players achieve their soccer goals such as playing in college or beyond. He said the success of the RSJ alumni would help develop pride throughout the club.

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors gave a Commendation to commemorate Real San Jose beginning its 10th season. District 2 Supervisor Cindy Chavez the presentation was at the Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting on March 22 9:00 in the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers. Also presenting the Commendation was Mike Wasserman County Supervisor from District 1. RSJ Manager Nick Arellano received the award with players Jose Avalos and Jonathan Arellano.

“This is a special time for Real San Jose. It is an honor to be recognized by the County Supervisors as it reminds us of what we have done and spurs us on to do more for the community,” said Nick Arellano.

Supervisor began the presentation by calling Real San Jose “the best-kept secret” and Arellano agrees.

“In the context of the entire County of Santa Clara with all the great things and challenges here, we are the best-kept secret, and I am grateful to Supervisor Chavez for helping us be part of the big picture,” said Arellano. “Everyone in our organization is thrilled and very excited.”

RSJ opened the 2016 National Premier League season with a victory in Sacramento on March 19 and will travel to Oakland this Saturday evening to face defending West Region Champion CD Aguiluchos.

RSJ opens the 2016 Home Schedule on April 2 when East Bay Stompers come to PAL Stadium for a 7:00 pm kickoff.