Real San Jose is on a win streak. RSJ defeated Western Nevada FC 2-0 as Angel Heredia and Lorenzo Vasquez each scored in front of a solid defensive unit that held the visitors scoreless. The win is the third in a row and puts RSJ with a solid place in the race of a UPSL playoff spot.
RSJ started the match in fine fashion creating a number good scoring chances that narrowly missed the mark. It took 25 minutes to sneak through the organized WNFC defense. Jay Caines went on a run down the right sideline and was desperately brought down resulting in a caution for the defender and a free-kick for RSJ. Heredia spun the ball between the defenders and goalkeeper and into the net despite a last gasp touch from a WNFC player.
The match became more even in the second half as the teams shared possession and chances to score. Early in the second RSJ goalkeeper Jonathan Arellano was forced to make one diving save stopping a goal-bound blast. The back four of Victor Orosco, Kyle Belcher, Tommie Hession-Harris, and Andres Martinez worked well to earn the first shutout of the 2017 season.
The match seemed on edge until the 82nd minute when Vasquez sealed the deal for RSJ with his 8th goal in three games.
Notes:
1: Angel Heredia, about the goal: We received a free kick right side of the box but not too far out. I recognized their defensive shape on the free kick and noticed a big gap between the goalie and their holding line. I just tried to attack the ball in that area towards goal, and with a little luck came a deflection off the wall and the ball went in.
2: Lorenzo Vasquez came one goal short of tying one RSJ scoring record and two goals short of tying a second and setting third. With one more goal, Vasquez would have tied Johnny Gonzalez’s three-game scoring record of nine goals. Wth two more goals, Vasquez would have tied Gonzalez’s three straight hat trick record and broke his three-game scoring record. Gonzalez set these records in the first three matches of the 2010 season. But Vasquez is not without an RSJ scoring record, as he holds the single game scoring record with four.