(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.