SAN JOSE, Calif. – Real San Jose celebrated the end of preseason with a solid 3-1 defeat of NPSL side San Diego Pumitas at Yerba Buena High School on Saturday. RSJ raced to a three-goal lead in the first 33 minutes courtesy of two goals from Manny Avila as well as a free kick from Arturo Santana. Pumitas responded with a goal just before half-time, but Real were able to make their lead stand up, and secured the victory with a solid second half.
Real looked to attack from the outset, putting Pumitas under heavy pressure, and it soon paid off. A long ball over the top of the Pumitas defense found Santana in the clear in the 12th minute, only for him to be hauled down from behind near the top of the box, leaving RSJ appealing for a booking and penalty kick. Neither was forthcoming, but Santana made the penalty appeal moot, by depositing the free kick past Mario Salazar in the Pumitas goal.
Real doubled their advantage just six minutes later. Matt Amaral won the ball in midfield with a well-timed tackle, and sprung Ricardo Moran for a 60 yard run down the left wing. Moran’s subsequent cross was deflected, but Avila – a junior at nearby Mt. Pleasant High School – was quickest to react, rifling the ball home from close range for a 2-0 lead.
Pumitas responded in the 23rd minute when forward Daniel Bravo had a look at goal, but his shot was turned around the near post by Real goalkeeper Nico Arellano.
Moran nearly extended RSJ’s advantage, but his shot was well-saved by Salazar in the Pumitas goal. But that proved a mere respite as Real made it 3-0 just three minutes later. Moran’s corner kick was headed back across the face of goal by Amaral, and Avila’s volley cleanly beat Salazar.
Pumitas nearly hit straight back from the kickoff. Arellano made a complete hash of Matt Morales’ back pass, losing the ball to Pumitas’ Brandon Green at the top of the box. Green was subsequently fouled by a Real defender, but the ensuing free kick was hit straight into the wall.
The visitors finally pulled a goal back deep into first half stoppage time. Pumitas broke down the right wing, and the resulting cross was nodded on to Alex Cocina at the far post, who stabbed the ball home.
Such goals usually involve a change in momentum, but Real were back on the attack to start the second half. Moran saw his snap header fly just wide of goal in the 50th minute, and Adam Perez saw his shot saved by the Pumitas keeper three minutes later.
San Diego nearly scored in the 60th minute when a free kick sailed over the Real defense and found Cocina again at the far post, but the Pumitas forward’s shot went wide.
Play became increasingly end to end as the half progressed, but it was Real who had the better chances, with substitute forward Brian Velez twice going close.
Pumitas did have one last opportuinty to pull within a goal in the 85th minute, when they won a free kick at the top of the box. But the shot sailed harmlessly over the goal, and Real proceeded to kill off the remaining five minutes of the match.
Next week the games begin for real, and the task couldn’t be more daunting. Real will travel to the California state capital next Sunday to take on the defending league champion, the Sacramento Knights.
Real open their home schedule on May 13 when they take on the Sonoma County Sol. Kickoff is at 6PM.
Game Summary:
Real San Jose vs. San Diego Pumitas
1 2 T San Diego Pumitas – 1 0 1 Real San Jose – 3 0 1Scoring:
’12 – RSJ; Arturo Santana
’18 – RSJ; Manny Avila (Matt Amaral, Ricardo Moran)
’33 – RSJ; Manny Avila (Ricardo Moran, Matt Amaral)
‘49+ – SDP; Alex Cocina
RSJ Lineup: Nico Arellano; Dave Wolff, Adrian Corder; Matt Morales; Matt Amaral (’78 Richie Gharapetian), Pedro Alaniz, Adam Perez (Jairo Carretero 76), Ryan Villalpando (Jose Flores 82); Manny Avila (Edgar Rivera 80), Arturo Santana (Robert Orum 82), Ricardo Moran (Brian Velez 58)
