Former USMNT midfielder Jermaine Jones is now the head coach of Central Valley Fuego. Tuesday night, his team got eliminated in the U.S. Open Cup by El Farolito Soccer Club— a semi-pro team named after a Mexican restaurant chain in San Francisco.
El Farolito play in the National Premier Soccer League, so beating a team from the USL coached by Jermaine Jones was a big upset.
They also defeated MLS NEXT PRO side Portland Timbers II in Portland’s Providence Park.
El Farolito are currently coached by Santiago López— the son of the owner Salvador “Don Chava” López who founded both the restaurant and the club.
The team’s operations manager is Irene López, who also runs the restaurant and the bar.
El Farolito have a great history though. They even won the U.S. Open Cup in 1993. 👏🏾
They qualified for the 1994 CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup, playing against Mexican side Necaxa who would go on to win Liga MX few months later.
El Farolito were founded in 1985 after Don Chava, an avid Cruz Az...
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