It was do-or-die in the Bay on Sunday night, and Leo Lazaro’s extra time heroics proved the difference as Inter San Francisco edged past Valley 559 FC, 5-4, at James P. Lang Field.
After missing out on back-to-back tournament appearances last year, Inter SF are headed back to the Open Cup for the 110th edition of the tournament. Inter made their debut in the Open Cup in 2023.
Leo Lazaro led the way with a brace on the night, scoring in the 85th and 99th minutes. Both times Lazaro scored to give the hosts the lead, with the 99th-minute tally standing as the difference in an otherwise even affair.
The hosts were up inside the first minute of the match after a ball squared into the box caromed off a Valley 559 FC player and in the goal for an own goal to make it 1-0. Valley, however, erased that mistake in the fifth minute with Victor Faulk converting from the penalty spot.
Inter took back the lead thanks to a long-range strike from Dylan Autran on the fast break in the 12th minute. The ball pinged around the midfield before falling to Autran’s feet. He took one look up at goal, noticed the Valley keeper off his line, and sent one screaming into the top left corner to make it 2-1.
Again Valley had a rebuttal. The Valley keeper got a hold of a bouncing ball and triggered a fast break down the left side. A trio of quick passes up the sideline saw Andrew Huerta slot a ball inside for a finish past the on-rushing Inter keeper.
A well-worked combination put Inter up 3-2 as halftime beckoned. After getting the Valley defense shifting, a lofted ball to the backside connected with Adrian Argosy who just stayed onside. He coolly finished to the back post for the hosts’ third goal of the match in the opening frame.
After the interval, it was Valley that struck first in the 60th minute. A nifty bit of work on the endline saw a Mason Gonzalez receive the ball inside the 18 yard box before hammering it into the side netting, to make it 3-apiece.
In a pattern seen all night, Inter thought they’d found the answer in the 85th minute via Leo Lazaro only to see Valley’s Andy Velasquez respond three minutes later to keep it level at 4-4.
Lazzaro’s extra time goal in the 99th minute proved to be the game-winner, and ultimately, it helped heal a wound from last year’s qualifying tournament when Inter lost 4-2 to FC Folsom (UPSL) in a “Win & You’re In” match.
“It could have been three years in a row to qualify for the Cup, but after last year’s heartbreak, losing in the final round, the way we lost, the pain was immense,” said Inter head coach and general manager Amir Darabi. “All we wanted was another chance to prove ourselves. This year, we made it back in style! Scoring 18 goals in just four games, we delivered entertaining performances every step of the way. Now, with this incredible achievement behind us, we’re dreaming even bigger and making exciting plans for the future!”