El Farolito is heading to the 2027 US Open Cup after the team beat Lansdowne Yonkers FC, 3-1, in extra time to claim their first-ever USASA National Amateur Cup title. An electric run by substitute Herlbert Soto set up Dembor Benson in the second minute of extra time for the go-ahead and game winner at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Benson scored a brace in the final, which combined with his goal in the semifinal helped him tie teammate Erik Arias for the National Amateur Cup Golden Boot top spot with six goals in the competition.
El Faro, which had previously reached the final in 1991 before losing to St. Louis Scott Gallagher, continues to add to its impressive trophy collection. That also includes the 1993 US Open Cup title (under the name CD Mexico), the 2024 National Premier Soccer League title, and the team is reigning San Francisco Soccer Football League champions.
Earlier in the day, El Farolito also clinched their spot in the 2026 NPSL Final when they beat Ambassadors FC Ohio, 3-2, in the national semifinals. The neutral site match was made in order to allow El Faro to play in the National Amateur Cup, and made it an easier trip for the lower seed Ambassadors.
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A first half thin on threatening attacks ended 0-0. Lansdowne Yonkers FC worked possession through the center of the midfield, while El Farolito relied more on driving down the wings and occasional high pressure. But neither keeper was seriously tested.
Lansdowne Yonkers earned a free kick in the ninth minute from a step outside the 18 just to the keeper’s left, but the shot struck the face of a player in the El Farolito wall.
In the 33rd, Danu Kinsella-Bishop found space out front about 25 yards from El Farolito’s goal and rifled a low shot that briefly handcuffed goalkeeper Julian Escobar. But he quickly gathered the ball after it popped in the air, and any threat dissipated.
The half did feature its share of physicality and posturing, but the only yellow went to Edgard Kreye of El Farolito in the 42nd.
Soto entered in the 62nd minute and immediately began slaloming through the Lansdowne defense, creating trouble. The match was tied, 1-1, after the full 90 but in the 92nd minute of extra time Soto carried the ball about 20 yards past about three defenders before slipping the ball to his left. Benson, who also scored in the 2-0 win over Chicago House AC in the semifinal, made no mistake with a curling right-foot shot.
The same Soto-to-Dembor combination added an insurance goal in the 108th, sparked by another energetic run to the touchline by Soto. Benson tapped in the cross at the back post.
Soto played about 65 minutes earlier in the day in the NPSL Semifinal, scoring himself in a 3-2 victory over Ambassador FC of Ohio. El Farolito coach Santiago Lopez said he began resting players, including Soto, once the “Burrito Boys” took a 3-0 lead in the early game, and it paid off in the USASA final.
“This opponent, I think they were very, very tired,” Lopez said. “They see naturally, when gets the ball, he automatically attracts opponents to try to pressure them and it helps out the other players to have some free space. He came on fresh against a back line that was completely fatigued, and it was easy for him.”
Benson – who also scored in the 2-0 semifinal win over Chicago House AC on Friday – was one of four players who never left the field all weekend, according to Lopez, but otherwise he managed his lineup on a warm summer weekend in Milwaukee.
“We basically started with a B-team for this game, and we ended up subbing the usual starters into the second half because we went all out for the semifinal in the morning, so there were a lot of pieces of movement, a lot of strategy,” Lopez said.
Christhian Valencia’s stinging volley in the 86th minute was the opening goal, the culmination of El Farolito’s sustained pressure and possession throughout the second half. The Burrito Boys served in a number of dangerous balls but only fashioned a couple of opportunities prior to Valencia’s screamer. Lansdowne couldn’t find a release valve playing out of the back and didn’t choose many direct routes.
On the opener, Jonathan Valdivia served a ball from the right wing across the penalty area where Valencia found himself unmarked. His one-timer was beautifully struck, sizzling just under the crossbar and past Lansdowne Yonkers FC keeper Dwayne Browne
That looked like the sure winner, but less than a minute from the end of second half added time, Lansdowne Yonkers found an improbable equalizer. A ball served toward the top of the area from the right wing was met by Seamus Keogh, whose half-volley off the bounce rocketed off the near post and in.
Lansdowne’s Eddie Speed was sent off with a red card in the 102nd minute for picking up his second yellow, further hampering the search for the tying goal. Valdivia was sent off with a red for his second yellow in the 119th minute. Nikolas Pajares of Lansdowne Yonkers FC got his second yellow from the bench in 120+2 as the latter moments of the match devolved into a lot of confrontation. The final whistle seemed to prevent any further escalation.
El Farolito double booked their trip to the 2027 US Open Cup on Saturday. By virtue of reaching the NPSL Final, El Faro also claimed one of that league’s three assigned USOC spots. The San Francisco side will qualify as National Amateur Cup champions, and the three NPSL spots will go to fellow finalist Bristol Rhythm AFC, and semifinalists Ambassadors and New Haven United FC.
Below is a complete recap of the entire National Amateur Cup finals, with scores from each of the semifinals, third place game, and the national final.
Friday, July 24 (Semifinals)
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (NY, APSL)
5:1
Tar Devils SC (NC, NCSL)
Uihlein Soccer Park Stadium Field – Milwaukee, WI
LYFC:
- Danú Bishop Kinsella 5′
- Eddie Speed 19′
- Seamus Keogh 26′ (PK)
- Brandon Bermingham 76′
- Cillian Heaney 89′
TDSC:
- Abubaker Mayanja 45′
MATCH BROADCAST (United States Adult Soccer Association)
Chicago House AC (IL, MWPL)
0:2
El Farolito SC (CA, NPSL)
Uihlein Soccer Park Stadium Field – Milwaukee, WI
CHAC:
- Cesar Murillo Jr. – Red Card 85′
El Faro:
- Omar Lemus 13′
- Dembor Benson 71′
MATCH BROADCAST (United States Adult Soccer Association)
Saturday, July 25
Chicago House AC (IL, MWPL)
4:2
Tar Devils SC (NC, NCSL)
3rd Place Match
Uihlein Soccer Park Pat Jones Field – Milwaukee, WI
CHAC:
- Jake Lane (x3)
- Aryan Kamdar
TDSC:
- Nathan Iandoli
- Luc Madrid
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (NY, APSL)
1:3
Tar Devils SC (NC, NCSL)
After Extra Time
Uihlein Soccer Park Stadium Field – Milwaukee, WI
LYFC:
- Seamas Keogh 90+4′
El Faro:
- Cristhian Valencia 86′
- Dembor Benson 93′, 107′
MATCH BROADCAST (United States Adult Soccer Association)
