Monterey Bay FC hosted Inter San Francisco for the First Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, on a chilly night at Cardinale Stadium. The home squad were the heavy favorites in the match, despite starting four players who had not made a USL Championship appearance this year.
In a game in which Monterey Bay FC had 12 more shots, and eight more on goal (9-1), the hosts showed total pitch domination, knocking out Inter San Francisco, in their 4-0 clean sheet victory. MBFC’s possession advantage of 65% to ISF’s 35% further expressed how in control Jordan Stewart’s club was.
The night’s featured Xavi Gnaulati recording a brace within the first half of action, the San Diego native’s first points of the early season. Gnaulati did his damage on a pair of lovely one touch finishes, off crossing passes from both Luke Ivanovic and Alex Dixon. Monterey Bay FC tallied twice more, with both goals coming off centering passes from the left and right wing. Mobi Fehr scored for the first time in 2025, and Ilijah Paul converted his second goal of the year to account for the other two net-finding shots.
The match was underway at 7:04 p.m Pacific, and by 7:06 p.m., Fehr had already put the ball in the back of Inter San Francisco’s net. The 2’ goal was set up after MBFC had an attack down the left sidelines, all before a touchy crossing pass by Dixon. This ignited the home crowd, and the Bay Area visitors were feeling the Union’s roar.
Inter San Francisco had attacking moments as well in the early minutes, but the defense in front of MBFC’s keeper Sam Gomez did enough to keep the attacks out of the net.
Just over halfway through the opening half, Monterey Bay FC made another charge down the right side. After a good clearance up the center by MBFC’s defense and midfielders, Ivanovic found himself with a head of steam coming the other way. Due to ISF’s aggression, they left their side of the field outnumbered, and Gnaulati made no mistake of the open box, scoring a classy one timer off his right boot in the 25’.
After an injury scare to one of MBFC’s players at midfield nearing the end of the half, the fourth official signaled for four minutes of stoppage time. Monterey Bay capitalized quickly with the scoreboard clock stopped, as Gnaulati once again sent a powerful strike past Inter SF’s goalie Jesus Rangel Medina. Gnaulati’s second goal came off a feed by the 35-year-old Dixon, who was given high words of praise from his coach post-game, with Jordan Stewart stating “he’s a veteran… an experienced guy so he knows how to play. He’s one of the leaders in our group… he still looks 21.”
The goal capped off a dominant first 45 minutes, with MBFC heading to the locker rooms on top 3-0.
The second half featured more possession time domination by MBFC, as they seemed focussed on preserving the lead. Despite keeping ISF off the scoresheet, Jordan Stewart felt the team “got a bit sloppy in the second half, especially with the scoreline, it’s natural to kind of ease off the pedal.”
While the scoring came down in the final 45 minutes, Ilijah Paul took home the lone goal of the entire second half in the 84’, finishing off a cross from the left wing by Adrian Rebollar.
Monterey Bay FC held strong for the final 11 minutes of regulation, gaining its first shutout victory of the season. Despite the wind, and temperatures dropping into the 40s, the home crowd cheered and sang all throughout the night.
Monterey Bay FC now awaits Second Round competition, but will have a road USL Championship game on Saturday, March 22, making for a quick recovery period before a date versus Orange County SC.
Inter San Francisco will look to regroup before its next SFSFL Premier match versus SF Young Boys on Sunday, March 23.
