Both Semi Final hosts were able to get past their guests en route to the NPSL Final - El Farolito FC hosted and knocked out Duluth FC while FC Motown were gracious hosts to Columbus United, who they sent home packing. This weekend we get the West Coast vs East Coast Clash we deserve when El Faro fly to New Jersey to vie for the league title. WATCH HERE

Let’s get stuck the heck in!

FC Motown vs El Farolito FC

Sat, 08/03 - 4:00pm PST / 7:00pm EST at Drew University, Ranger Stadium in Madison, NJ

How they got here: The 2024 Eastern Region and Keystone East Champions, FC Motown, were one away game too many for “Road Warriors” Columbus United last week. Behind goals from Nicolas Nee and El Mahdi Youssoufi, FC Motown were able to win their 5th playoff game in succession and earn the right to hos the league final. Former Motown player and professional footballer, Head Coach Dilly Duka will look to win the club’s second league title in three years and earn a return trip to the US Open Cup.

Zach Perez will anchor their defense, one that gave up only 4 goals in the regular season, and just a single goal in the playoffs, with support from the aforementioned goalscorers as well as Keystone East MVP Maudwindo Germain. According to the league website, Samuel Nii Armah is on the Disciplinary Report with a game remining on his suspension.

Fresh off their outstanding 3-0 beating of Duluth FC in the league Semi Finals, El Farolito travel to New Jersey to take on FC Motown. Last week they saved it for late in the game, getting a pair of goals in the 70’ from Carlos Rodriguez and Gabriel Arias then a emphatic sealer from Jonatan Valdivia in the 88’. That was El Faro’s 4th playoff win in a row - beating Sacramento Gold, Napa Valley, FC Arizona and Duluth to earn their trip to the Final.

Head Coach Santiago Lopez, whose father Salvador Lopez won the US Open Cup with this club back in 1993, brings a high-powered offense with him. Backed by 42 goals in the regular season, El Faro has the third-best Goal Difference in NPSL and in the playoffs they outscored their opponents 14 to 5. They may be missing Juan Aguilar, who still has one match to serve, according to the league’s Disciplinary Report. They also are without Dembor Benson, who was a great part of the team early in the season and was subsequently handed a pro-contract by Central Valley Fuego after El Farolito knocked them out of the US Open Cup.

El Faro should still see the pair of lockdown defenders, Jehimy Arias and Johnatan Mosquera as well as Erik Arias up top, who has 5 post-season goals so far, four of which came in their first round win against Sacramento. This game all comes down to how well FC Motown can manage the waves of attack they’ll be facing from El Farolito - if they can counter effectively and find spaces to create chances they might win their second title. However, if El Faro can wear down Motown, score a couple second half goals and retain the ball, this could seem like it was too easy for the visitors. But its a league final and we play the game for a reason.

by Josh Duder