Atlético East Bay claimed the first-ever NSL Pacific Conference championship with an improbable 2-1 comeback victory over San Pablo FC at Burrell Field in San Leandro. With less than three minutes remaining in regulation time, it took less than 90 seconds for San Pablo’s championship dreams to fade and Atlético’s to come true.
Fans might have expected an offensive shootout in the match between the two most prolific goal scoring teams in the conference, but neither club was able to get on the board in the first half. Both Atlético and San Pablo spent a lot of time in the offensive zone, but their backlines allowed few clear chances, as defenders put their bodies on the line to keep shots from reaching the goal line.
One of San Pablo’s best chances came right after the opening kickoff when a San Pablo striker, Atlético defender, and Atlético goalkeeper Luis Felix converged on a long pass from midfield; Felix was unable to handle it cleanly, but San Pablo was called for offside.
In the 14th minute, Atlético launched a quick counterattack, but Roberto Gonzalez’s shot from distance was easily saved by San Pablo goalkeeper Alejandro Cervantes.
In the 23rd minute, Atlético made three shot attempts, but all were snuffed out by the swarming San Pablo defense. On the subsequent corner kick, a soft Atlético header was on target but made for an easy save for Cervantes.
In the 24th minute, Atlético earned a corner kick, but a shot from a difficult angle went wide.
In the 33rd minute, San Pablo’s Pedro Hernandez found space in Atlético’s defense as he made his run toward goal, but Atlético’s defenders were able to deflect his shot wide for a corner kick.
In the 38th minute, East Bay’s Andrew Alvarado found space along the wing, but Esteban Garcia’s shot was easily saved by Cervantes.
Both clubs ramped up their offensive intensity even more in the second half. Atlético had one of its best scoring chances on the counterattack in the 56th minute, when Cervantes made a diving stop on a shot at point blank range.
San Pablo nearly scored in the 61st minute as Juan Alejandre, Jr.’s free kick from near the right sideline curved its way toward the net but over the crossbar.
In the 65th minute, a San Pablo direct free kick from near the left sideline scaled Atlético’s two-man wall and out of Felix’s reach, but was headed off the goal line at the far post by an Atlético defender. A San Pablo striker tried to head home the rebound, but Felix made the save.
In the 68th minute, East Bay’s Cristian Garcia had an open header, but his shot was straight at Cervantes.
In the 70th minute, Cervantes mishandled Gonzalez’s shot from distance, but there were no Atlético players nearby to collect the rebound.
The first goal in the match finally came in the 72nd minute, when a San Pablo midfielder received a pass with his back to the goal and found Carlos Armendariz streaking toward the penalty area in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Felix got his hand on Armendariz’s shot, but could only watch it slowly trickle over the goal line, as two Atlético defenders rushed into the net to try and keep it out.
After the goal, San Pablo dropped back into a more defensive posture, hoping to run out the clock. The match got chippy, with both clubs committing hard fouls.
And suddenly everything changed. Atlético evened the match in the 88th minute, when a cross from Gonzalez found a teammate alone at the far post for the tap-in. And they scored again in the 89th minute, when a pass from near midfield found an unmarked striker as the stunned San Pablo players looked on.
Even after the second goal, Atlético had three more chances to score against the dispirited San Pablo defense. Cervantes made an excellent save on a shot from close range, then another shot went wide, and Cervantes tipped a third attempt over the crossbar.
And finally, after 2 minutes and 42 seconds of stoppage time, San Pablo’s season ended and Atlético’s celebration could fully begin.
