At Pioneer Stadium in Hayward, Gustavo Tavera-Rico scored on the 28th minute with the assist from Ali Radmand to give the Stompers the 1-0 lead in the home opener for the club. However, despite chippy play consumed by 8 yellow cards (3 from the home team, 5 from the visitors), plus a red card issued to Manuel Garcia of El Farolito in the 71st minute–the NPSL debuatants converted off a late penalty kick from Jansen Salton in the second half of stoppage time to draw the game at 1-1 and to steal a point on the road.
No Facebook series. Instead the set is on flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/theprojectfc/sets/72157692838048091/ – photos include the instagram posts- Photos by Nap Badillo/Nap Ba.
Both teams will rebound on the road on March 24. The Stompers next play at another NPSL newcomer FC Davis while El Farolito head up the North Bay at Sonoma County Sol. Both teams will play again May 12 at Boxer Stadium in San Francisco. The Stompers will be the visiting team at one of their old home grounds this time, with El Farolito choosing the Balboa Park venue as their home pitch in their NPSL debut season.
Update 3/19/2018: Caution stats added along with the goal scorer from El Farolito.
East Bay FC Stompers report with photos from the match.