By Dan Minkoff
March 29, 2025
COACHELLA, Calif. — Coachella FC ended Long Beach FC’s unbeaten run and took control of the SoCal North conference title race with a 3-2 victory at Rancho Las Flores Park.
Both teams entered the match undefeated and, although still early in the UPSL Premier spring season, there was a playoff atmosphere with intensity on the field and singing, horns, drums and a bullhorn making a lot of noise on the sideline. Although both teams are at the top of the standings, Long Beach fell to 4-0-1 with 12 points while Coachella improved to 4-0-0 with 12 points with a game in hand.
“As a competitor we want to win every game,” said Long Beach FC coach Art Caballero. “We had a solid performance in the second half. Playing against the previous conference champions, we knew they prepared for us and brought out their best.”
Coachella, which had a strong wind behind it in the first half, took control with two goals in the first 35 minutes. Long Beach FC cut the lead to 2-1 shortly before halftime when Mason Cookus hit a long cross from the left sideline that traveled behind the defense and found his counterpart on the right side at the top of the penalty area. David Forde took a touch and blasted in the far corner for his second goal of the season.
“Even though we were down, our mindset was good and our emotional state was positive,” Caballero said. “We adjusted well to the high winds and the playoff atmosphere. The players knew we had a good half and had created opportunities. We felt confident we could have a great second half.”
The second half was back-and-forth and a little scrappy, with both teams trading scoring chances and each team picking up three yellow cards.
Three minutes after Sebastian Rus entered as a sub in the 73rd minute, he received a pass in the penalty area from Cookus, turned his defender and was brought down for a penalty. Rus stepped up to take the penalty kick, which the Coachella goalkeeper saved. The home side went on the counterattack starting with a long, lofted pass up the left sideline that appeared to curve out of bounds. It wasn’t called and a few seconds later, Coachella extended its lead to 3-1.
Rus added a goal – his first of the season – six minutes later to cut the lead to 3-2. Long Beach, which outshot Coachella, 15-14 (each team with seven on goal), couldn’t find the equalizer in the final seven minutes.
“I love winning and play to win,” Caballero said. “However, as a competitor, you have to have a have a short memory. Win, celebrate and forget. And if you lose, have an even shorter memory. We’ve had a difficult schedule so far, traveling three of our five games and coming in to this one undefeated. We know what we are doing well and learned a few lessons playing a top team. Now we get ready for the next one.”
LBFC will be back home to take on 88Thirty at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 5 at Cabrillo High School Jaguar Stadium. Tickets for all home games, including a season Shorepass can be purchased online or at the gate. The full schedule and past results can be found here.
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