Temecula FC completed a sweep of the 2025-26 Raul Briones Cup group stage matches December 20 with a 4-1 victory over Problems FC in Long Beach.
“It was good. The coaching staff did great,” said Temecula FC owner Brandon Jantz. “The players are playing very well right now.”
The Quail won all three of their group stage matches. During group stage play a team receives six points for a win and three for a draw. An additional point for each goal up to three per game is also given (the losing team also receives points for any goals scored up to three), and a defensive shutout earns one additional point. The Quail, who preceded their victory against Problems FC with a 5-1 home win November 23 against AMSG U23 and a 7-0 triumph December 13 at home against Zapa FC, ended group play with 28 points. The +14 goal differential will give the Quail home field advantage throughout the knockout rounds; Real Society Royals, whose home matches are played in Irvine, also accumulated 28 points but with a goal differential of +10.
“That’s positive, finishing the top of the group and also the number one seed overall,” Jantz said.
A Problems FC goal late in the first half prevented the Quail from adding the shutout point, but the score had been 2-0 prior to that. Although a cross pass from Jonathan Arriaga was defended an own goal gave Temecula FC the game’s first score. Beto added a goal for a 2-0 lead. Second-half scores by Noah Mabra and Edwin Sique finalized the 4-1 result.
“Everybody’s happy. We had really good away support,” Jantz said.
Temecula FC home matches are usually played at Chaparral High School (Patricia H. Birdsall Sports Park is used for pre-season friendlies, and a change of date to when the high school field is unavailable would result in season matches being played at the sports park). The knockout rounds which begin with the quarterfinals will consist of each team having one home game and one away match.
The schedule for the quarterfinals has not currently been set, but the away match will likely be played in late January with the home match occurring in early February. “Looking to fill the stadium,” Jantz said.
Joe Naiman can be reached at jnaiman@reedermedia.com.
