FC Tucson’s trip to Utah last week resulted in one loss and one win. So, Friday’s home match against the Ogden City Soccer Club served as the virtual tie-breaker.
Tucson prevailed 3-0 on Friday night at Kino North Stadium, improving to 3-1 in the young season.
Diego Silva brought the ball up the left side and kicked a cross shot to Damian German, who scored at the three-minute mark to give FC Tucson the early lead.
At the 39-minute mark, Silva got his second assist of the night with a pass to AJ Valenzuela, who had gotten past Ogden’s keeper and added an insurance goal.
FC Tucson had another chance to score at the 43-minute mark with a corner kick, but Ogden made a save. Ogden responded with two corner kicks in the last two minutes of play in the first half, but Tucson’s defense prevented any damage.
At the 64-minute mark out of halftime, German made a shot on goal and was blocked by the keeper, but Dalton Pando recovered the ball immediately and scored from the left side to extend the lead to 3-0.
Pando had come in at the start of the second half as a sub for Silva.
Ogden tried to switch things up in the 77th minute with four substitutions at once — teams are only allowed six in a game — but weren’t able to capitalize with their fresh players.
FC Tucson suffered a few injuries — to German, Henry Lander and Ryan Scarpulla — but all players were able to walk off the field.
Pando attempted a header on goal in the 83rd minute, but Ogden keeper Mitch Jensen made the save.
With two minutes left in the match, Ogden’s Zach Maas made a run at the goal and got within a couple of feet before taking his shot, but FC Tucson keeper Andrew Cases made the save.
Saturday concludes the two-match home set against Ogden, and fourth consecutive game against the Utah team.
Corner kicks
- The FC Tucson Women’s team beat SD Parceiro Ladies 2-0 in Game 1 of Friday’s doubleheader games. The goals were scored by Brianna Barriero and Treena Ferguson.
- The Women’s team will play the San Diego SeaLions at at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, prior to the men’s game.
- FC Tucson announced a crowd of 659 for Friday’s doubleheader.
