The energy and effort were there, the results just didn’t translate to the scoreboard in the game’s most crucial spots for FC Tucson on Saturday night.
The Men is Black failed to score a goal in a game for just the second time this season as they lost 2-0 to the USL League One defending champion North Texas SC (2-2-4) at Kino Stadium. The loss dropped FC Tucson (2-5-1) to ninth in the league standings at the halfway mark of the season.
“As we’ve said all year it’s all about moments,” FC Tucson head coach John Galas said. “And we can’t catch a break tonight.”
The Men in Black had a prime scoring opportunity early in the game as FC Tucson’s Shak Adams slipped past the defense as well as the North Texas SC goalie, who had come out to play a ball near midfield.
FC Tucson's Charlie Dennis (10) can't believe he got called for taking down North Texas's Ronaldo Damus (11) on a midfield tackle attempt in the first half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., September 12, 2020.
Adams — who had scored in four straight games coming into the night — appeared to be headed for a breakaway chance with an open net in front of him, but two defenders closed from behind and forced the shot to go just wide of the net.
The next moment that didn’t go in FC Tucson’s favor came in the 61st minute on a debatable foul call that resulted in a penalty shot for North Texas SC. Forward Ronaldo Damus’ kick snuck by FC Tucson goalie Merancio Valdez for the first goal of the night.
“The referee makes a decision like that and it costs us a little bit of momentum and confidence,” Galas said. “I’ll watch the video, but was it a penalty? I don’t know, I don’t think so.”
North Texas scored again in the 69th minute as forward Benjamin Redzic weaved his way through several FC Tucson defenders on the left side of the net and fed the ball over to an open Collin Smith, who had a fairly easy sliding goal.
North Texas's Dominick Hernandez can only pick up the foul as he chops down FC Tucson's Shak Adams (77) stopping his break-away in the first half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., September 12, 2020.
Despite not securing a win in three straight games, Galas saw improvement in the team’s performance after last weekend’s 2-2 draw against the Richmond Kickers where the club lost control of a 2-0 lead.
“My boys defended the best they’ve defended all year against a team that actually keeps the ball,” the first-year coach said.
With just over a month remaining in the regular season, time is slowly starting to run out for the Men in Black to notch a home win — they are 0-2-1 in three contests at Kino Stadium so far.
The club has a quick turnaround as they host the last-place New England Revolution II at 7:30 Wednesday night.
