FC Tucsonβs Burke Fahling goes flying after getting clipped by Las Vegasβ Alexander Romero in the first half of Wednesdayβs Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game at Kino North Stadium. The Men in Black won, setting up a third-round match against Cal United.
FC Tucson will stay at home for the next round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The Men in Black drew the California United Strikers for their third-round match, which will take place on April 19 at 7:30 p.m. inside Kino North Stadium.
Based in Irvine, Cal United plays in the National Independent Soccer Association.
FC Tucson was selected as the first team in Fridayβs draw. Other hosts include LAFC and the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is six-month, 103-team single-elimination knockout tournament featuring teams from all levels associated with U.S. Soccer.
FC Tucson, a member of USL League One, entered the tournament in the second round, then beat the Las Vegas Lights FC of USL Championship 3-2 on Wednesday. The Strikers, meanwhile, won their second-round match 5-0 over the amateur San Fernando Valley FC.
Schedule break
FC Tucson will continue to play its USL League One schedule as it prepares for its next U.S. Open Cup match.
The Men in Black have a bye on Saturday, however, something coach Jon Pearlman said is βmassive.β The club wonβt play again until April 16, when it opens its USL League One home schedule against Forward Madison FC.
Injuries and other issues limited the club to just 16 available players on Wednesday night. Forward Deri Corfe and defender Kaelon Fox, who were staples for FC Tucson last season, did not play because of injuries; neither did midfielder Burke Fahling.
βThose are six guys that are going to play 1,500 to 2,000 minutes this year,β Pearlman said. βTheyβre big leadership, centerpiece players.β
USL βCupsetsβ
USL League One teams went 5-2 against their USL Championship big brothers in the second round.
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC upset the Colorado Springs Switchbacks 1-0 in their first-ever competitive match despite playing with 10 men for more than an hour.
βAnything can happen in cup play, anything can happen in any game,β Pearlman said.
Men in White
FC Tucson supporters typically sing βcome on, you boys in blackβ at the start of matches.
On Wednesday, they changed the lyrics. FC Tucson wore white uniforms, so the supporters altered the song for the night.
Photos: FC Tucson outlasts Las Vegas Lights 3-2 in US Open Cup