FC Tucson's Giovanni Calixtro (91) gets caught between South Georgia's Vincenzo Candela, left, and Abuchi Obinwa chasing a loose ball in the first half.
Behind a brace from forward Kevin Rodriguez, FC Tucson won its βbiggest gameβ as a pro team.
The Men in Black (10-10-6) ended a two-match losing skid on Saturday night with a 3-1 win over South Georgia Tormenta FC at home.
After being limitedΒ by injuries, Rodriguez was finally cleared to play a full 90 minutes and thus start, FC Tucson coach Jon Pearlman said.
βIβm glad I finally got to get some minutes and get my goal, my first goals and most importantly Iβm glad we got the win,β Rodriguez said. βIt was a big game for us, we needed to win and Iβm just glad we got the dub today.β
FC Tucson regained theΒ sixth and final playoff spot with 36 points after sliding to seventh place earlier in the day.
Pearlman said it was the most important match in FC Tucsonβs three years as a professional team.
βIβm just incredibly pleased how the players responded to a pressure-filled situation,β Pearlman said. βYouβre the last game of the night, you realized people have climbed up, you were third a few weeks ago and now youβre back to seventh and youβre going βOh, my goodness.β
"You could go that way and thatβs not what happened.β
In the 17th minute Rodriguez ended the Men in Blackβs nearly 290-minute scoreless drought with a goal. It was his first of the season.
After South Georgia Tormenta FC (8-13-7) equalized in the first half, Rodriguez earned a brace with a goal in the 67th minute. In the 83rd minute FC Tucson midfielder Charlie Dennis scored directly off a free kick near the touchline.
FC Tucson outshot the visitors 18-8.
βTo be fair, I think 3-1 was a generous result for them, I think it shouldβve been four or five,β Pearlman said.
FC Tucsonβs next match is at Forward Madison FC (6-8-11) on Saturday at 5 p.m. on ESPN+. Forward Madison FC is in 10th place.
Its next home match is the regular-season finale against the Richmond Kickers (11-8-7) on Oct. 30. The Kickers are in fourth place.
Corner kicks
FC Tucson honored USL Super League president and Tucson native Amanda Vandervort before the match. Vandervort was named the leagueβs inaugural president on Tuesday. Vandervort, an FC Tucson season ticket holder, played at Sabino. The Super League kicks off in 2023.
Photos FC Tucson comes back to drop South Georgia Tormenta 3-1, USL League One