FC Tucson's Charlie Dennis, left, and goalkeeper Wallis Lapsley react after the team gave up the first goal of the night to North Texas SC in the 2-0 loss.
North Texas SC snapped FC Tucsonβs seven-match unbeaten streak and congested the USL League One table even more.
NTSC spoiled FC Tucson's (9-9-6) Southern Arizona Heritage Night with a 2-0 win Saturday night.
βExtremely disappointed for the guys,β said FC Tucson interim coach Jon Pearlman. βWeβve talked about it a lot, itβs always going to come down to critical moments, decisions and plays and chances not taken and chances taken and weβre on the wrong side of pretty much all of them tonight and thatβs always difficult.
"Iβm pleased with how we moved the ball 18 to 18, thereβs a lot of good moments, but the final third moments, the shots, just werenβt hitting the frame and the crosses werenβt landing where they needed to.β
FC Tucson outshot NTSC 12-11 but the visitors had eight shots on goal compared to the hostβs two.
North Texas SC (9-7-9) moves up to fifth place from sixth, the last playoff spot. The Men in Black dropped from third in the table to a tie for fifth with North Texas SC, but theyβre only two points out of third.
FC Tucson has four of its last six matches at home.
The Men in Black, who normally wear all black at home, debuted their El Jefe culture kit, a sky blue and orange sunset looking jersey with mostly black shorts.
North Texas SCΒ forward Kalil ElMedkhar scored in the 33rd minute. Then midfielder Imanol Almaguer scored the second in the 77th.
FC Dallas of the MLSΒ owns North Texas SC.
βThereβs a lot of young players and a lot of young talent on that team,β Pearlman said. βThereβs players on their team like Almaguer, whoβs played games for the first team and theyβve just got a ton of talent on the field, but we do as well.β
The Men in Black finished the regular-season series winless against North Texas SC. They played to two draws in Arlington, Texas, and NTSC won 2-0 both times in Tucson.
FC Tucson picked up three cards in the feisty match and North Texas SC had four in front of the crowd of 1,076. In the 86th minute FC Tucson defender Maximiliano Schenfeld was sent off, the only red card of the match.
FC Tucsonβs next match is Oct. 13 when they host last-place North Carolina FC (5-14-4) at 7 p.m.
Photos: FC Tucson falls to North Texas 2-0, USL League One soccer