Forward Damian German had a breakout performance Friday night, scoring two goals and assisting on a third during an inspired second-half surge to carry FC Tucson over Colorado Pride Switchbacks U23.
Daisuke Takanaka added the last two goals of the night to cap off the 5-0 win.
FC Tucson will continue the two-match home set Saturday, with a second game against the Pride.
The home team came off four straight matches against Ogden City Soccer Club, which the teams split 2-2. Friday’s win improved the Men in Black’s record to 5-3.
FC Tucson had a couple of opportunities to score in the fifth and sixth minutes of play thanks to a shot by Dalton Pando and a cross pass by Gavino Carranza to German for a header, but both plays saw the ball go too high and over the crossbar.
The Pride responded with a few attempts to score of its own, but the ball was either wide or saved.
In the 27th minute, a minute after having a previous shot saved, German went one-on-one with a Switchbacks defender, found his way around and scored against the Colorado Pride keeper for the first goal.
FC Tucson wasn’t able to put up any more goals in the first half, but came back in the second half with a new-found confidence and put the game away.
Thanks to an assist by Angel Heredia, German was able to score his second goal in the 68th minute. Two minutes later, German set up the play for Julian Gaona to score and lift FC Tucson to a 3-0 lead.
Takanaga hit a close range shot in the 85th minute and then came back two minutes later for his second goal of the night off the bench.
FC Tucson’s defense and keeper had their work cut out for them in the last few minutes of play, but prevented the Pride from scoring.
Corner kicks
Mariel Gutierrez once again led the FC Tucson Women’s offense and scored the team’s lone goal in a shutout win over in-state rivals Phoenix del Sol on Friday. Gutierrez scored both goals in FC Tucson’s win over the San Diego SeaLions last Saturday.
The FC Tucson Women will continue their schedule Saturday with a second game — this time away —against Phoenix del Sol at 9 a.m.
Friday’s win lifted the FC Tucson Women into first place in the Pac South Division in the WPSL.
