FC Tucson goalkeeper Carlos Merancio Valdez (1) gives up the game opener, getting beat to the near post by Union Omaha's Lucas Hauswirth (2) in the second half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., August 8, 2020. FC Tucson ended up falling 2-1.
Union Omaha Devin Boyce (20), left, tangles with FC Tucson Esteban Calvo (5) and picks up a yellow card for persistent infringement in the second half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., August 8, 2020.
Union Omaha Elma N'For (15), left, and FC Tucson Elivelton Oliveira (6) collide while trying to win a midfield header in the second half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., August 8, 2020.
Niall Logue was in the right place at the right time. The end result, however, was far from ideal.
FC Tucson's defender slid in to block a kick headed for the net, only to deflect it past his own goalie and give Omaha Union a second-half lead that it wouldn't relinquish.
The Men in Black lost Saturday's home opener by a final of 2-1 at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson's first professional sporting event since mid-March, when the coronavirus pandemic shut down sports leagues worldwide. The match was played in an empty stadium. FC Tucson's fans congregated downtown as part of a drive-in watch party held at El Toro Flicks.
Saturday continued a bad habit for FC Tucson (1-2-0).Β
βAgain, we didnβt start a second half well,β coach John Galas said, referencing last weekβs 1-0 loss to Chattanooga. βItβs stuff that weβve talked about, weβve done our work on it and we shot ourselves in the foot.β
The game was scoreless at halftime, indicating an exciting finish. But FC Tucsonβs opponent quelled that notion quickly.
Union Omaha controlled the tempo and the ball the rest of the way, scoring two goals in the first 18 minutes of the second half β one by Lucas Hauswirth and another by Ethan Decker. Hauswirth, a former FC Tucson player, initially booted the ball that Logue deflected, resulting in the first goal.
βI donβt know if that was ironic or cruel,β Galas joked.
Hauswirth let out a spirited celebration afterwards, though he cleared up any misconceptions about it with his former coach in the postgame handshake line.
βLuke came up and gave me a big hug after the game,β Galas said. βHe made it clear that the celebration wasnβt in spite of not playing here this year. Heβs a great kid, Iβm happy for him, personally.β
FC Tucson's Erik Virgen scored desperation goal in the 93rd minute to cut the lead in half.Β Goalkeeper Merancio Valdez added three saves. The clubβs offense produced 12 shots on net, with two of them on target.
Galas did draw positives from the night, saying the βresponse was goodβ at the end of the game.
Now, a three-game road trip is on the horizon, where FC Tucson will look to break itβs two-game losing skid. First up is a match with the Richmond Kickers in Virginia next weekend.
βWeβre very close to being a good team," he said. "We just have to clean up a few things."
Photos: FC Tucson falls to Union Omaha in their first home match of the 2020 season