FC Tucson started its PDL Western Conference semifinal match nearly two hours late, the result of a weather delay that backed up Friday's soccer festivities at Kino North Stadium.
Things didn't get much better after that, either. Fresno Fuego FC defeated the sluggish Men in Black 1-0, ending the Tucson team's season. The match began at 9:45 p.m., nearly two hours after the scheduled 8 p.m. kickoff time.
FC Tucson had several opportunities to equalize throughout the second half, but couldn’t drive in the key goal to extend its season.
Fresno will face the top-seeded FC Golden State Force on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the PDL Western Conference finals. Golden State defeated Portland Timbers U23s 3-1 in their semifinals matchup at Kino, which was was delayed in the second half due to rain and wind.
“It’s a tough night, you come out late because of the rain… and maybe it wasn’t our night,” FC Tucson coach Jon Pearlman said. “But I couldn’t be prouder of these guys. We had chances at the end but it’s a cruel game. It’s the cruelest of games.”
The Men in Black struggled to maintain possession early on and didn’t get a tangible look at goal until the 23rd minute, when midfielder Moshe Perez received a pass just outside the penalty box and curled in a shot just wide of the bottom right corner of goal.
Fresno got on the board first on a quick counter attack in the 32nd minute off a FC Tucson corner, as forward Renato Bustamante received a cross just yards in front of goal and chested in the opening goal.
“You give up an early goal to a smart and savvy team like that, they’re going to make it long and they’re going to make it difficult,” Pearlman said.
The home team had numerous chances to equalize late in the first half, but the best opportunity came just three minutes after Bustamante’s goal.
FC Tucson midfielder Tate Schmitt sent a free kick into the arms of Fresno goalkeeper Augie Rey, who couldn’t keep a grip on the ball, leading to a loose rebound about two yards in front of goal. Rey recovered quickly and made a crucial diving stop on the ensuing shot, stuffing out a golden chance for the Men in Black to equalize.
FC Tucson began attacking as soon as the second half began, and put together numerous scoring runs off everything from counter attacks to crosses in the box.
Schmitt ended up on the end of the majority of those runs and had two opportunities to score within the six-yard box from the 73rd minute to the 76th minute, but Rey stepped up to make crucial saves.
Referees awarded five minutes of stoppage time, and FC Tucson spent the entirety trying to drive in the game-tying goal to no avail.
“We executed and created chances but you have to give Rey credit, he made a number of great saves,” Pearlman said. “You think one of those is going to go in and I give Fresno all the credit but we were the better team (tonight). I don’t have any problems saying that and the reality is sometimes the score doesn’t go your way.”
