Roberto Payne

2018 US Open Cup Round 1: FC Tucson edges La Maquina to capture third straight USOC opener

May 14, 2018 by Roberto Payne

In a tightly contested, win or go home First Round matchup of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, it was FC Tucson who prevailed over La Maquina FC 2-1 on a 55th minute go-ahead goal from midfielder Alejandro Gonzalez.

The victory ensures FC Tucson advances to the second round of the US Open Cup for the third year in a row and will hit the road to face Las Vegas Lights FC on May 16.

After a rather sluggish first half in which the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie, the second half of play saw La Maquina FC open with possession and a different attitude, as the guests came out energized and hungry for a go-ahead goal.

However, it was FC Tucson that was able to drive in the game-winning goal in the 55th minute on a curling cross from midfielder Julian Gaona to Gonzalez.

“We had talked about getting the ball wide at halftime… and I thought Julian (Gaona) delivered a great ball,” FC Tucson coach David Cosgrove said. “Alejandro (Gonzalez) made about a 30 yard run to get to the back pole and he wasn’t too tired to get to the ball and knock it down.”

To start off play in the first half, it took less than two minutes for play to heat up in the first round matchup between FC Tucson and La Maquina FC at Kino North Complex in Tucson, Ariz. on Wednesday.

FC Tucson forward Jason Romero got in behind the La Maquina FC defensive backline and received a through pass from defender Gavino Carranza. From that point, Romero had only the keeper to beat and slotted in the opening goal through the legs of La Maquina FC goalkeeper Luis Sosa for the 1-0 lead just 80 seconds into play.

Two minutes later, midfielder Damian German had his own one-on-one with the goalkeeper and just missed the right post on a curved shot past the outstretched arms of Sosa.

“We thought there would might be a chance to get after them in the first five or 10 minutes and… I thought they would come out with more energy, and they didn’t,” FC Tucson coach David Cosgrove said. “So that gave us an opportunity to build and, of course, we got an opening goal…. but i wish we would’ve kept going. We got that goal and I felt like we could’ve had a couple more.”

Nearly everything went in favor of FC Tucson for the opening 30 minutes of play and it looked as if the home team would be well on its way to an easy first round victory over La Maquina.

However, the good favor ended in the 32nd minute of play when La Maquina FC forward Alejandro Velazquez received a through ball behind the FC Tucson backline and drove in the equalizer on a richotted shot off the top crossbar over FC Tucson goalkeeper Andreu Cases to tie up play at 1-1.

La Maquina nearly added in the go-ahead goal in the 41st minute when Velazquez saw a headed goal off a corner disallowed for a handball. Players and coaches alike rose in an uproar as referees conferred and confirmed the goal would be disallowed.

For a match that was played fairly clean for the opening 75 minutes of play, there sure was a lot of pushing, shoving and frustration over the final 15 minutes on Wednesday night.

La Maquina FC was shown four cards on the game (three yellows and one red), with the red card coming in stoppage time. Already playing on a yellow card, midfielder Jorge Pineda aggressively took down a FC Tucson player and was shown a straight red card.

It didn’t take long for controversy to strike again, with a hard foul coming from La Maquina as soon as play restarted, with FC Tucson players and coaches voicing their displeasure on the sideline.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Wild final 10 minutes sends FC Tucson to next round

May 16, 2017 by Roberto Payne

Late game heroics were the highlight of Wednesday night’s 2017 US Open Cup First Round matchup between FC Tucson and the Colorado Rush.

FC Tucson defeated Colorado 3-1 at Kino North Stadium after scoring the go-ahead goal in the 89th minute and adding another goal in stoppage time in what was a thrilling final 10 minutes of play.

Forward Wedner Delmonte received a clearance near midfield in the 89th minute and used a quick dribble move to get by the lone Colorado defender in his path and ignite the FC Tucson counter attack.

Delmonte spotted midfielder Moshe Perez on the left wing and his pass put Perez in a one-on-one situation with Colorado Rush goalkeeper Shailer Thomas. Perez took a few dribbles before sliding in a curled shot into the bottom right of the net past the outstretched arms of Thomas to give the home team a 2-1 lead heading into stoppage time.

“I was like ‘I’ve got to make that run with Delmonte’ and I knew he was going to play it,” Perez said. “It was two minutes from the end and I had to finish it… and I’m just glad we won.”

Referees signaled six minutes of stoppage time, giving Colorado plenty of time to mount an attack for the equalizing goal.

However, it didn’t play out exactly as the Rush would’ve liked it.

Thomas was called forward to act as an extra attacker during back-to-back corners about four minutes into extra time, leaving an empty net for FC Tucson.

A quick clearance off the second of the two corners left the Rush exposed, as FC Tucson midfielder Afonso Pinheiro made his way up the left flank unhindered and slotted in the empty net goal to give the team a commanding 3-1 lead.

Despite an action-packed ending, the majority of Wednesday’s game saw both teams struggle to maintain possession and flounder when a scoring opportunity opened up.

FC Tucson opened up scoring with a headed goal from defender Gio Vasquez in the third minute of play off a corner kick in the left corner from midfielder Tate Schmitt.

Vasquez received the curled corner at the back post and drove the header across goal to the near post for the opening goal, fooling Thomas in the process.

Colorado would answer back just four minutes later when forward Daniel Wooliscroft found himself in a golden situation in front of goal.

The FC Tucson backline failed to clear a shot from a Colorado attacker and Wooliscroft curled the equalizer into the bottom right pocket of the net on the volley past the outstretched arms of FC Tucson goalkeeper Lucas Valillo.

While FC Tucson came away with the win and advanced to the second round of USOC play, it did not come without controversy.

First year FC Tucson coach Jon Pearlman and one of his assistants were ejected in the 52nd minute after arguing with fourth official Michael Chaison. Pearlman was upset after Delmonte was subjected to a particularly physical foul from Colorado defender Brad Gorham moments before.

Assistant coach Jose Miranda took over coaching duties for the rest of the game and joked after the game about having the highest winning percentage in team history.

“I will always have that streak as long as they don’t let me do it again and as long as Jon (Pearlman) can control himself as we go through the season.” Miranda said.