TUCSON – Playing its third straight game against Ogden City SC, FC Tucson rolled to a 3-0 win at Kino North Stadium on Friday night to improve to 3-1-0, just the second time since 2014 the four-time defending division champions have started the season with three wins in four games.
The scoring got started early again on Friday, when Tucson midfielder Diego Silva – who was making his FC Tucson debut – set up forward Damian German with the opening goal in the third minute. Silva blew past the Ogden City defense, flying down the left wing and into the box before chipping a cross across the front of the goal that German volleyed past goalkeeper Mitch Jensen.
Silva set up Tucson’s second goal too, connecting with AJ Valenzuela in the 39th minute. Valenzuela’s shot beat Jensen to double the team’s lead before halftime.
“We did well attacking the spaces and going out wide,” Silva said.
Substitute Dalton Pando rounded out the scoring in the 64th minute, pouncing on a loose ball to the left of the goal and sliding a shot into a gaping hole in the corner of the net.
“Scoring goals was super important today,” assistant coach Alex Rangel said. “We had three, they didn’t have any. With type of result, you’ll win every game.”
Tucson missed a couple other quality chances too. In the 18th minute, Silva rifled a shot from outside the box off the crossbar. In the 53rd minute, German teed up a blast from near the penalty spot but Jensen made a sprawling save. Near the end of the match, Pando got on the end of a cross in the box and sent a diving header toward the goal that Jensen punched away.
Tucson goalkeeper Andreu Cases saw little action in his own net, picking up the team’s first clean sheet of the season.
Midfielder Tate Schmitt also made his season debut. The Louisville star was named the top prospect in the PDL earlier this season. He had missed out on the team’s first three league matches this season with an injury.
“It was really good to get moving, get running on some grass against high-level competition,” he said. “It was good to get back. Little bit out of shape but I knew that was going happen but it was a good first day to be back. Just happy that I’m back.”
FC Tucson will face Ogden City again on Saturday at home, the final of four meetings between the clubs this year. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.fctucson.com.
TUCSON – Playing its third straight game against Ogden City SC, FC Tucson rolled to a 3-0 win at Kino North Stadium on Friday night to improve to 3-1-0, just the second time since 2014 the four-time defending division champions have started the season with three wins in four games.
The scoring got started early again on Friday, when Tucson midfielder Diego Silva – who was making his FC Tucson debut – set up forward Damian German with the opening goal in the third minute. Silva blew past the Ogden City defense, flying down the left wing and into the box before chipping a cross across the front of the goal that German volleyed past goalkeeper Mitch Jensen.
Silva set up Tucson’s second goal too, connecting with AJ Valenzuela in the 39th minute. Valenzuela’s shot beat Jensen to double the team’s lead before halftime.
“We did well attacking the spaces and going out wide,” Silva said.
Substitute Dalton Pando rounded out the scoring in the 64th minute, pouncing on a loose ball to the left of the goal and sliding a shot into a gaping hole in the corner of the net.
“Scoring goals was super important today,” assistant coach Alex Rangel said. “We had three, they didn’t have any. With type of result, you’ll win every game.”
Tucson missed a couple other quality chances too. In the 18th minute, Silva rifled a shot from outside the box off the crossbar. In the 53rd minute, German teed up a blast from near the penalty spot but Jensen made a sprawling save. Near the end of the match, Pando got on the end of a cross in the box and sent a diving header toward the goal that Jensen punched away.
Tucson goalkeeper Andreu Cases saw little action in his own net, picking up the team’s first clean sheet of the season.
Midfielder Tate Schmitt also made his season debut. The Louisville star was named the top prospect in the PDL earlier this season. He had missed out on the team’s first three league matches this season with an injury.
“It was really good to get moving, get running on some grass against high-level competition,” he said. “It was good to get back. Little bit out of shape but I knew that was going happen but it was a good first day to be back. Just happy that I’m back.”
FC Tucson will face Ogden City again on Saturday at home, the final of four meetings between the clubs this year. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.fctucson.com.
