FC Tucson kicks off the 2022 USL League One season Saturday with a very familiar foe.
Not only are the Richmond Kickers coached by former FC Tucson head coach Darren Sawatzky, but FC Tucson beat them twice at the end of 2021 – once to close out the regular-season and earn a playoff spot, and a second time a week later in the postseason.
While Richmond is celebrating its 30th season as a professional franchise, FC Tucson is looking to carry over the momentum from those two wins when the squads meet Saturday at 3 p.m. MST at City Stadium.
FC Tucson made a lone trip to Virginia last year and came away with a frustrating 1-0 loss after statistically dominating — holding a 30-9 advantage in shots, including 8-2 in shots on target and 10-3 on corners.
Richmond’s Emiliano Terzaghi, 2021 Golden Boot Winner and two-time USL League One MVP, scored from the spot in the 19th minute after drawing a contested foul.
“I’ve seen him a lot and understand how he moves,” said FC Tucson Head Coach Jon Pearlman. “He’s one of the top scorers in the league and we need to make sure that we have the ball as much as possible and take our chances.”
Akira Fitzgerald, who was USL League One’s 2021 Goalkeeper of the Year, made eight saves to preserve the shut out.
FC Tucson got its revenge and more on October 30.
Deri Corfe and Luca Mastrantonio scored in the 4-2 thumping of Richmond. The win allowed FC Tucson to jump from seventh to fourth on the final day of the season and secured its first playoff berth as a professional club.
It also knocked Richmond down to fifth, forcing the Kickers to return to Kino North Stadium a week later.
The result was the same – an FC Tucson win.
Deri Corfe rocketed the ball from just inside the box past Fitzgerald in the 87th minute to secure the 1-0 win.
“We always embrace the challenges of the road,” Pearlman said. “I’m looking forward to getting out there and starting.”
Corfe and Mastrantonio return to FC Tucson, along with Kaelon Fox, Gio Calixtro and Daniel Bedoya. They’ve added several key pieces in the offseason, including Jacob Crull from defending USL League One champion Union Omaha and Tarn Weir from USL Championship Oakland Roots, and welcoming back goalkeeper Carlos Merancio.
The offense has been bolstered by international standouts Tevin Shaw and Louis Perez, as well as USL Championship loanee Burke Fahling.
