Tucson, Arizona- Saturday night, Sporting Arizona FC made the trip down from Phoenix to take on FC Tucson in the last friendly match before the regular season starts. Sporting Arizona is coming off last year’s SWPL Championship and they have high expectations following last year’s success. FC Tucson is coming off of a dominant 8-0 win and are also poised to have an electric season.
Just as the previous two friendly matches, FC Tucson’s offense quickly came to life. In the 12th minute of the game, Paul Caliari scored his first goal of the season. He did so while also breaking his way into the starting lineup for the first time this season. William Arnesen, the team’s leading scorer, would go on to score the 2nd goal of the game in the 18th minute. This would be Arnesen’s fourth goal of the season.
The first shot on goal for Sporting Arizona came in the 23rd minute of the match, but the shot went wide left past the goal. This would be the only shot that Sporting Arizona would get in the first half. FC Tucson Goalkeeper Alex Svetanoff tallied a clean sheet for FC Tucson for the third time this season. He has yet to allow a goal this season as FC Tucson has not allowed a single goal to be scored in the first three matches of the season.
Shortly after in the 29th minute, Sporting Arizona’s GoalKeeper, Isaac Hernandez, makes a diving save, but deflected the ball into one of his fellow Sporting Arizona defenders and they own-goaled, bringing the score to 3-0.
Just before the halftime break, Joao Bermudes would score the 4th goal of the game for FC Tucson. The Men In Black took 15 shots on goal in the first half, allowing them to be up 4-0 at the half. Although Sporting Arizona’s GoalKeeper Isaac Hernandez allowed all 4 of the goals before being switched out of the game at the half, he did have 8 saves leading into the second half.
In the 60th minute, #10 Joao Bermudes scored the 5th goal of the game for FC Tucson, tallying his 2nd goal of the night. Leading 5-0 allowed FC Tucson Coach Sebastian Pineda to showcase the depth of talent on the FC Tucson squad.
FC Tucson would go on to win the match 10-0, setting a franchise record in goals scored in a single match, largest margin of victory over an opponent, and most goals in a 2 game stretch with 18.
FC Tucson heads into the regular season having won all three of their friendly matches. They start the regular season next week on the road at Ventura County Fusion Soccer Club on Friday May 24th. This will be the first of a 5 game road stretch.
The next home game for FC Tucson Men will be on June 11th against Capo FC.
The FC Tucson Women will have their home opener on June 1st against SC Del Sol.