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After a converted penalty by Gio Godoy and then a spot shot saved by Amal Knight at the other end, it looked like FC Tucson was on its way to jumping into the middle of the playoff race.

But two late goals by Fort Lauderdale CF — a breakaway goal in the waning minutes and a stoppage-time shot that caromed into the net after hitting the post — ruined the party and handed the Men In Black a 2-1 loss at Kino North Stadium on Saturday night.

After a scoreless first half, FC Tucson came out on the front foot to start the second 45 minutes. They were quickly rewarded when forward Azaad Liadi was fouled in the box. Godoy stepped up and solidly struck a right-footed shot to goalkeeper Dylan Castanheira’s left as he dove the other way.

Just three minutes later, Fort Lauderdale had a chance to return the favor, but Knight saved a shot by Ricky Lopez-Espin. The save denied an eighth goal of the season for Lopez-Espin who is second in the league’s scoring race and appeared to be helping the Men In Black to their third win in four matches.

“Amal was great,” FC Tucson coach John Galas said. “He made a penalty save. He made some big-time saves when he needed to. Unfortunately, two late goals changed the game for us. I’m disappointed for the boys because they wanted to keep the streak going.” 

The Men in Black (4-6-2, 14 points) had a few chances to double their lead, including an acrobatic, scissor-like strike from Godoy, a shot by Charlie Dennis that was deflected wide and a late breakaway shot by Roberto Alarcon that was stopped by Castanheira.

Seconds after Alarcon’s shot, it was Fort Lauderdale (4-5-2, 14 points) that had a breakaway which resulted in a goal for former U.S. national team player Jerome Kiesewetter to even the match.

The heartbreak for FC Tucson continued when substitute Eduardo Sosa’s long shot struck the far post and then rocketed into the side netting on the opposite side to make it 2-1 after .

94 minutes. 

“We were up one-nil and had the chances to put it away. We didn’t take our chances,” Galas said.

In the scoreless first half, FC Tucson took the initiative in the first 15 minutes with two shots going errant and two more being saved or blocked. The key battle had Fort Lauderdale center back Frank Nodarse trying to corral Liadi with Nodarse picking up an early yellow.

Fort Lauderdale CF’s few first-half chances on goal were smothered out by the FC Tucson defense. The Florida team committed 11 fouls to just four by the Men In Black.

FC Tucson now travels to Hart Park in Wauwatosa, Wis., to take on Forward Madison FC on Saturday, Oct. 3. Kickoff is at 5 p.m., Tucson time.

TUCSON, AZ (September 25, 2020) – FC Tucson defender Derrick “Tommy” Silva will depart from the club today following the start of his freshman semester at UCLA, the club announced today. Silva departs after making nine appearances and eight starts in the club’s USL League One 2020 season campaign. 

“I am beyond thankful for my time with FC Tucson. I’m very appreciative of everyone at the club—the players who welcomed me into the team, Coach Galas and the training staff that believed in me and gave me an opportunity, and the athletic training staff and front office that work tirelessly to help each player,” said Silva after saying his goodbyes at Kino Sports Complex. “I am very proud to have FC Tucson representing my home town.”

Silva, 18, signed with FC Tucson on July 22 following his graduation from Utah’s Real Salt Lake Academy in May, and became the club’s first Development Academy signing of the 2020 season. The Tucson native is a longtime fan of FC Tucson, having attended games since he was 8 years old. Silva made his professional debut on Aug. 8, 2020, after coming on as a substitute in the 87th minute of the club’s match against Union Omaha. Following that match, Silva started the FC Tucson’s next eight consecutive matches and recorded a total of 721 minutes played.

“On behalf of the club, we’d like to thank Tommy for his contributions to the club this season,” said head coach, John Galas. “He’s been nothing short of exceptional.  He’s a tremendous young professional, and we wish him nothing but the best as he begins his college career at UCLA.”

The highly-touted fullback committed to play soccer for UCLA before joining FC Tucson. Silva will study entrepreneurship at the renowned California University and aspires to create an environmental company along with continuing to play professionally after college.

The club is very thankful for Tommy Silva’s tireless efforts on and off the field. The defender made his last match a special one, with an assist to Elivelton after a charging run down the left flank in last night’s 2-1 win against Forward Madison FC. FC Tucson wishes him the best in his collegiate career with UCLA. 

Saturday’s match at home against Fort Lauderdale CF will end a stretch of five matches in 15 days for FC Tucson, but the Men In Black are no strangers to stuffed schedules over the years.

* In all but one of the club’s 10 seasons, FC Tucson has had a stretch of five games in 15 days or less. The only year they didn’t have a busy two weeks was in 2019.

* In two different years, the Men In Black had to run a gauntlet of five matches in 11 days. In 2015, they came away with two wins, two draws and a loss. In 2018, it was three wins, one draw and one loss.

* In 2013, in the midst of an amazing U.S. Open Cup run, FC Tucson played six matches in 15 days. They managed 3 wins, 2 draws and a loss.

A very early goal from a familiar source and a second-half stellar effort from a new scorer propelled FC Tucson to a 2-1 win over Forward Madison FC at Kino North Stadium on Wednesday night.

In its last three matches in the midst of a five-match-in-15-day stretch, FC Tucson has two wins and a draw.

For the second straight home game, FC Tucson struck early and, like before, it was Elivelton who drew first blood. With FC Tucson pressing early, the Brazilian picked up a pass from Tommy Silva and fired the Men In Black ahead in the third minute. Unlike his goals in each of the last two games, Elivelton used his foot rather than his head this time.

“He’s the new Shak (Adams),” FC Tucson coach John Galas said, referring to Adams’ run of four goals in four games earlier this season. “You have to look at his confidence right now. He’s learned our system. He’s getting into great areas and great spots on the field. And he’s playing so well from box to box.”

After Elivelton’s goal, the game swiveled almost 180 degrees with Forward Madison (3-4-2, 11 points) dominating play. The Wisconsin club held possession for long stretches and had the lion’s share of the chances. The only exception came when FC Tucson defender Niall Logue’s long shot hit the post. 

Forward Madison finally earned a fruit from its labors in the 40th minute when Paulo Junior got his foot to the ball just before FC Tucson’s Esteban Calvo could toe it away in a goalmouth scramble to fire it into the net.

“I told them at halftime that we are going to get throttled if you don’t work harder off the ball and defend,” Galas said. “We needed to fight and claw our way back into the game. And that’s what we did. I’m so proud of how we did tonight and how we have done over this stretch of games.”

FC Tucson (4-5-2, 14 points) came out with a different mindset to start the second half and retook the lead in the 55th minute. In just his fourth start of the year, forward Josh Coan picked up the ball at the top of the box, went right and then turned around and whipped in a lightning-quick shot that curled around diving goalkeeper Philipp Marceta just inside the far post. It was his first goal of the season.

“We had to make a couple of personnel changes, we had to plug some guys in,” Galas said. “Josh came in and scored a great goal.”

FC Tucson wraps up a stretch of five matches in 15 days with a home contest against Fort Lauderdale CF on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff at Kino North Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.

A familiar set-piece combination led to a first-half goal and FC Tucson came away with a draw in a western shootout with North Texas SC at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday night.

The teams combined for 32 shots with FC Tucson amassing 13. The Men In Black, in the middle of a stretch of five matches in 15 days, picked up a point to go along with Wednesday’s home win. 

Both teams had a number of chances in the opening 20 minutes of the game before the flow of the game was altered when North Texas SC’s Edwin Cerrillo was shown a red card for a head-butt into Charlie Dennis’ chest.

The Men In Black (3-5-2, 11 points) spent the next 15 minutes controlling the ball and tempo, but then the match reverted to original form with the squads trading offensive forays. FC Tucson defender Samuel Biek’s shot from a corner bounced off the crossbar in the 40th minute and, within seconds, North Texas SC forward Arturo Rodriguez’s laser shot rebounded off the post.

FC Tucson keeper Amal Knight kept it scoreless with a couple of saves, including smothering Rolando Damus’ offering just inside the 18-yard box.

It looked like both teams might get away unscathed in the first half, but the combination of Dennis and Elivelton, which accounted for the lone goal in Wednesday’s win, came through again for FC Tucson. After Shak Adams was fouled about 2 yards outside the box on the left side, Dennis’ free kick found Elivelton — one of three unguarded Men In Black at the far post — and the Brazilian nodded it down and watched it bounce up into the netting. Seconds later, referee Gloria Resendiz whistled for halftime.

North Texas SC (2-2-5, 11 points) came out in the first 15 minutes of the second half trying to find cracks in the FC Tucson defense. The Men In Black then started to craft some chances on counterattacks. In the 68th minute, substitute Manuel Ferriol’s low, hard strike had to be pushed aside by keeper Carlos Avilez.

The Texas team evened the match in the 71st minute when Dominick Hernandez’s right-footed shot just outside the box skipped along the ground and past Knight. 

Both teams had chances in a ragged final 10 minutes — including a shot by Adams that went wide just seconds before the final whistle — before settling for the draw.

It’s another quick turnaround for the Men In Black, who will host Forward Madison FC on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. at Kino North Stadium.

The 1-0 win over New England Revolution II at Kino North Stadium raised FC Tucson’s record in league games on Wednesdays to 6-2-1.

* In those Wednesday league games, FC Tucson has outscored opponents 23-11. 

* In regular-season games on Wednesdays, the Men In Black are 14-7-2.

*In all Wednesday matches, which include contests against MLS teams in the preseason, FC Tucson is 14-13-4.