Photos: FC Tucson falls at home North Carolina FC, 2-0
FC Tucson's fight to stay above the playoff line took a hit with an early red card in a 2-0 loss to last place North Carolina FC in USL League One action, October 13, 2021, Tucson, Ariz.
FC Tucson vs North Carolina FC
North Carolina's Peter Pearson (12) celebrates after nodding home the opener and eventual game winner in the second half against FC Tucson in their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2021. Tucson fell 2-0.
FC Tucson vs North Carolina FC
North Carolina's Selmir Miscic (9) goes right down the middle over FC Tucson's Wallis Lapsley (1) on his penalty kick for the second goal of the night in the second half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2021.
FC Tucson vs North Carolina FC
North Carolina's Max Flick (4) stretches out to deny FC Tucson's Deri Corfe (9) on the doorstep early in the first half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2021.
FC Tucson vs North Carolina FC
North Carolina's Nelson Blanco Flores (6) picks up an early yellow card for taking down FC Tucson's Noah Franke (15) with a two-footed tackle from behind in the early going at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2021.
FC Tucson vs North Carolina FC
FC Tucson's Alioune Diakhate tries to slip a shot past North Carolina's Britton Fischer (25) from close range in the second half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2021.
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Last season’s playoff hero, Deri Corfe, right, has re-signed with FC Tucson for the 2022 season.
FC Tucson vs North Carolina FC
FC Tucson's Joao Delgado (20) bowls over North Carolina's Malick Mbaye (5) in pursuit of loose ball in the first half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2021.
FC Tucson vs North Carolina FC
FC Tucson's Noah Franke (15) takes the ball off the foot of North Carolina's Robert Frame (26) in the second half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2021.
FC Tucson vs North Carolina FC
North Carolina's Robert Kristo (11), left, loses the fight for a header to FC Tucson's Luca Mastrantonio (4) in the second half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2021.
FC Tucson vs North Carolina FC
FC Tucson's Wallis Lapsley (1) comes out into the crowd to handle a cross against North Carolina FC in the first half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2021.
FC Tucson vs North Carolina FC
FC Tucson's Deri Corfe (9) reacts after getting called for being offside on a break away against North Carolina in the second half of their USL League One game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2021.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
“We talked about being ruthless," coach Jon Pearlman said, "but it ended up we were ruthless in the wrong way."
FC Tucson’s bench figures to be all the more important Saturday, when the side plays its second match in four days.