Photos: FC Tucson edge Ventura County 2-1, USL League 2
FC Tucson fell behind early but scored two unanswered goals each side of half to drop the Fusion 2-1 and move into first in the Southwest Division, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's midfielder Justin Milovanov (13) goes horizontal for a scissor kick in the box behind Ventura County's defender Niklas Thanhofer (19) in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's Lucas Gonzalez (32), left, comes face-to-foot with Ventura County's defender Nicholas Baltazar (18) in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025. FC Tucson came from behind for a 2-1 win and surpassed the Fusion for first place in the Southwest Division.
FC Tucson's midfielder Justin Milovanov (13) comes up to congratulate forward Paul Caliari (9) after he pulled them even at 1-1 with Ventura County in the first half of their USL League Two match in Tucson on July 3, 2025.
Ventura County's forward Cason Goodman (7) table-tops FC Tucson's defender D'Andre Pickett (16) and picks up the foul in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's forward Alexis Ledoux (7) goes one on three as he barges his way past Ventura County's defender Siddiq Lezzar (12), left, forward Marley Edwards (16) and defender Niklas Thanhofer (19) in the Fusion box in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's midfielder Justin Milovanov (13) suffers a bit of anguish after putting a short-range volley high and wide against Ventura County in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's forward Alexis Ledoux (7) tries to poke the ball from Ventura County's midfielder Tamir Ratoviz (17), left, near midfield in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's midfielder Justin Milovanov (13) envelopes Ventura County's midfielder Tamir Ratoviz (17) as the two struggle for control at midfield in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
Ventura County's defender Niklas Thanhofer (19) gets above the crowd to head out am FC Tucson corner kick in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
Ventura County's defender Nicholas Baltazar (18) gets tangled with FC Tucson's forward Paul Caliari (9) defending an FCT corner in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's defender Lucas Christensen (4) tries to push his past Ventura County's midfielder Miles Merritt (4) and to the ball as midfielder Papa Moussa Sow (2) clears the danger in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's forward Paul Caliari (9), left, charges up to defender Filip Arras (20) after Arras scored the go-ahead goal over Ventura County in the second half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's midfielder Aron Martinez (12) goes flying on a challenge from Ventura County's defender Niklas Thanhofer (19) late in the second half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
Ventura County's forward Marley Edwards (16), left, and FC Tucson's defender D'Andre Pickett (16) try to bring down a 50-50 ball near midfield in the first half of their USL League 2 match in Tucson on July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's midfielder Jesse Wangusi (10), left, takes a boot to the hip from Ventura County's forward Cason Goodman (7) as the two slide in for a loose ball in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
Ventura County's forward Cason Goodman (7) noses the ball down in front of FC Tucson's defender D'Andre Pickett (16) during a scramble in the FCT box in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson’s midfielder Jesse Wangusi (10) makes the flying leap to control a loose ball in the box against Ventura County in the first half of their USL League Two match in Tucson on July 3, 2025.
Ventura County's defender Siddiq Lezzar (12), left, ties up FC Tucson's forward Paul Caliari (9) as the two race to the ball in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's midfielder Daniel Idiakhoa (8), left, and forward Paul Caliari (9) take Ventura County's midfielder Miles Merritt (4) to the turf in the first half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
Ventura County's defender Siddiq Lezzar (12) hooks the ball out of the control of FC Tucson's forward Paul Caliari (9) in the second half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
Ventura County's midfielder Miles Merritt (4) nods the ball back over FC Tucson's forward Alexis Ledoux (7) in the second half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's goalkeeper Matheus Rohrmens (30) makes the sprawling attempt on a Ventura County shot that slipped just wide in the second half of their USL League Two match in Tucson on July 3, 2025.
Ventura County's Palmer Bank (15) lunges in to toe the ball out of reach of FC Tucson's defender Leonardo Vilchis (3) late in the second half of their USL League 2 match, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
FC Tucson's midfielder Justin Milovanov (13) and goalkeeper Matheus Rohrmens (30) come together to celebrate FCT’s 2-1 win over Ventura County, Tucson, Ariz., July 3, 2025.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
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