FC Tucson can pad its lead atop the Premier Development League Mountain Division standings with a home win over Albuquerque Sol FC on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
It’s a David-versus-Goliath matchup, and the New Mexicans are toting the proverbial slingshot.
Albuquerque is 2-4-1, the worst record in the Mountain Division. FC Tucson enters play with a 5-2-1 mark.
The matchup between the first- and last-place teams could prove dangerous for FC Tucson if the Men in Black underestimate the last-place Albuquerque squad. FC Tucson coach Jon Pearlman is aware of the trap.
“I don’t consider any of the teams bottom or top,” Pearlman said. “Albuquerque has won their last two games, and against us they’ve proven they could be dangerous.”
Saturday’s match marks the first of three straight matchups between the two teams, with FC Tucson hitting the road for a July 1 match in Albuquerque and coming back home for a pre-Independence Day match on July 3.
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FC Tucson defeated Albuquerque 4-2 on May 20. The Men in Black scored three of their four goals in the opening 45 minutes of play and led from start to finish.
FC Tucson players and coaches aren’t putting much stock in their previous victory. FC Tucson defender Sebastian Pineda said he expects Albuquerque to come out ready to avenge the previous defeat.
“It’s going to be a tough game … and they’re going to be motivated and ready to go,” Pineda said. “We know it’s going to be an important game for us and we need the three points to stay at the top of the table.”
Heat could be a factor. The temperature is expected to top 105 degrees at game time. Last Saturday’s match between FC Tucson and the San Diego Zest FC saw players from both teams cramp up due to the heat and 10 substitutes employed.
Considering FC Tucson frequently trains in temperatures well over 100 degrees, there is a solid chance the home club could use that to its advantage and speed up the game from the onset.
Pearlman’s squad is undefeated at home during the PDL regular season and hasn’t lost since May 20, a 2-0 defeat in the U.S. Open Cup against the Colorado Switchbacks.
Despite a strong regular season to date, FC Tucson has struggled to consistently finish scoring opportunities, something Pearlman has focused on during training.
When things come together, the results are often spectacular. The Men in Black have beaten FC Boulder 5-0 and 5-1 this year.
Pearlman’s squad was clinical in finishing and did well to force FC Boulder into tough areas on the pitch. And even on the chances when FC Boulder had solid looks at goal, Pearlman’s backline recovered to make the shots difficult.
“We feel like if we play our best game, we match up favorably with any of the teams in the Western Conference,” Pearlman said. “History has proven that.”
