FC Tucson has become quite familiar with the postseason.
For the fourth straight year, the Men in Black will host the semifinals of the Western Conference playoffs at Kino North Stadium.
Play kicks off Friday night with a doubleheader pitting the Golden State Force against the Portland Timbers U23s at 6 p.m., and FC Tucson against Fresno Fuego at 8 p.m. The two winners from Friday’s matchups will meet Saturday at 7 p.m. in the finals of the Western Conference playoffs.
Under first-year head coach Jon Pearlman, FC Tucson finished the regular season with 30 points and a 9-2-3 overall record to capture the Mountain Division for the fourth consecutive season.
Pearlman seamlessly made the transition from general manager to head coach and led FC Tucson to another strong year, something he credits to his staff and players.
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“To be part of a program that has so many great players and coaches alongside of me … it’s just really humbling,” Pearlman said. “To come here on a fourth straight occasion, we feel a big responsibility and we’re trying to have the type of performance two games in a row that this crowd deserves.”
Fresno finished the regular season with 32 points from a 10-2-2 overall record, but placed second in the Southwest Division behind top-seeded Golden State Force.
The Fuego come in to Friday’s matchup with the Men in Black as one of the top overall squads in the Western Conference, as they ended tied for first in goals scored with 45, sixth in goals allowed with 19 and second in goal differential at plus-26.
“Fresno has a fantastic program … and some of the players that’ve returned for them have been there for a number of years and they’ve played against us in the past,” Pearlman said.
“This is a team that’s well versed in the playoffs and they have a good attacking side.”
Depending on what formation Pearlman’s squad lines up in come Friday, the FC Tucson midfielders and defenders should be able to dictate the outcome of the game. Pearlman has dabbled with various formations ranging from a 3-4-3 to a 4-4-2 this season.
Players like Tate Schmitt and Moshe Perez have been consistent performers from the midfield, while Sebastian Pineda and Lucas Vallilo have been crucial members of the defense.
If the Men in Black put together a solid performance without errors, it could lead to a fourth straight berth in the Western Conference finals. A performance littered with missed scoring chances or critical defensive errors likely would lead to a defeat.
“It’s going to come down to making plays,” Pearlman said. “When you get down to these last four teams, they’re all equally filled with top players and difference makers. It’s who’s difference makers come to play and who’s got 90 minutes in them to make the least amount of mistakes.”
