First-round U.S. Open Cup action between FC Tucson and the Colorado Rush heated up the otherwise cool weather Wednesday night at Kino North Stadium.
The hosts, you see, got hot at the perfect time.
FC Tucson used an 89th minute goal from midfielder Moshe Perez and a stoppage time empty net goal from midfielder Afonso Pinheiro to defeat the Colorado 3-1 in the opening round.
Perez’ go-ahead goal came after a defensive clearance from the FC Tucson backline turned into a fortuitous counter attack for the home team. Forward Wedner Delmonte received the clearance and beat the lone Rush defender in his way before laying the ball off for Perez on the left wing with only the keeper to beat.
Fans went wild as Perez curled his shot into the bottom right corner of the net past the diving arms of Colorado goalkeeper Shalier Thomas. The goal gave FC Tucson a 1-0 lead in the final minute of regulation.
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“I was like ‘I’ve got to make that run with Delmonte’ and I knew he was going to play it,” Perez said. “It was two minutes from the end and I had to finish it… and I’m just glad we won.”
Pinheiro’s goal came about four minutes into the six minute stoppage time, as Thomas left his net and went into the FC Tucson penalty box as an extra man on a corner kick.
When the cross on the corner was cleared out by the FC Tucson defense, Pinheiro received the ball outside the box and sped up the left flank for the game-sealing empty net goal.
While the final 10 minutes of play were full of excitement, the vast majority of Wednesday’s match was played in the middle third of the pitch.
FC Tucson opened up the match with possession and quickly went on the offensive against the Rush. The team saw its first chance come just three minutes into play when midfielder Tate Schmitt took the game’s first corner from the left side and curled in his cross to the far post.
Defender Gio Vasquez received Schmitt’s cross and headed the ball into the bottom left pocket of the net past Thomas to give FC Tucson the 1-0 lead minutes into play.
However, the FC Tucson lead didn’t hold up for very long.
Colorado put together a strong counter attack in the seventh minute and saw a blocked shot parried to the foot of forward Daniel Wooliscroft, who curled a driven shot into the bottom right pocket of the net past the outstretched arms of FC Tucson goal keeper Lucas Valillo to tie up the game at 1-1.
Both teams put together several promising attacks in the final 38 minutes of the first half but failed to find the back of the net for the go-ahead goal before the halftime break.
Play intensified throughout the second half, with numerous hard fouls committed by both teams. The opening 10 minutes of the half proved to be the most controversial.
FC Tucson coach Jon Pearlman argued with an official after particularly tough foul from Colorado defender Brad Gorham in the 52nd minute. Pearlman, the Men in Black's first-year coach, was soon ejected. Assistant Jose Miranda took over coaching duties.
After the game, Miranda joked about having the highest winning percentage in team history if he never coaches the team again.
“I will always have that streak as long as they don’t let me do it again and as long as Jon can control himself as we go through the season.” he said.
