FC Tucson got its wish.
After a three-year wait, the local pro development soccer team will finally face in-state rival Arizona United in a competitive match. The teams will face off Wednesday night at Kino North Stadium in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
“It’s Phoenix versus Tucson, it’s U of A-ASU, it’s everything,” FC Tucson coach Rick Schantz said. “We’ve wanted a rivalry with Phoenix and Arizona United SC and this is what we’ve been asking for.”
FC Tucson had its sights set on Arizona United in last year’s cup, but fell to Chula Vista FC in the first round. Chula Vista went on to upset Arizona United a week later. The memory stuck with Schantz and the FC Tucson players.
United plays in Peoria and is led by former Canadian men’s national team coach and two-time MLS Coach of the Year Frank Yallop. United’s investors include Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz and Grammy Award winner Diplo.
People are also reading…
“It’s not going to be easy. They’re not going to come down here and overlook us,” Schantz said. “They had the same thing happen to them last year where they overlooked a team, so I expect Coach Yallop to have them totally fired up.”
FC Tucson is off to a 3-0 start with two road wins after a 2-0 win at Ventura County (Calif.). Arizona United is 12th in the 15-team USL Western Conference , having earned nine points from eight matches. United is unbeaten in its last four matches in the pro league.
FC Tucson billed the contest as “the greatest match the Southwest has to offer.”
“It’s a rivalry, we’re going to be super excited,” said FC Tucson midfielder and Tucson native Minh Vu. “Rick’s super excited, it means a lot for the club and for him and hopefully it’s a good match and we get the win.”
FC Tucson veteran Dom Papa said he’s talked about this rivalry a lot with Schantz and general manager Jon Pearlman.
“My goal has always been to show Arizona who the true team is here,” Papa said. “Having them come down here to our home field and play is going to be a dream come true.”
FC Tucson is 1-0 against Valley of the Sun teams in the Open Cup, having beaten Phoenix FC in 2013. After that season, the USL terminated the club and Arizona United immediately replaced them. The team features former FC Tucson player Peter Kelly; FC Tucson’s roster included Phoenix players, too.
The draw has been kind to FC Tucson. If it can win Wednesday, the team will host a third-round match, against a side from Colorado. That’s the first step.
“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” Schantz said.
