Jon Pearlman's first match back at the helm of FC Tucson will feature a familiar foe: Fort Lauderdale CF.
Tucson played the reserve club for Major League Soccer's Inter Miami CF in May, falling 5-1 in the trip to Florida.
The USL League One rematch is set for Saturday at Kino North Stadium (7 p.m., ESPN+) as the club celebrates Salute To The Troops. The game will be followed by a fireworks show.
The game will be Pearlman's first after stepping as interim head coach. FC Tucson's Vice President of Soccer Operations, Pearlman served as head coach of FC Tucson, going 18-7-3 in 2016-17.
"We feel great going into Saturday," said Pearlman. "We've got some players back. Really got to give credit to Coach (Mark) Biagi, Coach (Vito) Higgins, helping us settle into today's work.
"We're addressing a lot of things we think will be keys to us in the Fort Lauderdale matchup."
Jon Pearlman’s first match back at the helm of FC Tucson will feature a familiar foe: Fort Lauderdale CF.
Tucson played the reserve club for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami CF in May, falling 5-1 in the trip to Florida.
The USL League One rematch is set for Saturday at Kino North Stadium (7 p.m., ESPN+) as the club celebrates Salute To The Troops. The game will be followed by a fireworks show.
The game will be Pearlman’s first after stepping as interim head coach. FC Tucson’s Vice President of Soccer Operations, Pearlman served as head coach of FC Tucson, going 18-7-3 in 2016-17.
“We feel great going into Saturday,” said Pearlman. “We’ve got some players back. Really got to give credit to Coach (Mark) Biagi, Coach (Vito) Higgins, helping us settle into today’s work.
“We’re addressing a lot of things we think will be keys to us in the Fort Lauderdale matchup.”
Tucson will see the return of Noah Franke and Gio Calixtro. The pair sat out the 1-0 loss to Union Omaha last weekend after picking up red cards in the previous week against North Texas SC.
Gio Calixtro is tied for second in the league with three assists, while goalkeeper Wallis Lapsley leads the league with 38 saves.
Fort Lauderdale sits fourth in the league at 5-6-2, having played a league-high 13 matches. The team is coming off three straight matches with Toronto FC II, having gone 1-1-1 in the stretch against the MLS reserve club.
MATCH CENTER: FC Tucson vs. Ft Lauderdale FC
Fort Lauderdale also leads USL League One with 20 goals and is second with a 16% conversion rate, and 5,455 passes – 565 more than the second highest club.
Shaan Hundal is third in the league with five goals, while Venton Evans has four. George Acosta leads the league with six assists and is tied for first with 26 chances created. Acosta had a goal and two assists in the May 16 match against Tucson, including assisting on Abel Caputo's goal just two minutes into the game.
On the defense, Luis Zamudio is fifth in the league with 20 saves.
Tucson will see the return of Noah Franke and Gio Calixtro. The pair sat out the 1-0 loss to Union Omaha last weekend after picking up red cards in the previous week against North Texas SC.
Gio Calixtro is tied for second in the league with three assists, while goalkeeper Wallis Lapsley leads the league with 38 saves.
Fort Lauderdale sits fourth in the league at 5-6-2, having played a league-high 13 matches. The team is coming off three straight matches with Toronto FC II, having gone 1-1-1 in the stretch against the MLS reserve club.
MATCH CENTER: FC Tucson vs. Ft Lauderdale FC
Fort Lauderdale also leads USL League One with 20 goals and is second with a 16% conversion rate, and 5,455 passes – 565 more than the second highest club.
Shaan Hundal is third in the league with five goals, while Venton Evans has four. George Acosta leads the league with six assists and is tied for first with 26 chances created. Acosta had a goal and two assists in the May 16 match against Tucson, including assisting on Abel Caputo’s goal just two minutes into the game.
On the defense, Luis Zamudio is fifth in the league with 20 saves.
