FC Tucson dug deep and found its inner giant-killer of the past to hold on for a 3-2 win over a USL Championship team, Las Vegas Lights FC, in a second round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match at Kino North Stadium on Wednesday night.
The club, which went on a glorious U.S. Open Cup run in 2013 that ended with a third-round loss to the Houston Dynamo of the MLS, didn’t play the oft-seen role of the team from the lower division against Las Vegas.
They held more than their own for the first 45 minutes and were rewarded in the first minute of stoppage when Jacob Crull scored off a corner to make it 1-0.
“We felt like we could win the game,” said Crull. “We didn’t come in with the mindset of closing things up.”
They all count | 👊@USLLeagueOne side @FCTucson stun @lvlightsfc of the @USLChampionship right before the half thanks to Jacob Crull’s opportunism — and a kind bounce.
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 7, 2022
1-0 | #USOC2022 pic.twitter.com/taBFQDSKyx
And there was no parking the bus for FC Tucson in the second half, even after Las Vegas tied the match at 1 in the 66th minute on a goal by second-half sub Mohamed Traore, who connected on a header.
Just a few minutes later, FC Tucson took the lead back when Daniel Bedoya’s amazing corner bent into the goal just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Abraham Romero.
Oh. No. | 🥺
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 7, 2022
It’s @FCTucson and Bedoya’s goal, but Abraham Romero – the @lvlightsfc keeper – sure did play a part.
2-1 | #USOC2022 pic.twitter.com/LyOO4mSmOD
FC Tucson added an insurance goal that proved to be crucial when Tyler Allen scored in the 77th minute.
A look at our third goal 😍 https://t.co/N4KeMe6fPA
— FC Tucson (@FCTucson) April 7, 2022
The Lights pulled one back when Daniel Crisostomo curled in a long shot to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the 80th.
But FC Tucson was able to hold on for the final 10 minutes and 5 minutes of stoppage for the upset win.
“I feel great,” FC Tucson coach Jon Pearlman said. “I’m really happy for the team. While we weren’t sharp at the start we were defensively organized. We were the more goal-dangerous team throughout the game.”
GOALS
- 45′ – TUC – Jacob Crull | WATCH
- 65′ – LV – Mohamed Traore | WATCH
- 71′ – TUC – Daniel Bedoya | WATCH
- 77′ – TUC – Tyler Allen | WATCH
- 80′ – LV – Daniel Crisostomo | WATCH
QUOTES
- “We had to run, we had to fight, we had to defend and I think the team did a good job.” – FC Tucson Midfielder Daniel Bedoya.
- “It’s about moments, it’s about winning games and the most important thing is the result and we got that and we have another chance to play and move forward, and who know’s, right, anything’s possible.” – FC Tucson Head Coach Jon Pearlman
- “Great way to start out at home, I think playing on this home field is important for us and important to make it a hard place to play.” – FC Tucson Defender Jacob Crull.
- “It ranks up there in what it means about this group. It tells you they can come back from adversary, they’re solid with each other, they never lost confidence and they came out and they produced a result against a Championship team.” – FC Tucson Head Coach Jon Pearlman.
NEXT UP
FC Tucson will find out its next U.S. Open Cup opponent at a draw on Friday. The match will be held in the Third Round window between April 19-21.
Ahead of the U.S. Open Cup third round, FC Tucson will host its USL League One home opener on April 16 against Forward Madison FC. (BUY TICKETS)
