Two goals in the final 20 minutes, including one in the 92nd minute by new acquisition Ryotaro Kawashima, helped California United Strikers FC rally for a 2-1 win over FC Tucson in a third-round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match at Kino North Stadium on Tuesday night.
The loss ends FC Tucson’s run in the U.S. Open Cup after it matched the club record set in 2013 for furthest advancement in U.S. soccer’s oldest tournament.
FC Tucson, a USL League One team, dominated much of the play in the first half over its NISA opponent. The success was rewarded in the 17th minute when Gio Calixtro scooted along the 18-yard box, made a few jukes and then right-footed a shot past a diving Steven Barrera.
CALIXTRO FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX 😱
— FC Tucson (@FCTucson) April 20, 2022
TUC 1, Cal United 0#fuerzatucson 🌵 | #USOC2022 pic.twitter.com/QVaBfdjnru
Tucson continued to grab chances over the first 15 minutes of the second half, but then the Strikers started to find their game and gain more of the possession and push forward to a greater extent.
The fruits of their labor came to fruition when Omar Nuno went on a long run and then slid a shot under keeper Carlos Merancio to to make it 1-1 after 71 minutes.
FC Tucson had some chances to retake the lead but finished its chances with errant shots or watched its shots blocked.
The Strikers made them pay when Kawashima found himself wide open in the far side of the box when he picked up a loose ball and clinically finished off his shot to make it 2-1.
GOALS
QUOTES
- “Lower league soccer has lots of talented players in different places and when you go up against a team like that, that’s good experience. I think we respected them, I think we showed that in our play, but at the end of the day, somebody’s got to come out with a win.” – FC Tucson Head Coach Jon Pearlman
- “It’s exciting stuff for a fan base and you want to energize your fan base, but ultimately we have to move on to Chattanooga.” – FC Tucson Head Coach Jon Pearlman
- “I believe we’re all the same. There’s MLS and there’s everyone else whether you’re two or three. It doesn’t matter what alphabet we play in. Ours is NISA, somebody else’s UPSL. It’s about young local American players getting a chance to learn what it’s like to be professional.” – Cal United Strikers Head Coach Don Ebert
NEXT UP
FC Tucson’s next match will be a USL League One contest on Saturday, April 23 in Tennessee against Chattanooga Red Wolves. American Eat Co. & Market Bar will host a watch party for all fans. Kick off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. MST.
