STATESBORO, Georgia — Jon Pearlman said he wanted to see a better defending team and a more physical team, and FC Tucson went on the road and delivered just what the head coach was looking for.
Tyler Allen scored a goal-of-the-year candidate and goalkeeper Carlos Merancio backstopped a phenomenal defensive effort as FC Tucson picked up a much-needed road win, 1-0, Saturday over South Georgia Tormenta FC at Optim Health System Field.
FC Tucson played the final 52 minutes down a man following a second yellow issued to Tevin Shaw just two minutes after Allen’s goal.
“This is a resiliant group,” said Pearlman. “It took a really workmanlike performance, just the absolute commitment to running and defending.”
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A clearance on an FC Tucson delivered the ball right to Allen in the 36th minute. The 23-year-old from Honolulu stepped up and unleashed a right-footed rocket that found the upper left corner.
WHAT. A. GOAL. 🚀
— FC Tucson (@FCTucson) May 29, 2022
TUC 1-0 TRM#fuerzatucson 🌵 | #TRMvTUC pic.twitter.com/nEbOnJtRCg
Officially Merancio was credited with four saves, but the 23-year-old from Hermosillo, Mexico, was virtually everywhere as FC Tucson weathered 52 minutes down a man after an early red card issued to Tevin Shaw.
The defensive backline of Jacob Crull, Luca Mastrantonio, Kaelon Fox and Tyler Moss threw their bodies all over the field, and just about every player on the field had a block, stop or clearance to preserve FC Tucson’s first shutout of the season.
GOALS
- 36′ – TUC – Tyler Allen
QUOTES
- “We just talked about everywhere we’d go tactically. And to just understand that three poitns were out there and they were going to have to roll up there sleeves and do things they weren’t used to.” – FC Tucson Head Coach Jon Pearlman
- “Getting three points like this on the road, the spirit of the core has been there. We knuckled down and gave everything we could for the badge and for each other. It’s going to take a mental and physical effort like that again in Madison.” – FC Tucson Head Coach Jon Pearlman
NEXT UP
FC Tucson (2-4-1 with seven points) will be back on the road Saturday as the club travels to Wisconsin to take on Forward Madison. The Watch Party will return to Brother John’s Beer Bourbon and BBQ’s, which held its first Watch Party Saturday as fans watched the club turn away Tormenta.
