James Kelley Special to the Arizona Daily Star
FC Tucson will stay at home for the next round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
The Men in Black drew the California United Strikers for their third-round match, which will take place between April 19-21 at Kino North Stadium. Based in Irvine, Cal United plays in the National Independent Soccer Association.
FC Tucson was selected as the first in Friday’s draw. Other hosts include LAFC and the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer.
The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is a six-month, 103-team single-elimination knockout tournament featuring teams from all levels associated with US Soccer.
FC Tucson, a member of USL League One, entered the tournament in the second round, then beat the Las Vegas Lights FC of USL Championship, 3-2. The Strikers, meanwhile, won their second-round match 5-0 over the amateur San Fernando Valley FC.
Schedule break
FC Tucson will continue to play its USL League One schedule as it prepares for its next US Open Cup match.
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The Men in Black have a bye on Saturday, however, something coach Jon Pearlman said is “massive.” The club won’t play again until April 16, when it opens its USL League One home schedule against Forward Madison FC.
Injuries and other issues limited the club to just 16 available players on Wednesday night. Forward Deri Corfe and defender Kaelon Fox, who were staples for FC Tucson last season, did not play because of injuries; neither did midfielder Burke Fahling.
Midfielder Tevin Shaw was delayed getting back from World Cup qualifying for Jamaica due to visa issues. Forward Franco Peréz, who is on loan from Club Atletico Aldosivi in the top flight of Argentina, and midfielder Charlie Machell haven’t arrived yet.
“Those are six guys that are going to play 1,500 to 2,000 minutes this year,” Pearlman said. “They’re big leaders, centerpiece players.”
FC Tucson’s Daniel Bedoya gestures skyward after his corner kick was bundled into the goal during Wednesday’s match.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
USL ‘cup sets’
USL League One teams went 5-2 against their USL Championship big brothers in the second round.
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC upset the Colorado Springs Switchbacks 1-0 in their first-ever competitive match despite playing with 10 men for more than an hour.
“Anything can happen in cup play, anything can happen in any game,” Pearlman said.
men in white
FC Tucson supporters typically sing “come on, you boys in black” at the start of matches.
On Wednesday, they changed the lyrics. FC Tucson wore white uniforms, so the supporters altered the song for the night.
Photos: FC Tucson outlasts Las Vegas Lights 3-2 in US Open Cup
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
FC Tucson’s Tyler Allen (12) watches his shot rip over Las Vegas’ goalkeeper Abraham Romero (1) late in the second half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6, 2022. Allen’s blast ended up the game winner in a 3-2 game.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
FC Tucson’s goalkeeper Carlos Merancio Valdez (23) punches away a corner kick off the head of teammate FC Jake Crull (16) against Las Vegas in the first half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6, 2022 .
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
FC Tucson’s Louis Pérez (13), left, and Las Vegas’ Christopher Jaime (17) skid into one another while trying to win a ball in the first half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
Las Vegas’ goalkeeper Abraham Romero (1) palms away at a FC Tucson free kick in the second half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
Las Vegas’ Bruce El Mesmari (7), left, makes a flying leap for a ball in front of FC Tucson’s Tyler Allen (12) the second half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6, 2022 .
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
FC Tucson’s Daniel Bedoya (8) gestures skyward after his corner kick was bundled into the goal against Las Vegas in the second half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
FC Tucson’s Louis Pérez (13), left, gets taken down by Las Vegas’ Dekel Keinan (42) chasing down a deep ball into the corner during the first half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6 , 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
FC Tucson’s Daniel Bedoya (8) sprawls out but can’t get a toe on the pass by Las Vegas’ Álvaro Quezada (24) in the first half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6, 2022 .
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
FC Tucson’s Burke Fahling (32) goes flying after getting clipped by Las Vegas’ Alexander Romero (16) in the first half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
FC Tucson’s Giovanni Calixtro (11), left, and Las Vegas’ Alexander Romero (16) jostle for control of a ball in the Lights’ box in the second half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6 , 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
FC Tucson’s Louis Pérez (13) gets squeezed between Las Vegas’ Daron Iskenderian (14), top and Chase Bromstedt (23) in the fight for the ball along the touchline the first half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz ., April 6, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
FC Tucson’s Muengnenshime Goshit (21) pulls Las Vegas’ Roberto Molina (11) away from the ball during the second half of their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tucson FC vs Las Vegas Lights
Las Vegas’ Abraham Romero (1) crouches in the goal mouth at the final whistle of the Lights’ 3-2 loss to FC Tucson in their US Open Cup game at Kino Sports Complex, Ariz., April 6, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
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