Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Bring On The Dynamo: FC Tucson Advances In U.S. Open Cup With PK Victory

Posted By on Tue, May 21, 2013 at 8:24 PM

FC Tucson might need to invest some of its capital in expanding the size of its bandwagon, because this club is about to become quite popular.

The second-year amateur soccer team made up of college players pulled off a thrilling 3-2 win in penalty kicks over San Antonio on Tuesday night, downing the professional Scorpions in Texas to advance in the U.S. Open Cup tournament.

San Antonio, a member of the second-division (behind Major League Soccer, in terms of U.S. soccer hierarchy) North American Soccer League, was the second pro team FC Tucson has beaten in as many weeks in the U.S. Open Cup, a 100-year-old tourney that this year pits 68 clubs from various levels of soccer in a single-elimination format.

FC Tucson beat USL Pro (Division 3) club Phoenix FC Wolves 2-1 last Tuesday in Tucson.

Tucson led 2-1 late in the second half when San Antonio was awarded with a penalty kick for a handball in the box, which the Scorpions converted into the equalizer.

After two scoreless 15-minute overtimes, penalty kicks decided the winner, with San Antonio missing on its first and fifth attempts while Tucson made all four tries to win 4-3.


With the victory, FC Tucson moves on to face MLS club Houston Dynamo next Wednesday (May 29) in Houston in the round of 32.

According to Houston's Web site, tickets are already on sale for the match at BBVA Compass Stadium. Sounds like it'd be a fun road trip.