FC Tucson made history winning the USL League 2 Western Conference title and advancing to the national semifinals for the first time in the franchise’s 14-year history, and that’s where the magic ended for the Men In Black.
FC Tucson’s 11-match unbeaten streak was snapped as well with the 5-1 loss against Peoria City on Peoria City’s home turf at Shea Stadium in Peoria, Ill., on Sunday.
The Men In Black end their season 10-3-5 while Peoria City is now 12-3-5.
FC Tucson was 8-0-3 in their previous 11 matches. It was their first loss since June 11, when they lost to Capo FC 3-1 at Kino North Stadium.
THE WESTERN CONFERENCE WINNERS GET ONE BACK@FCTucson sneaks the ball past Samy Slimi, and the Peoria lead has been cut in half! pic.twitter.com/6xuctj9XCM
— USL League Two (@USLLeagueTwo) July 28, 2024
Peoria City, which got a hat trick from forward Luke Persenico, advances to the national championship match on Saturday at a site to be determined against the winner of a Sunday night semifinal between the Seacoast United Phantoms and Asheville City SC.
After Peoria and Tucson played to a scoreless first half, Persenico scored about 3 minutes into the second half with a bicycle kick.
After Peoria took a 2-0 lead, Tucson’s lone goal came in the 53rd minute when forward William Arnesen maneuvered past a defender to the left of the goal and had enough of an angle to slide the kick past the goaltender.
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