SEE YOU SUNDAY
We defeat Almaden FC in penalty kicks in the @USLLeagueTwo Western Conference Quarterfinals
David Boccuzzo and Filip Arras made our two penalty kicks and Matheus Rhormens was a beast in the net stopping 4 penalty kick attempts from Almaden… pic.twitter.com/rwU8tHC7VB
— FC Tucson (@FCTucson) July 19, 2025
Filip Arras and David Boccuzzo converted their penalty kicks, and goaltender Matheus Rhormens shut down four penalty-kick attempts by Almaden in FC Tucson’s 3-1 victory Friday in the opening round of the USL League 2 playoffs at Ventura, Calif.
Tucson (7-2-3) will play host Ventura County Fusion (9-2-1) on Sunday at 7 p.m. for the right to advance to the quarterfinal round of the Western Conference portion of the 32-team bracket.
Tucson defeated Ventura County 2-1 in a match earlier this month at Kino North Stadium.
Penalty Kicks
Almaden-
1.
2.
3.
4.FC Tucson-
Lucas Thomas Christensen-
Joey Joiner –
Filip Arras-
David Boccuzzo-FC Tucson – Almaden#ItStartsinTucson
— FC Tucson (@FCTucson) July 18, 2025
FC Tucson and Almaden were deadlocked at 1 after extra time on Friday, resulting in a penalty-kick shootout. The teams were scoreless in regulation.
Former Salpointe standout Leo Gutierrez, who led the Lancers to their fifth straight state title four months ago, put FC Tucson ahead 1-0 at the 112-minute mark on a header that found the net. He scored off a perfectly-placed cross-field pass from former Tucson High and Pima College player Mateo Soto.
Gutierrez, the Arizona Gatorade Boys Soccer Player of the Year, holds the state career record with 173 goals to go with 59 assists. He is bound for Pima.
LEONEL GUTIERREZ PUTS @FCTucson up in extra time pic.twitter.com/ymn591g74K
— USL League Two (@USLLeagueTwo) July 18, 2025
Almaden defenseman Andrew Paterson tied the game at 1, five minutes later off a corner kick, getting a foot on the ball in the box in stride past a defender and the goaltender.
The penalty-kick goals by Arras and Boccuzo found the net past goalie Matias Herrera Fuentes, who had an overall strong game for Almaden (9-4-1).
Arras is a junior defender at Cal State Bakersfield, and Boccuzo is a senior forward at Florida International who originally played at Louisville.
Rhormens, a Brazilian who is a sophomore at Queens University of Charlotte (N.C.), compiled seven saves in the match in addition to the four stops in the penalty-kick phase.
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