Sol gets revenge on Tucson with win
Albuquerque tops PDL rival for 1st time since ’15
Early this season, the Albuquerque Sol soccer team dropped its season opener at FC Tucson. But it felt it deserved more.
The Sol (3-4-1) got its desired result Friday in front of 937 fans at UNM Stadium, beating its Premier Development League rival 4-2.
It was the Sol’s first win over FC Tucson (5-3-0) since 2015.
“The biggest thing is guys were up for it and playing together as a unit,” Sol coach Justin Sells said.
The Sol opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Former Lobo Josh Goss had time to measure his feathered ball to Quinn Fahling leaking in the right edge of the penalty area. Isaiah Madrid then scored off Fahling’s cross.
“We countered well and got into good spots,” Fahling said. “We were trying to build more than we did but we resorted to lumping it long.”
Sergio Rivas doubled the Sol advantage in the 22nd minute as his deflected shot wrong-footed FC Tucson goalkeeper Andreu Cases. The fortunate bounce rewarded Rivas for a superlative solo run into shooting range.
The visitors threatened in the 27th minute as Damian German’s layoff to Dalton Pando resulted in a near-post stop by Lobo Ford Parker.
Parker was called on again in the 32nd as he parried away a dipping free kick from FC Tucson’s Angel Heredia. Alejandro Gonzalez of FC Tucson scored an apparent goal off a glancing header in the 34th minute, but he was ruled offside.
The Sol added a third goal in the 45th minute. Nick Taylor wriggled free on the left channel and Fahling’s clean trap and quick cutback gave him the space needed for a driven far-post finish.
FC Tucson pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Alejandro Gonzales amid a scramble in the penalty area.
But the Sol quickly restored its three-goal edge out of the break. Goss whipped in a dangerous ball far post nodded in by Dillon Nino in the 51st minute.
FC Tucson scored its second goal in the 71st minute off a counter and saw a third nullified by offside in the 74th.
“We were trying to force them inside and get pressure on the ball,” Fahling said.
The Sol made some defensive-minded substitutions in closing 20 minutes to clinch the win.
“The guys have been a little bit better defensively,” Sells said. “We kept our shape, making them play predictably. We have the pieces where we’re going to get some goals.”
FC Tucson finished the game with 10 men after Kyle VanAlstine earned his second yellow in second half stoppage time.
The Sol’s next game is away against the Colorado Pride Switchbacks U23 on June 22.
NOTES: The Sol held a three-day soccer camp Tuesday through Thursday this past week for 84 players ages 6-16. The club held an evening skill session at St. Pius on Wednesday for 64 players. Additional evenings trainings will be on Wednesday, along with June 27 and July 11.
The Sol is holding a pregame soccer camp from 5-6 p.m. July 7 at St. Pius before its 7:30 home match vs. FC Tucson.