TUCSON, Ariz. (Friday, November 15, 2013) – In a friendly match between Chivas USA and USL side FC Tucson on Friday night, which served to inaugurate the new North Stadium at the Kino Sports Complex in Arizona, the home side took the match, 1-0, thanks to Sadam Ali’s tally in the 89th minute.

FC Tucson generated the first threat at taking the initial lead in the 16th minute on the end of a free kick from the right wing. After goalkeeper Tim Melia managed to keep out a series of threats, Saeed Robinson momentarily looked as though he had put the local club on top with his shot toward the back of the net. However, the linesman put up his flag to indicate that the attacker was offsides and nullified the score.

Midway through the first half, Tucson continued to create promising looks around Melia’s net. Midfielder Dakota Collins pushed the ball on the left wing and got off a clean strike at goal, but the attempt hit the crossbar.

Chivas USA weathered the threat and responded a minute later on forward Erick Torres’ strike that was on frame for the Red-and-White’s first shot on goal of the match. The strike, however, was deflected over the crossbar and out of bounds.

Both clubs continued to pressure and send their attack forward through the remainder of the first half, but neither side open up the score sheet. Heading into the complementary half, the combination of Torres and Eric Avila kept producing solid play. In the 52nd minute Torres brought down a pass from midfielder Carlo Chueca off his chest and immediately fed Avila inside the box. Yet Avila’s shot was off frame and the match remained locked at zero.

In the 66th minute, the Red-and-White duo again looked to combine to pull ahead, but the shot was deflected by keeper Larry Jackson and bounced out of play. As the final 10 minutes of the match approached, forward Matthew Fondy had a golden look in a one-on-one with Jackson, but net minder again managed to turn the Goats’ threat away to preserve a clean sheet.

In the final minutes of regulation and locked in a scoreless draw, a defensive lapse by Andrew Ribeiro allowed the home side to take advantage of the mistake and deliver the lone goal. Ali, who had just shortly come on as a sub, found himself in a head-to-head meeting with Melia, where the youngster fired toward the lower left corner of the net to give the hosts de 1-0 result.

With the conclusión of Friday’s friendly, the Rojiblancos also close out their 2014 campaign. The Red-and-White now head into the off-season and prepare individually until mid-January ahead of the 2014 Major League Soccer season.

FC Tucson 1-0 CD Chivas USA

Scoring Summary
FCT – Sadam Ali (Ricardo Mardoque) 89’

Cautions
FCT – Edgar Reyna (yellow) – 45’
FCT – Travis Campbell (yellow) – 71’
CHV – Gabriel Farfán (yellow) – 72’

Lineups

Chivas USA
Tim Melia, Lyle Martin, Andrew Ribeiro, Carlos Bocanegra, Donald Toia (Bryan de la Fuente 64’), Carlos Borja (Gabriel Farfan 58’), Carlos Alvárez (Matthew Fondy 58’) , Carlo Chueca, Eric Avila, Jorge Villafaña, Erick Torres

Unsused Subs: Michael Abalos, Jacob Barron, Fejiro Okiomah, Caleb Calvert

FC Tucson
Larry Jackson, Reid Schmidt, Devon Grousis, Travis Campbell, Kareem Smith, Gabe Silveira (Isaac Ikyurav 66’), Scott Morrison, Edgar Reyna (Ricardo Mardoque 86’), David Clemens (Gavino Carranza 82’), Dakota Collins (Dom Papa 82’), Saeed Robinson (Sadam Ali 86’)

Unused subs: James Urbany, Alejandro Conzalez, Roman Acosta, Michael Kraus, Mike Duhaney, Stephan Posa