FC Tucson's matchup with the Ventura County Fusion lived up to the billing of being a first-place showdown.
Having to play down a man for the final hour, FC Tucson rallied to salvage a 1-1 tie with the Fusion at the Ventura County Sportsplex on Saturday night.
Both teams top the USL PDL Southwest Division with 20 points apiece.
FC Tucson, which lost defender Eli Galbraith-Knapp to a red card in the 30th minute, gave up only its second goal of its last eight league matches.
In the 50th minute, Ventura County's Frankie Lopez converted a penalty after FC Tucson was called for a handball in the box.
But Tucson answered back when Donny Toia headed in a Max Alvarez corner from the far post to make it 1-1 in the 62nd minute.
"It was a great goal," FC Tucson coach Rick Schantz said. "It is who were are - we are organized and prepared on set pieces.
"We really feel … as if tonight was the beginning of a pretty strong rivalry."
FC Tucson will stay in the Los Angeles area and face LA Misioneros on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
• In Halmstad, Sweden, Abby Wambach's 136th career goal for the U.S. women's team led the Americans past Sweden 3-1 in a tune-up for the London Olympics.
Olympics
IOC probes black market in London tickets
GENEVA, Switzerland - The International Olympic Committee launched an investigation into allegations that Olympic officials and agents are selling tickets to the London Games on the black market.
The IOC called an emergency meeting of its executive board Saturday, after The Sunday Times newspaper in the United Kingdom said several thousand tickets to the best events - including the men's 100-meter track final - had been put up for sale by national Olympic committees from their official ticket quotas.
Horse racing
Ron the Greek gets first Breeders' Cup berth
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ron the Greek rallied to overtake pacesetter Nate's Mineshaft near the finish line, then held off favorite Wise Dan by a head Saturday in the $437,200 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Ron the Greek, ridden by Jose Lezcano, earned the first automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic through the "Win and You're In" series.
• In Inglewood, Calif., Love Theway Youare, ridden by Tucson native Garrett Gomez for the first time, snapped an 11-race skid with a 2 1/2-length upset victory in the $250,000 Vanity Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park.
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