Playing in its first match ever in the USL's Premier Development League, FC Tucson managed an equalizing goal in the second half only to have the host Fresno Fuego score late and snatch a 2-1 victory at Chukchansi Park on Saturday night.
"Our guys fought extremely hard in a difficult situation," FC Tucson coach Rick Schantz said in a phone interview. "These guys have a lot to be proud of."
With a crowd of more than 2,500 cheering on its defending division champion Fuego, FC Tucson's defense didn't budge until the 56th minute. FC Tucson netted its first USLPDL goal ever just five minutes later when halftime substitute Max Alvarez fed Donny Toia for the equalizer.
"At the endline, Max had a one-time touch and I just volleyed it with my right foot into the side netting," said Toia, an ex-Canyon del Oro High and Pima College star.
"After we tied it, it shut the crowd up," Schantz said. "It was a world-class goal.
Fresno took the lead for good in the 83rd minute. FC Tucson will play the Pali Blues on Saturday in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. The club's home opener is May 19 at 7 p.m., against the Southern California Seahorses at Kino Sports Complex North Field No. 5.
• In Wembley, England, Chelsea won the FA Cup for the fourth time in six seasons, beating Liverpool 2-1 Saturday on a second-half goal by Didier Drogba. He became the first player to score in four finals.
• D.C. United beat host Toronto FC 2-0, relegating the Reds to the worst start in MLS history at 0-8-0. Kansas City had gone 0-7-0 in 1999.
• Lionel Messi scored four times to take his season tally to an unprecedented 72 goals and give host Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola a 4-0 win over crosstown rival Espanyol in his last home game.
College basketball
Lockett leaves ASU for Marquette
TEMPE - Arizona State guard Trent Lockett, the team's leading scorer last season, says he will transfer to Marquette for his senior season to be closer to his mother, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
Lockett, whose mother lives in Minnesota, already has earned a bachelor's degree in business communication from ASU.
College football
Ohio State loses top recruit
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A top Ohio State recruit has told the Buckeyes he will not attend the school amid concern that a convicted sex offender had interactions with players and recruits associated with the program.
Linebacker Alex Anzalone of Wyomissing, Pa., said he will reopen his recruiting process after being contacted by Charles Eric Waugh, 31, of Ashland, Ky. In 2008, Waugh pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of underage sexual content. And this year, across Twitter, he contacted Ohio State coaches, athletes and recruits and posed for photos with some of them.
MISCELLANEOUS
Phinney dons Giro leader's jersey
HERNING, Denmark - American cyclist Taylor Phinney won the first stage of the Giro d'Italia, a 5.4-mile individual time trial on Saturday.
Phinney becomes the first American to wear the pink jersey since Christian Vande Velde when Garmin won the opening team time trial in Palermo in 2008. Phinney, a BMC Racing cyclist, finished in 10.26 minutes, nine seconds ahead of Britain's Geraint Thomas (Sky Procycling).
• In tennis, Kaia Kanepi won the women's title of Portugal's Estoril Open, saving two match points to beat Carla Suarez Navarro 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4. Juan del Potro and Richard Gasquet will play for the men's title today. ... Italy's Andreas Seppi and France's Benoit Paire won semifinal matches and will play for the Serbia Open title. ... Venus Williams beat Simona Halep 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (6) to start the Madrid Open.
• In Eugene, Ore., Arizona's Amber Passalaqua is seventh and Liana Fuentes eighth after the first day of the heptahlon event in the combined events portion of the Pac-12 Championships. UA's Harrison Ivie sat 14th in the men's decathlon.
Includes material from news releases
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