Defending NPSL Southwest Conference champions FC Arizona opened its regular season Saturday at John D Riggs Stadium, facing new expansion club Golden State FC in an effort to extend their regular-season undefeated streak. Despite a strong effort, Golden State FC was able to come away with a 3-1 victory to end FC Arizona’s streak.
The night featured two disciplined teams playing an entertaining and precise style.
The teams battled back and forth for 34 minutes before Golden State’s Marcelo Manfredini broke the tension with a perfectly placed set-piece goal just outside the reach of FC Arizona’s CosSteno Valentin to go up 1-0.
Ten minutes into the second half, Golden State FC drew a penalty kick, giving Pedro Fonseca an opportunity to drive the ball into the lower right corner to extend Golden State’s lead to 2-0.
FC Arizona answered in the 68th minute as Columbian defender Kevin Riascos headed in a a corner kick to tighten the score to 2-1.
FC Arizona pressed hard for the equalizer, but Golden State played tight defense and sealed FC Arizona’s fate in the 86th minute, catching the defense sleeping with a quick set-piece goal by Enrique Cardenas, taking a 3-1 win in their NPSL debut.
FC Arizona travels to ASC San Diego for a Mar. 24 match and will return home to John D Riggs Stadium on Mar. 31 to play the Oxnard Guerreros at 7 p.m.
