Sporting AZ FC ended a dream season in the Spring National Championship Final game last Sunday in Colorado. The team, who calls the east valley their home, was undefeated in conference games actually played (the season opened with a forfeit over from player safety concerns), qualified for the national tournament by winning the Southwestern Conference Championship.
The team was special from the start, consisting of the coach and several players from the undefeated 2017 FC Arizona (NPSL) squad. The team had a chance to show its mettle early in the season, first qualifying in open play for the US Open Cup, then matching up against the Colorado Rapids and Phoenix Rising FC in pre-season play.
The team’s first competitive test came on May 9 against in-town rivals FC Arizona in the first round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Jon Guse second quarter goal was all the difference Sporting AZ FC needed as many of the starters faced a depleted FCAZ squad. The win earned Sporting the right to host the United Soccer League’s Phoenix Rising FC the following week.
Sporting hosted Rising FC at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in an intimate setting that allowed fans to get up close and personal with the Sporting and Rising players. Rising’s squad included players who would be starters on many USL squads and the game should have been, in theory, one of David vs. Goliath. Instead, fans were treated to an evenly played match which demonstrated the technical skill of both the experienced SAZ squad and the youth movement of Rising FC. It took until the 65th minute for Rising’s Chris Cortez to find the back of the net, but the celebration was quickly spoiled as Sporting’s Danny Arrubla found the back of the net just 2 minutes later. The game ended in a thrilling penalty round that opened with current Rising FC goal-leader Chris Cortez missing as Sporting’s Eijin Kishimoto sealed a 5-4 finish after a Kody Wakasa miss.
Sporting’s third-round USOC opponent, Fresno Football Club (USL) found more of the same. Ryan Flood’s 66th minute goal opened the match. Fresno, panicking, quickly replaced their backup players with starters, including putting team leader Juan Pablo Caffa in the game in the 74th minute. The strategy paid quick dividends, as Caffa connected with Danny Barrera to even the score only a minute later. Tired from their second extra-time game in as many weeks, Sporting AZ gave up a goal in the 99th minute, and the game ended 1-2 in favor of Fresno.
Sporting AZ FC moved on to dominate in Southwest Conference play in the United Premier Soccer League. The team faced teams from New Mexico as well as new entrant MSC United and Sporting AZ FC’s II team. The team racked up a final record of nine wins, one loss and an astounding 23 goal differential. The short-season dominance lead to an invitation to the Spring National Championship tournament in Colorado.
The national tournament is a whirlwind three-games-in-three-days tournament. Sporting AZ FC first faced the Boise Cutthroats on Friday, August 10. The game saw an evenly matched first half, then an extended half-time break due to confusion over the Boise roster (read more here), but ultimately ended in a 2-1 Sporting victory thanks to goals by Danny Arrubla (48′) and Alejandro Aguilar (74′ Pen).
Next up were the Santa Ana Winds FC. Though it appeared that momentum was on their side for much of the game, in true Santa Ana style, the Winds were unpredictable and inconsistent. Sporting striker Danny Arrubla once again made his presence known, blowing a rebound passed the Wind’s keeper from short range. The Winds quickly responded, tying the match, setting up the possibility for an extra-time match that would have a drastic effect on the following-day’s final. Alejandro Aguilar, uninterested in an additional thirty minutes of play, took the game into his own hands and drilled a shot into the back of the net.
The National Championship match kicked off only 16 hours later against the Milwaukee Bavarian SC. Coming into the game with three hours of extra rest, the Bavarians looked like the stronger team from the start. Sporting went down 0-2 by halftime. Head coach Aidan Davison’s halftime speech give the team great energy, but the team’s turnaround was spoiled in the 53rd minute, putting sporting down three goals. The veteran team found strength in a 67th minute Aguilar penalty, which cut into the Bavarian lead. Sporting hero Arrubla once again found the back of the net, bringing the score to 2-3, which stood to the final whistle.
Jon Guse, Noel Castillo, and Tony Cascio join Arrubla and Aguilar with All-Tournament honors. Arrubla and Aguilar finished with three goals each, and Guse and Aguilar both played all 270+ minutes of the tournament.
Following the season, Sporting players Andrew Weber, David Paul, Dominic Papa and Mo Salama, join Castillo, Cascio and Guse in training for the 6v6 World Cup representing Team USA in Portugal.
