2-2 Draw for FC Arizona and Las Vegas Legends
By FC Arizona
FC Arizona’s NPSL season continued as they hosted conference rivals Las Vegas Legends at home on Saturday. The game was very physical for the first few minutes with both teams making great attacking efforts. Both teams struggled for scoring opportunities, but the best chance came from FC Arizona in the 30th minute. Marco Afonso sent a ball into the box that would weave through traffic before being sent away by Las Vegas.
In the 33rd minute, Afonso scored a beautiful goal off a free kick, giving Arizona the 1-0 lead. Las Vegas would react by using an early substitution, bringing on Danny Rangel. Like most rivalry games, there was no shortage of fireworks from both teams, and tensions would rise late in the first half. A scuffle would occur, and the referee issued a yellow card to Arizona’s Gabe Waters. Vegas got their own caution later in the first half. FC Arizona would enter halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The second half would have even more drama. Vegas received another yellow card after Brandon Vargas made an aggressive tackle on FC Arizona’s Uche Uzo. A foul was also committed by Las Vegas defender Eduardo Guzman in the 63rd minute. Guzman would argue the foul, leading to a red card being issued. Las Vegas would now be down a player for the rest of the match. However, Las Vegas equalized three minutes later with a goal from Jose Gonzalez.
The Legends would gain their first lead thanks to a goal from Rangel in the 73rd minute. Five minutes later, FC Arizona would level the game at 2-2 with a goal from Justin Provenzano. Yellow cards would be issued to Las Vegas players in the 87th and 94th minutes before another red card reduced Las Vegas to just nine men in the 95th minute.
FC Arizona would have one final chance to score a last-minute winner with Afonso taking a free kick from 30 yards out. A great effort from Legends defender Sebastian Aldama would prevent Arizona from claiming the victory. Instead the game ended as a 2-2 draw.
Photo Credit: JJ Digos
