Crossfire Red Defeats FC Arizona 2-1 in West Region Semifinals

By FC Arizona

The West Region Semifinals kicked off in The Valley on Saturday as FC Arizona hosted Crossfire Red at Campo Verde High School.  Crossfire Red kicked off the first half, bringing the ball back to their final third to start the match.  Their offense was as quick as it was efficient, breaking into the final third with a pass by Richard Aman to forward River Stewart.  However, the linesman raised his flag for offside. 

FC Arizona would find a breakthrough in the match by way of a goal from Marco Afonso in the 22nd minute.  Afonso received a cross from forward Marlon Atondo and would send a curling shot to the back of the net to give Arizona a 1-0 lead.

Crossfire would equalize in the 45th minute.  Kalani Kossa-Reinzi ran through the midfield and sent a direct pass to Richard Aman.  Then Aman would break through the defense and score a goal to the right of the net, beating FC Arizona’s goalkeeper to level the game at 1-1.  The referee would blow his whistle shortly after.  

Crossfire would strike first in the second half.  A scramble for the ball in the 56th minute led to Chris Rincon tapping the ball into the back of the net, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead. 

FC Arizona would try crawling back early with an attack by Atondo from the left side of play, sending a cross into the box that was fought for by multiple FC Arizona players.  But Crossfire held their wall and sent the ball away from danger.  FC Arizona would make a late push with continuous attacks.  In the 73rd minute FC Arizona’s Justin Provenzano passed to Afonso who would shoot right, but Crossfire goalkeeper Jackson Ozborn would make a great save.  In the 86th minute, FC Arizona would come close again with a 25-yard free kick shot by Afonso nearly breaking through.  However, Ozborn was there again to make a spectacular save.

Ozborn’s shot-stopping ability would show again in the 90th minute with a two-handed save from a deflected shot by Afonso.  Crossfire would hold on until the final whistle, finishing with a hard-fought 2-1 victory.  Crossfire Red will now play the winner of El Farolito and Napa Valley 1839 FC in the West Region Final on July 22.  

Photo Credit: JJ Digos