Oxnard Guerreros Battle to a 1-0 Win over FC Arizona

Oxnard Guerreros battled to a 1-0 win over FC Arizona on Saturday night at John D. Riggs Stadium. This was the first win of the season for the team from Oxnard, and they will look to continuing their winning ways in their next league match against ASC San Diego on April 14.

“We just did a really good job of beating them both in the physical and mental part of the game,” Head Coach Juan Florez said.

The first chance of the night came in the 12th minute from a well-timed chipped ball over the top of the Arizona back line and was collected off the chest by Moises Orozco. Orozco was able to shimmy around a few defenders, and slot it home, but the goal was called back after the officials called Orozco offside.

Oxnard was again able to convert on their opportunity in the 19th minute. They took full advantage of a free kick that was rewarded, making it 1-0, until it was again called back due to an Oxnard player being offside.

The match would remain 0-0 for the majority of the half, until a penalty was awarded after an FC Arizona player’s handball. Moises Orozco would step up and slot it home. Giving Oxnard the 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute. This was Orozco’s first-ever NPSL goal.

Oxnard continued to dominate in the second half as they racked up multiple chances on goal. The game would begin to get a little chippy as Luis Rivera of Oxnard was given a yellow card in the 62nd minute.

Oxnard’s Alex Garcia wasn’t settling as they pushed for a second goal, and were able to notch a second, but it was again called back in the 93rd minute.

“It was a strong team performance… we attacked from the left, the right, and through the middle,” Florez added. The performance was highlighted by Orozco’s goal, and it would give Oxnard their first three points of the year, and a good win against an Arizona side that finished at the top of the conference just last year.

Florez was excited about the performance and result, but did say, “We need to maintain the intensity throughout the entirety of the game. Too often we slow down and allow the other team to get back into the game.”

The Guerreros will be back in action April 14 when they travel down to San Diego to take on a tough ASC San Diego side.