Second-half goals from Ronaldo Damus and Collin Smith helped North Texas SC defeat FC Tucson 2-0 Saturday Night at Kino Sports Complex. 

Tucson looked the better side in the early goings of the match, creating two quality scoring chances in the first 15 minutes. Elivelton forced goalkeeper Carlos Avilez into a save with a clever strike from the top of the 18-yard box before playing Shak Adams through on goal on a counter attack moments later. Adams rounded Avilez on the dribble but dragged his shot just wide of the empty net. 

North Texas SC’s Gibran Rayo found the wrong side of the post with a well-struck shot in the 16th minute. 

Damus had the last chance of the first half, picking up a loose pass in the Tucson defensive third and driving towards goal before striking a right-footed shot wide of the target. The Hatian striker eventually broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 61st minute following an FC Tucson handball, sending Carlos Merancio the wrong way and calmly slotting the spot kick home for his third goal of the season. 

Smith doubled the visitors’ advantage eight minutes later, bundling a deflected cross over the line to score his first goal for North Texas. 

Dominick Hernandez nearly made it 3-0 in the 85th minute, but his first-time effort off of Arturo Rodroguiez’s free kick narrowly missed the target. 

The win was North Texas’ first since its opening match of the season on July 25. Avilez earned the club’s first clean sheet of the year as NTSC moved into seventh place in the League One standings.

SCORING SUMMARY 

NTX (61'): Damus (third), unassisted
NTX (69'): Smith (first), assisted by Allison 

NEXT MATCHES

FC  Tucson: September 16 v. New England Revolution II (H) 
North Texas SC: September 19 v. FC Tucson (H)