Giovanni Godoy scored the game’s only goal while Carlos Merancio earned his first clean sheet of the season as FC Tucson beat South Georgia Tormenta FC 1-0 Wednesday night at Erk Russell Park. 

The two sides traded possession through the first 15 minutes before the first real chance of the match fell to Tucson from a free kick near the top corner of the 18-yard box. Charlie Dennis served a teasing in-swinging cross from the dead ball, finding the head of Elivelton at the back post but the Brazilian’s nodded effort bounced short of Pablo Jara’s goal and over the crossbar. 

Tormenta FC’s Marco Micaletto and Jordan Skelton both had shots cleared off the line by Esteban Calvo and Niall Logue near the 25 minute mark. 

Eight minutes after the goal-line clearances, Godoy opened the scoring for the visitors, picking out the bottom corner of Jara’s goal from 20 yard out to score his second goal of the season. 

Dennis had a chance to double his side’s lead ten minutes later after skipping past a few Tormenta FC defenders and into the penalty area, but his shot sailed over the bar and the lead remained at one heading into the halftime break. 

Jara made a smart diving save five minutes into the second half to deny Roberto Alarcon from 18-yards out and keep the deficit at one goal. 

Jara's save gave Tormenta FC momentum and the hosts began to apply pressure to FC Tucson. Rhys Williams put a first-time shot on frame in the 55th minute, forcing Carlos Merancio into a full stretch save. 

Merancio was called into action again ten minutes later, twice denying Micaletto -- once on an effort from distance and again on a shot from inside the six-yard box. The duel between striker and goalkeeper continued with Merancio coming out on top again in the 79th minute, tipping Micaletto’s bicycle over the bar to preserve FCT’s clean sheet. 

Tormenta FC had one last chance for an equalizer in the 88th minute as Jad Arslan was played through on goal, but Meranco closed the space quickly and got a hand to the shot to earn all three points for FC Tucson. 

With the win FCT moves into fifth place in the League One standings and remains alive in the race to the Final, while the loss eliminates Tormenta FC from contention.

SCORING SUMMARY 

TUC (34'): Godoy (second), assisted by Liadi 

NEXT MATCHES

South Georgia Tormenta FC: October 17 v. Richmond Kickers (A)
FC Tucson: October 10 v. Greenville Triumph SC (H)