Arizona United SC

Arizona United
Full name Arizona United Soccer Club
Founded March 13, 2014
Stadium Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, Arizona
Capacity 12,000
Owner Kyle Eng
Head Coach Michael Dellorusso
League USL
2014 Regular Season: 9th
Playoffs: DNQ
Website Club home page

Arizona United Soccer Club is a Phoenix professional soccer team based in Peoria, Arizona. Founded in 2014, the team is a member of the United Soccer League, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The team's colors are Red, Gold & Navy Blue.

History

On March 13, 2014, Kyle Eng, owner of Arrowhead Advertising, launched the franchise and named it Arizona United SC. It took the place of Phoenix FC, which folded the previous day, in the USL Pro league.[1][2][3][4]

2014 Season

In just 178 days after the franchise was awarded by the USL Pro, Arizona United hired a front office staff and coach, put together a roster, secured a stadium, played 28 regular season games, reached the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup and was in contention for a playoff spot until the next-to-last week of the season. [5][6]

University of Maryland Assistant Coach Michael Dellorusso was named Head Coach on March 28, 2014.[7][8] United lost their first game to Oklahoma City Energy FC 4-0 on April 12, 2014.[9][10] They defeated Sacramento Republic FC 2-1 for their first win on April 19, 2014. Brandon Swartzendruber scored the teams first ever goal in the 37th minute. FC Dallas loanee Jonathan Top scored the game winner in the 85th minute.[11][12][13][14]

United won 4 of their last 5 games to move up from 13th place to 9th, but fell 4 points short of qualifying for the playoffs. Jonathan Top and ex-Orlando City standout Long Tan led the team in scoring with 5 goals each. Tan was also selected for the All-League Second Team. [15] Goalkeeper Evan Newton was second in the league in saves. United finished with a 10-13-5 record. [5]

2014 US Open Cup

In their first US Open Cup appearance, Arizona United lasted until the Fourth Round, the longest Open Cup run of any Arizona club in history. Entering the tournament in the Second Round, United defeated Portland Timbers U23s of the PDL 3-2 in Portland on May 13. They were losing 2-1 late in the game when London Woodberry tied the game in the 88th Minute and Daniel Antúnez scored the winning goal with seconds left in stoppage time. [16][17][18] In the Third Round, United defeated Oklahoma City Energy FC of USL Pro 2-1 in extra time May 28 at the Peoria Sports Complex. The game winner was scored by Bradlee Baladez in the 112th Minute and Evan Newton saved a last minute penalty kick awarded to the Energy. [19][20][21] Their Open Cup run ended with a 2-1 loss to the eventual MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy at home on June 18. Gyasi Zardes scored two goals in the second half two minutes apart after Matt Kassel gave United a 1-0 lead at halftime. [22][23][24]

2015 Season

On November 24, 2014, FC Dallas announced it would add the club as its USL Pro affiliate in the following week. [25] The team signed a one-year agreement to play their home games at Scottsdale Stadium on December 16, 2014. [26] United signed an one year affiliation agreement with FC Dallas for 2015 on February 9, 2015. [27][28]

Year-by-year

Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Avg. Attendance
2014 3 USL Pro 9th Did not qualify Fourth Round 2,395

Player Honors

Year Pos Player Country Honor
2014 F Long Tan China China All-League Second Team

Supporter groups

A supporters group called La Furia Roja 1881 / The Red Fury 1881 was organized by members of the local American Outlaws chapter. 1881 refers to the year the City of Phoenix was incorporated. La Furia Roja 1881 have their own section of Scottsdale Stadium for their use during Arizona United SC games. [29]

Players

Current roster

Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth. Squad correct as of May 1, 2015.[30]

No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Woszczynski, CarlCarl Woszczynski      United States
2 Defender Ruthven, TylerTyler Ruthven      United States
3 Defender Rosales, DamianDamian Rosales      United States
4 Defender Grousis, DevonDevon Grousis      United States
5 Defender Antúnez, DanielDaniel Antúnez      United States
6 Defender Granger, BrockBrock Granger      United States
7 Midfielder Derschang, RobbieRobbie Derschang      United States
8 Midfielder Malki, GeorgeGeorge Malki      United States
9 Forward Top, JonathanJonathan Top      United States
10 Midfielder Cuevas, JoseJose Cuevas      United States
11 Midfielder Garcia, DannyDanny Garcia (on loan from FC Dallas)     United States
12 Midfielder Dillon, JoeyJoey Dillon      United States
14 Midfielder Shinsky, AlexAlex Shinsky      United States
15 Forward Chin, DennisDennis Chin      United States
17 Forward Stisser, BradBrad Stisser      United States
18 Midfielder Vickers, CameronCameron Vickers      United States
19 Midfielder Johnson, SpencerSpencer Johnson      United States
21 Midfielder Blanco, MiltonMilton Blanco      United States
22 Defender Valentino, RobRob Valentino      United States
23 Defender Morrison, ScottScott Morrison      Scotland
24 Goalkeeper Turner, JacoleJacole Turner      United States
29 Forward Tan, LongLong Tan      China

Staff

Front Office

Coaching Staff

Stadia

References

  1. ↑ "Phoenix FC to rebrand, reveals new owners, club name and crest". Odeen Domingo. ODFCnews.com. March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Ownership Change, Rebrand in Phoenix". United Soccer Leagues (USL). March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  3. ↑ "USL PRO announces Arizona United SC". Garrett Cleverly. AZKicksIt. March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Arizona United SC ready for 'fresh start' in new season". Jeff Wendt. Arizona Republic. April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Arizona United owner pleased with club’s first year, excited for future; Season in review". Danny Shapiro. ODFCnews.com. September 10, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Arizona United SC looks ahead to the 2015 season". Jeff Wendt. Arizona Republic. September 20, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Arizona United SC announces head coach; owner explains hire". Odeen Domingo. ODFCnews.com. March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Arizona Hires Dellorusso As Head Coach". United Soccer Leagues (USL). March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Arizona United Soccer Club loses season opener to Oklahoma City". Mauricio Casillas. ODFCnews.com. April 12, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Energy Take Victory Against United". United Soccer Leagues (USL). April 12, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  11. ↑ "United Claims First Victory". United Soccer Leagues (USL). April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Arizona United scores late winner to top Sacramento Republic FC on historic night". Danny Shapiro. ODFCnews.com. April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ "AZ United SC breaks through with first victory in franchise history". Brad Cesmat. Sports360AZ.com. April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  14. ↑ "FC Dallas loans Jonathan Top to USL PRO side Arizona United". FC Dallas. April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Arizona United Soccer Club forward Long Tan named to 2014 USL PRO All-League Second Team". Arizona United Soccer Club. September 23, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Arizona United Soccer Club scores three goals in final ten minutes to defeat Portland Timbers U-23s in U.S. Open Cup Round 2". Arizona United SC. May 13, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  17. ↑ "2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Arizona United’s 3 late goals, game-winner on final kick stuns Portland Timbers U23s, 3-2 (video)". thecup.us. May 14, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Arizona Rallies Past Timbers U-23s". United Soccer Leagues (USL). May 13, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  19. ↑ "2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Arizona United wins battle of USL PRO expansion teams, 2-1 over Oklahoma City Energy". thecup.us. May 29, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Arizona United Soccer Club makes history with U.S. Open Cup win". Arizona United SC. May 28, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  21. ↑ "United Advances Past Energy". United Soccer Leagues (USL). May 28, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  22. ↑ "2014 US Open Cup Round 4: LA Galaxy flips second half switch, eliminates Arizona United 2-1 (video)". thecup.us. June 19, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Arizona United SC’s U.S. Open Cup run ends following loss to LA Galaxy". Arizona United SC. June 18, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Galaxy Comes Back vs. Arizona". United Soccer Leagues (USL). June 18, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  25. ↑ "FC Dallas is locking up Arizona United as their USL PRO affiliate". Big D Soccer. November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Arizona United Soccer Club Moving To Scottsdale Stadium". Arizona United SC. December 16, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Arizona United Soccer Club Affiliates With Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas". Arizona United SC. February 9, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  28. ↑ "FC Dallas announces USL PRO affiliation with Arizona United SC". FC Dallas. February 9, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  29. ↑ "La Furia Roja 1881 / The Red Fury 1881 | Facebook". facebook.com. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  30. ↑ Arizona United SC Press Releases

External Links