The Ventura County Fusion's third outing against English opposition went much better than the first two, but the local Premier Development League team still had to settle for a loss.
David Nugent's free kick to the upper-right corner in the 76th minute lifted Portsmouth FC to a 2-1 triumph Saturday afternoon in a friendly before about 500 at Oxnard College.
The Fusion, who won the PDL title last year and are in the race for a playoff berth this season, fell behind in the 18th minute when Marlon Pack headed home a cross knocked down by goalkeeper Bryan Hill cross but pulled even on a superb Hakop Avesyan shot 11 minutes into the second half.
The Fusion lost, 4-0, to Everton in a 2007 friendly and fell, 5-0, to Burnley last year.
Portsmouth, which was relegated from England's top-tier Premier League to the second-division Championship after last season, used a makeshift roster in the second game on its four-game North American tour. Pompey, as the club is known, have sold or are in the process of selling its biggest-name players after more than a year in financial crisis.
Ventura County, which was coming off a 5-0 victory Friday night over the Lancaster Rattlers, will clinch a playoff berth Sunday if it defeats Southwest Division leader Orange County Blue Star. The 5 p.m. game will be played at Concordia University in Irvine.
Scott French/For ESPNLosAngeles.com
John followed Portsmouth FC from England to California, where the second-tier English club played Club America on Wednesday in San Diego and Ventura County Fusion on Saturday in Oxnard. He's covered in tattoos, every one of them Portsmouth FC-related. "They're my life," he says.
John followed Portsmouth FC from England to California, where the second-tier English club played Club America on Wednesday in San Diego and Ventura County Fusion on Saturday in Oxnard. He's covered in tattoos, every one of them Portsmouth FC-related. "They're my life," he says.
David Nugent's free kick to the upper-right corner in the 76th minute lifted Portsmouth FC to a 2-1 triumph Saturday afternoon in a friendly before about 500 at Oxnard College.
The Fusion, who won the PDL title last year and are in the race for a playoff berth this season, fell behind in the 18th minute when Marlon Pack headed home a cross knocked down by goalkeeper Bryan Hill cross but pulled even on a superb Hakop Avesyan shot 11 minutes into the second half.
The Fusion lost, 4-0, to Everton in a 2007 friendly and fell, 5-0, to Burnley last year.
Portsmouth, which was relegated from England's top-tier Premier League to the second-division Championship after last season, used a makeshift roster in the second game on its four-game North American tour. Pompey, as the club is known, have sold or are in the process of selling its biggest-name players after more than a year in financial crisis.
Ventura County, which was coming off a 5-0 victory Friday night over the Lancaster Rattlers, will clinch a playoff berth Sunday if it defeats Southwest Division leader Orange County Blue Star. The 5 p.m. game will be played at Concordia University in Irvine.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Scott French
Orange County native Scott French has been writing about soccer for more than 30 years for dozens of publications and Web sites. He was senior editor at Soccer America and was managing editor of MajorLeagueSoccer Magazine from April 2007 until summer 2009. He has covered three World Cups for the Long Beach Press-Telegram and Los Angeles Daily News, two Women's World Cups for Soccer America, the Olympic Games, European Championship, nine MLS Cups and all five professional women's championships.
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