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Second-place FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ (6-2-1) faces the division-leading Ventura County Fusion on Thursday night. Following the match, there will be fireworks.

When asked about the coincidence of playing their chief rival on what is usually their most popular match night, FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ head coach Sebastian Pineda joked that the media should ask FCT owner Jon Pearlman about that.

“I think he planned the whole thing … it’s unbelievable for us, anyone that has been part of FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ knows what the July 3rd game means for everybody,â€� Pineda said. “It’s like a set date to come in, watch football, fireworks, family, all that stuff and then not only that, you get to play Ventura, the biggest rival and then for me, it’s a game that’s fighting for the conference.

“Whoever takes that one is going to go all the way.�

As of press time, Ventura County (6-1-1) leads the Southwest Division with 19 points and 2.38 points per match. FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is second with 19 points and 2.11 per match.

The top two teams in the division make the playoffs.

Capo FC and Redlands are close behind with 2.00. Redlands won the division in 2023 and beat FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 2-0 at home on June 21.

“If you’re not excited for that game, you don’t want to play, because that’s going to determine who wins a conference title,â€� said FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ defender D’Andre Pickett. “So it’s going to be big, fans, of course, they’re coming for the fireworks, hopefully we can put on a great game for them.â€�

Ventura County won the national championship in 2009 and 2022 and reached the Elite Eight in 2023. In 2023, the Fusion rested players in the final match, yielding the division to Redlands as FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ missed the playoffs on goal differential, after finishing the season with Ventura County.

FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was set to host the playoffs, but instead, Redlands and VC stayed in Southern California for the postseason.

Although Ventura County won the division last season, FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ beat them twice at home, including 1-0 in the Western Conference semifinals en route to the conference title and a final four berth.

FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ also features a number of players who go to California colleges.

“Yeah, we got a lot of guys playing in schools in California, they’re teammates’ rivalries, too,� said Pickett, who transferred to Cal after playing at Pima College. “So just knowing that we want to go beat them, of course, but not only that, just playing to the best of our ability.

“We know we haven’t been playing the best the past four away games, so we just want to go and show what FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is made of.â€�

FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is coming off a 3-0 win over City SC on Saturday in their first home match since June 6. FCT went 1-2-1 on their road trip, including a 2-1 loss to City in San Diego and a 16-0 rout of Coachella SC.

The Men in Black have handed the Roadrunners their two worst losses, as they also beat them 19-0 at home on May 30. As of press time, Coachella has a minus-116 goal differential, the worst in the 144-team league (FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s is plus-43, the best in the division by 25).

FCT plays Capo FC in their final road match of the regular season. They have three matches left in the season.

Midfielder makes debut

The win over City SC saw the home debut of midfielder Lucas Gonzalez. He joined the club on June 20.

“It’s very nice because we lost some players to injury, so bringing someone like that that I know can perform, it’s just great for the group, it’s great; great guy, great human,� Pineda said. “We got to see a little bit of his quality (Saturday), the way that he can perform so I’m happy to have him in there.�

Gonzalez, who drew the penalty kick that led to FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s first goal and then scored their third against City FC, previously played for Asheville City SC and Salem City FC in USL League Two and UC Santa Barbara and Gardner-Webb in college.

“It’s an incredible feeling, I really want to thank the coaching staff, the players for taking me in,� Gonzalez said. “I know it’s not easy to receive players midway through the season, but the group has been just absolutely insane to approach me to being able to open their arms for me to come in, and this has really been a family to me.

“So I’m extremely thankful for them and for the coaching staff for believing in me to get some minutes and hopefully we can do some special things.�

Fireworks round 2

FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ previously had fireworks after their Cinco de Mayo match, but that was before many of their players’ school years had ended.

“Next game is a big game against Ventura on the third of July, we’re going to have fireworks and all of things,â€� said FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ goalkeeper Matheus Rohrmens. “It (the Cinco de Mayo match) was special, I mean I think it was the biggest crowd I’ve ever played, it was a good game.

“We didn’t have everyone here yet, but it was a good game and they probably make the difference, they’re loud,� the Brazilian added. “Some other teams, they are not used to that, so when they come here with the fans, chanting and getting our back so we can perform better, it’s amazing.�

Regular-season finale

On Saturday, the FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Women host ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Arsenal in their regular season finale at 7 p.m. at Kino North Stadium.

The Women in Black (4-2-1) beat Arsenal (2-5) 2-0 in the season opener in Mesa. FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ sits in third place in the Desert Conference after winning three of their last four.

It is also fan appreciation night.