Artur Aghasyan weaved through the San Jose Frogs defense for the game-winning goal.

The Ventura County Fusion hope to do the same through the Southwest Division standings this weekend.

Aghasyan dribbled past a trio of defenders before placing the ball past goalkeeper Sergio Valle 10 minutes after halftime as the Ventura County Fusion beat the visiting Frogs 1-0 on Friday night at Newbury Park High.

It was one of several times Ventura County attackers treated opponents like traffic cones Friday night. What gave the Fusion fits was it was the only time a pretty move turned into paydirt.

"The game plan worked," said Fusion head coach Graham Smith. "We sliced them apart. The trouble is we can't put the ball in the net."

"We struggled to put them away," said midfielder Rodrigo Lopez.

The Fusion's fourth win of the season was its third by a 1-0 margin.

"You can't afford to do that because you only have to make one mistake," said Smith.

The Fusion (4-3-1) will need more going forward tonight when it travels to the San Joaquin Valley to face the first-place Fresno Fuego (7-2-2), which is coming off a 6-2 pounding of second-place Los Angeles before 3,300 fans at home Thursday.

"Hopefully tomorrow goes well," said winger Gabe Farfan.

Fresno lost in Ventura, 3-0, on May 30 and hasn't lost since, scoring 15 goals in four wins and a tie.

The Fusion is the only team to keep Fresno off the scoreboard this season in 11 matches. A six-point weekend would move the Fusion up from seventh place in the Southwest Division to third, within arm's reach of playoff position.

Smith took off winger Brian Byrne at halftime and Aghasyan and midfielder Rodrigo Lopez early in the second half to save some legs for the visit to the defending division champion.

"We needed to do that with the (hot) weather being like it is," said Smith.

The Frogs looked cooked from their trip south during the first half, as the Fusion dominated for long stretches in the opening 45 minutes.

Farfan swiveled free in traffic to force a nice save from San Jose goalkeeper Sergio Valle, as did Farfan's counterpart, Byrne.

The best chance of the half was created by fullback Greg Folk's cross. It found Aghasyan's head inside the 6-yard box but somehow Valle made a point-blank save.

It was beginning to look like yet another frustrating night for a Fusion team that has struggled to turn advantages in possession and chances into goals.

Until Aghasyan, who had promised to score if his former club coach Brad Crosby attended the match, delivered on two counts after intercepting a Valle clearance.

"He kept his promise," said Crosby.

After 70 minutes on the back foot, the Frogs made four changes and finally threatened the Fusion goal. Midfielder Hugo Sousa broke into the penalty area and pulled a chance wide. Fusion goalkeeper Logan Frank thwarted a similar chance five minutes later.

"We've been struggling to score," said Lopez. "But a victory is always good. They all count for three points."