Rising Match Preview Presented by NAU
Phoenix Rising FC travels to Sacramento on Wednesday, September 28 (7 p.m. on Bally Sports Arizona Extra and ESPN+), to take on Republic FC for the third time this season.
Rising is 0-1-1 against Sacramento this year, drawing 0-0 at Wild Horse Pass on July 23 and falling, 2-0, in California in a U.S. Open Cup match on May 12.
This month, Republic FC has gone 2-2-0 with a pair of 4-0 wins against Loudoun United and Orange County coupled with a 1-0 loss last weekend in San Antonio and a 3-1 loss in Louisville on September 3.
Phoenix is coming off a 3-3 draw in Monterey Bay on September 21.
“We have a lot to improve on and we’ll keep working but I see things to build upon as well,” said Guerra following the team’s last match. “We created too many transitional moments against a team that feeds off a those. At times we were connecting with each other, we were creating, but we had too many unforced turnovers and set piece goals that we could have avoided.” Rising will need to be sharp against Sacramento to keep its playoff hopes alive. At home, Sacramento is stout, going 9-1-4 at Heart Health Park. The only loss was to Birmingham Legion FC on July 16.
“We have to focus on the things we did well,” said Guerra. “It starts with video analysis collectively and individually. Out of the last three games, we have two at home and the other is against a team we already beat. We’re still not throwing in the towel.”
