SACRAMENTO, California (Wednesday, July 26) – Phoenix Rising FC (6-6-8) fell, 4-0, on the road in Sacramento tonight.
Rising faces Monterey Bay away this Saturday, July 29 (7 p.m. on KPHE/ESPN+). Rising returns to 38th St/Washington on Saturday, August 5 to face San Antonio FC on 90’s Night. Tickets for that match are available here or by calling 623-594-9606.
Tonight, Fede Varela nearly gave Rising a lead in the 10th minute of the match when Mo Traore connected with Phoenix’s No. 10 at the top of the box. Varela spun and fired a rising shot that clipped the top of the bar on its way past Sacramento goalkeeper Carlos Saldaña.
The Republic and Rising traded chances at opposite ends in the 18th and 19th minutes before Sacramento took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute. Jack Gurr initiated the play from the right flank, feinting right then serving in a dangerous ball with his left foot to the back post. Keko was there to win the header for the Republic, accelerating past his marker and heading a shot that eluded goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky to give the home side an early lead.
Sacramento took a 2-0 lead in the 28th minute when Keko found space on the right side of the box and beat his defender to a 50-50 ball, sending a centering pass to a trio of Republic attackers in the six-yard box. Russell Cicerone capitalized for the Republic, knocking a short pass by the goalkeeper from close range.
The home side made it 3-0 in the 38th minute when Zeiko Lewis found space at the top of the box and fired a shot that deflected off a Rising defender. The shot crossed up Rakovsky, sending the goalkeeper the wrong direction as the ball snuck inside the near post.
Gurr connected with Keko on the right side one more time before the end of the half. This time, in reverse order, Keko set up Gurr. The return feed had the Englishman in-alone against Rakovsky. Gurr knocked a short pass by the goalkeeper from close range to make it 4-0 just before halftime.
Phoenix was able to stop the bleeding in the second half, holding the Republic scoreless in the second 45 minutes. Manuel Arteaga produced the best chance of the half for either side in the 83rd minute, receiving a ball at the top of the box and turning his defender, but the chance sailed just over the crossbar. The match finished 4-0 in favor of Sacramento a few moments after.
Scoring:
SR – Keko (Jack Gurr) 20
SR – Russell Cicerone 28
SR – Zeiko Lewis (Ferrety Sousa) 38
SR – Jack Gurr (Keko) 43
Discipline:
SR – Russell Cicerone (caution) 57
PHX – Daniel Krutzen (caution) 58
SR – Luther Archimède (caution) 78
PHX – Alejandro Fuenmayor (caution) 90+3
Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Patrick Rakovsky, Daniel Krutzen, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Mo Traore (Jose Andres Hernandez 46), Eddie Munjoma (Darnell King 84), Carlos Harvey, Kevon Lambert, Danny Trejo (Emil Cuello 62), Panos Armenakas (Erickson Gallardo 62), Fede Varela (Uzo 46), Manuel Arteaga.
Substitutes Not Used: Rocco Rios Novo, Gabi Torres.
Sacramento Republic – Carlos Saldaña, Lee Desmond, Jare Timmer, Shane Wiedt, Jack Gurr (Luther Archimède 65), Ferrety Sousa (Conor Donovan 46), Matt LaGrassa (Johnny Fenwick 66), Arnold López, Zeiko Lewis (Ezekiel Padilla 65), Keko, Russell Cicerone.
Substitutes not Used: Daniel Vitiello, Rafael Jauregui, Mario Penagos.
