Match Recap

Rémi Cabral notches his second goal of the season, two more Academy products debut

Phoenix Rising came back from an early deficit but couldn’t overcome going down to nine men midway through the second half in a 3-1 loss to Monterey Bay FC on Saturday night at Cardinale Stadium. Rémi Cabral scored his second goal of the season, while Ihsan Sacko contributed his third goal contribution in as many matches, but it wasn’t enough for Rising to steal any points on the road against one of the hottest teams in the USL Championship through the season’s first month.

“I think there was nothing in the game until the red card,” Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah said following the match. “You concede from the red card, again you concede from a set play, which at this moment is hurting our team. We have to get better, and we will continue to get better, but the work the boys have been putting in, we’re very happy with them.”

LES DEUX FRANÇAIS
Through four matches, Rising’s two French forwards have played a role in five of the club’s seven goals. Sacko (1G, 2A) now matches midfielder Hope Avayevu (1G, 2A) for the team lead in goal contributions, while Cabral paces the squad in goals with two. Notably, Sacko has goal contributions in three consecutive matches.

“They are forming a great understanding amongst themselves, and they do great,” Kah said. “For us, it’s about keeping them together so they can create more of a partnership, more of a relationship and understanding.”

The pair combined for Rising’s game-tying goal in the 17^th minute, playing a sequence of give-and-goes down the right sideline that ended in Cabral sweeping the ball into the near corner with his right foot. Sharing the field in each of the club’s four games to begin the regular season, Cabral and Sacko continue to develop an on-field chemistry that has resulted in the beginning of a formidable duo.

MORE DEBUTS
Two more Phoenix Rising Academy players made their professional debuts in Seaside, California, on Saturday night. With four minutes of regulation to play, forward Cyrus Kowall and midfielder Pierce Rizzo checked in to finish the match. The Academy duo are two of four Rising Academy players to debut this season, with midfielder Jamison Ping and defender Braxton Montgomery making their first professional appearances earlier this season.

“We were 3-1 down with a few minutes to go,” Kah said. “There’s not a better way to introduce those kids and I think they did well. Jamison (Ping) was brilliant as well when he came in. He got stuck in.”

Added Kah: “You have a guy like Braxton (Montgomery) who comes in and he was immense in the back line today. He didn’t put a foot wrong, so I was happy with his performance.”

Notably, Assistant Coach Darnell King made his second professional debut, coming in off the bench to bolster the defense after Rising went down to nine men. King was one of five Rising players to enter the match as a substitute.

Goal-Scoring Plays
MB – Carlos Guzmán (Ilijah Paul), 3rd minute: On a set piece taken from outside the box, Anton Søjberg rolled the ball into the path of Ilijah Paul, who sent a low cross into box that Carlos Gúzman poked into the back of the net with his right foot.

PHX – Rémi Cabral (Ihsan Sacko), 17th minute: After winning the ball at midfield, Ihsan Sacko picked the ball up at midfield and played a give-and-go with Rémi Cabral, who used his right foot to finish at the near post.

MB – Adrian Rebollar, 64th minute: On a free kick taken from outside the left side of the box, Sacko cleared the initial ball in, but only into the path of Adrian Rebollar who unleashed a left-footed strike from the top of the box that found the back of the net.

MB – Anton Søjberg (Miles Lyons), 73rd minute: After receiving the ball just outside the box, Miles Lyons sent in a right-footed cross to the head of Anton Søjberg who redirected the ball into the back of the net.

Notes

– Tonight marked defender Braxton Montgomery’s first-career start.
– Additionally, the 18-year-old has now appeared in three matches for Rising.
– Forward Jearl Margaritha picked up his first start of the season in the match.
– Rémi Cabral’s tidy finish in the 17^th minute marked his second goal of the season.
– Additionally, Ihsan Sacko (1G, 2A) notched his third goal contribution of the season on Cabral’s opener.
– Notably, Sacko has a goal contribution in three consecutive matches.
– Tonight marked Darnell King’s first appearance for Rising since the 2023 USL Championship Final on November 12, 2023.
– Rising Academy products Cyrus Kowall and Pierce Rizzo made their professional debuts in the match.
– Notably, the duo makes up two of four Academy products to make their professional debuts so far this season.
– Triston Henry made his Rising debut in goal.
– Notably, his five saves mark a season-high for a Rising goalkeeper so far this season.

Next Game
Rising next plays in front of a national audience, traveling to San Antonio, Texas, for a match against Western Conference leaders San Antonio FC on Sunday, April 6, at Toyota Field. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. (PT) on CBS, with radio coverage available on Sirius XM and Rising Radio (team socials).

Phoenix Rising (0-2-2, 2pts) vs Monterey Bay FC (3-1-0, 9pts)
March 29, 2025 – Cardinale Stadium (Seaside, Calif.)

Goals by Half                            1          2          FT 
Phoenix Rising                          1          0          1
Monterey Bay FC                      1          2          3  

Scoring Summary:
MB: Guzmán (Paul), 3
PHX: Cabral (Sacko), 17
MB: Rebollar, 64
MB: Søjberg (Lyons), 73

Misconduct Summary:
PHX: Okello (caution), 2
MB: Lyons (caution), 15
PHX: Margaritha (caution), 21
PHX: Mar Boye (caution), 26
MB: Gnaulati (caution), 40
PHX: Neville (caution), 43
MB: Søjberg (caution), 55
PHX: Mar Boye (ejection), 62
PHX: Sainté (ejection), 68
PHX: Ping (caution), 89

Lineups:
PHX: GK Henry, D Neville, D Montgomery, D Mar Boye ©, D Smith, M Avayevu (Rizzo, 86), M Sainté, M Okello (Ping, 77), F Margaritha (Formella, 77), F Cabral (King, 69), F Sacko (Kowall, 86)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Rakovsky, M Da Silva, F Rivera

TOTAL SHOTS: 5 (Okello, Cabral, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Cabral, 2); FOULS: 20 (three players, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 5

MB: GK Campuzano, D Robinson, D Guzmán, D Gordon ©, D Lyons (Garcia, 76), M Malango (Ivanovic, 59), M Fonguck (Gallaway, 84), M Gnaulati (Bryant, 59), M Rebollar, F Søjberg (Fehr, 85), F Paul

Substitutes Not Used: GK Gomez, D Lara

TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Søjberg, 5) SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Søjberg, 3); FOULS: 16 (Søjberg, 4) OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2

Referee: Brandon Stevis
Assistant Referees: Eric Krueger, Alexander Arita
Fourth Official: Andrew Hanks
Attendance: 3,210

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.

Damian Rivera, Hope Avayevu net goals as Rising picks up its first home result of 2025  

Phoenix Rising came back from a goal behind twice to win its first point at home of the 2025 season, drawing Rhode Island FC 2-2 on Saturday night at Phoenix Rising Stadium. Damian Rivera scored his first goal with the club, while Hope Avayevu netted his third goal contribution of the season as both sides ended level.

“Honestly, we wanted a win, but we will take a point,” Avayevu said. “It feels good to score at home in front of the fans here.”

YOUNG FACES
Five Phoenix Rising Academy products made Kah’s matchday squad for Rising’s third game of the 2025 campaign. Jamison Ping, Braxton Montgomery, Zach Da Silva, Cyrus Kowall and Pierce Rizzo all suited up, with Ping receiving the starting nod on his 17^th birthday.

Notably, Ping became the second-youngest player to start for Rising. One week after making his professional debut, checking in in the 90+6 minute against El Paso Locomotive FC, the midfielder put in a 45-minute shift against Rhode Island FC.

“(Ping) deserved it,” Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah said. “He has worked his tail off in the preseason and worked himself into being the starter with JP (Scearce) and Carl (Sainté) out, so he fully deserved it.”

Montgomery also made his second Rising appearance, subbing into the match in the 90+1 minute.

“For us to be able to be the football club we want to be, we also have to look within ourselves and give the opportunities,” Kah said. “I know there’s a lot of great young footballers running around in Phoenix, in our academies, so for us it’s about utilizing that.”

A HOT START
Midfielder Hope Avayevu continued his hot start to the season, notching his third goal contribution of 2025 with the game-tying goal in the 55^th minute. Selected to the USL Championship Team of the Week 2 following his two-assist night in a 4-4 draw against El Paso Locomotive FC on March 15, the midfielder proved impactful in the box score yet again in Week 3. Three games into his first season in Phoenix, Avayevu is already proving a perfect fit for Kah’s midfield.

“I want to help the team win,” Avayevu said. “That’s the main purpose that I’m here. If I’m not able to score, I’ll be able to assist somebody to score a goal. Whatever I’m good at, that’s what I need to put in the team to be able to help the team win, so that is what I’m doing.”

SECOND-HALF WARRIORS
For a second-consecutive match, Rising came from behind to take a point in the second half. On Saturday, it was Avayevu whose goal in the 55^th minute allowed Rising to take a point from the reigning 2024 USL Championship Eastern Conference winners.

“We don’t like to lose,” Ihsan Sacko said. “Personally, I’m a competitor, and I think the team is too. It’s a good sign for the future because we know our goal and we can continue in this way.”

Through three games, Rising has scored four goals in the second half, while allowing just two.

“The biggest thing I can tell about this group is that again we saw the character,” Kah said.  We’ve see the character and the drive. I would rather see us go in front than be behind, but everything will take time. That’s one thing I’m very proud of.”

Goal-Scoring Plays
RI – JJ Williams (Albert Dikwa), 6th minute: Picking up the ball in the left half-space, Albert Dikwa lofted a cross to JJ Williams at the back post, who headed the ball down and into the bottom-right corner of the net.

PHX – Damian Rivera (Ihsan Sacko), 40th minute: After receiving the ball on the right, Ihsan Sacko cut in centrally and picked out Damian Rivera, who juggled the ball on a half-turn before using his left foot to fire the ball into the right side of the net.

RI – Pape Mar Boye (OG), 43rd minute: On a free kick taken from far outside the box, Pape Mar Boye inadvertently headed the ball into the ground which bounced into the net.

PHX – Hope Avayevu, 55th minute: After a crafty run down the right channel, Jearl Margaritha sent a low cross into the box, which Koke Vegas palmed into the path of Hope Avayevu, who used his left foot to hammer the ball into the roof of the net.

Notes

• A week after being the second-youngest Rising player to make his professional debut, Jamison Ping received his first start with the club.
• Ping was one of five Phoenix Rising Academy products to be named to the matchday roster (Rizzo, Da Silva, Kowall, Montgomery).
• Damian Rivera’s goal in the 40^th minute marked his first with Rising.
• Notably, the goal was Rising’s first at home this season.
• With the assist, Ihsan Sacko made his second goal contribution of the season (and second in as many weeks).
• Hope Avayevu notched his first goal of the 2025 campaign in the 55^th minute.
• Notably, the goal marked Avayevu’s team-leading third goal contribution of the season (1G, 2A).
• Rising has now scored four goals in the second half so far this season.
• Additionally, Rising has come back to take a point in consecutive matches.

NEXT GAME
Rising next kicks off a two-match road trip, traveling to Northern California for a match against Monterey Bay FC on Saturday, March 29, at Cardinale Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. (PT) on AZFS and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

Phoenix Rising (0-1-2, 2pts) vs Rhode Island FC (0-1-1, 1pt)
March 22, 2025 – Phoenix Rising Stadium (Phoenix, Ariz.)

Goals by Half                            1          2          FT 
Phoenix Rising                         1          1          2
Rhode Island FC                  2          0          2  

Scoring Summary:
RI: Williams (Dikwa), 6
PHX: Rivera (Sacko), 40
RI: Mar Boye (OG), 43
PHX: Avayevu, 55

Misconduct Summary:
RI: Fuson (caution), 19
PHX: Cuello (caution), 28
PHX: Smith (caution), 46
RI: Sanchez (caution), 48
PHX: Mar Boye (caution), 76

Lineups:
PHX: GK Rakovsky, D Cuello (Neville, 34), D Traore, D Boye ©, D Smith, M Ping (Margaritha, 45), M Okello, M Avayevu (Montgomery, 90+1), F Rivera (Doratiotto, 90+1), F Sacko, F Cabral (Formella, 73)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Henry, M Rizzo, F Da Silva, F Kowall

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Rivera, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Rivera, 3); FOULS: 12 (Mar Boye, Sacko, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 4

RI: GK Vegas ©, D Nodarse, D Yao, D Stoneman, D Holstad (Brito,81), M Sanchez, M Dikwa, M Okiyoshi (Ybarra, 59), F Rodríguez (Shapiro-Thompson, 81), F Fuson (Herivaux, 71), F Williams

Substitutes Not Used: GK Meyer, D Dewhurst, M Vang

TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Williams, 6) SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Williams, Dikwa, 2); FOULS: 8 (Yao, Williams, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 2

Referee: Alyssa Nichols
Assistant Referees: Fernando Fierro, Karsten Gillwald
Fourth Official: Mark Verso
Attendance: 5,549

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.

Five Rising players made their first goal contributions with the club in Saturday’s eight-goal affair

Phoenix Rising rallied from a three-goal deficit to take its first point of the 2025 regular season, earning a 4-4 draw against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday night at Southwest University Park. Defender Mohamed Traore netted the game-tying goal from midfield, while five Rising players made their first goal contributions with the club in the second-half comeback.

“It’s not easy going down 2-0, 2-1, then 3-1 right off the bat,” Rising Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah said. “I think character is what these boys have shown. For me, I’m very happy because you could have easily given up, but they didn’t. I’m very happy and pleased with what we showed. We’re moving in the right direction.”

A CHAOTIC COMEBACK
Rising trailed 4-1 when El Paso Locomotive FC forward Amando Moreno’s bicycle-kick attempt found the back of the net in the 53rd minute. Instead of buckling after conceding twice in the eight minutes after halftime, Kah’s squad found a second wind.

Rémi Cabral sparked the comeback, scoring a poacher’s goal after taking a touch to control a hard-hit entry ball from Collin Smith. From there, Rising found opportunities in transition, with Hope Avayevu constantly carrying the ball into dangerous areas. In the 80^th minute, a forward run ended in a straight-forward attempt from Ihsan Sacko, who powered the ball into the back of the net. Traore then capped off the comeback with a wonder-strike that chipped El Paso’s keeper from midfield.

“In the second half we showed character,” Traore said. “We showed our identity and we’ll just keep building on it.”

FIRST CONTRIBUTIONS
Traore was one of five players to open his Rising contribution account Saturday night. Okello’s headed goal just before halftime was his first with the club, and first in the USL Championship. Sacko also scored his first goal after arriving last offseason. Avayevu (2) and Smith’s (1) first goal contributions came in the form of assists.

“I’m happy to score my first goal with the club,” Traore said. “Hopefully we keep going like this.”

GOAL-SCORING PLAYS

ELP – Roberto Avila, 6th minute: Off a corner kick taken from the left, an El Paso player at the back post got a foot to the ball and sent a deflected pass into the path of Roberto Avila, who used his right foot to volley the ball into the upper-left corner of goal.

ELP – Amando Moreno, 34th minute: In transition, Memo Díaz slipped a ball into the path of Amando Moreno and, after faling down in the box, returned to his feet before using his right foot to slot the ball into the lower-left corner of the net.

PHX – Noble Okello (Hope Avayevu), 45+3 minute: Hope Avayevu’s in-swinging corner taken from the left found the head of a towering Noble Okello, who powered the ball into the back of the net.

ELP – Gabi Torres (Roberto Avila), 47th minute: On the break, Roberto Avila dribbled into the box before sliding a low cross into the path of Gabi Torres at the back post, who used his right foot to send the ball into the back of the net.

ELP – Amando Moreno, 53rd minute: A corner kick served in from the left took a deflection and dropped to Moreno, who connected with the ball on a bicycle kick attempt to send it into the lower-left corner.

PHX – Rémi Cabral (Collin Smith), 69th minute: A driven pass played into the box by Collin Smith found the feet of Rémi Cabral, who used his left foot to cushion the ball before slotting the ball home with his right.

PHX – Ihsan Sacko (Hope Avayevu), 80th minute: After winning the ball at midfield, Avayevu drove down the left half-space before sliding the ball into the path of Ihsan Sacko who used his right foot to fire the ball into the back of the net.

PHX – Mohamed Traore, 86th minute: Running onto the ball at midfield, Mohamed Traore used his right foot to send a powerfully-driven shot that chipped goalkeeper Jahmali Waite on its way to the top of the net.

NOTES

• Tonight marked Rising’s first road match of the 2025 USL Championship season.
• Five Rising players (Noble Okello, Hope Avayevu, Collin Smith, Ihsan Sacko, Mohamed Traore) made their first goal contributions with the club Saturday.
• The eight-goal affair is the highest-scoring match in USL Championship play so far this regular season.
• Noble Okello’s goal in the 45+3 marked his first with the club.
• Notably, the goal was Rising’s first of the 2025 regular season.
• With his assist on Okello’s opener, Hope Avayevu made his first goal contribution as a Rising player.
• Rémi Cabral opened his 2025 scoring account with his second-half goal.
• The goal marked Cabral’s eighth in USL Championship play.
• Additionally, the assist was Collin Smith’s first goal contribution with Phoenix Rising.
• Ihsan Sacko (80^th min) and Mohamed Traore (86^th minute) each scored their first goals with the club.
• Traore’s goal was his first goal in USL Championship play since August 2021 (vs. PHX).
• Entering the match in the 90+6 minute, Jamison Ping became the second-youngest player in club history to make his regular-season debut.

NEXT MATCH

Rising returns home to face 2024 USL Championship runner-up Rhode Island FC on Saturday, March 22, at Phoenix Rising Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. (PT) on AZFS and ESPN+. Local radio broadcasts can be found on KDUS 1060 AM (English) and La Onda 1190 AM (Spanish).

Phoenix Rising (0-1-1, 1pt) at El Paso Locomotive FC (0-0-2, 2pts)
March 15, 2025 – Southwest University Park (El Paso, Tex.)

Goals by Half                             1          2          FT 
Phoenix Rising                            1          3          4
El Paso Locomotive FC               2          2          4  

Scoring Summary:
ELP: Avila, 6
ELP: Moreno, 34
PHX: Okello (Avayevu), 45+3
ELP: Torres (Avila), 47
ELP: Moreno (Moshobane), 53
PHX: Cabral (Smith), 69
PHX: Sacko (Avayevu), 80
PHX: Traore, 86

Misconduct Summary:
ELP: Díaz (caution), 58
ELP: Alfaro (caution), 64
ELP: Twumasi (caution), 80
ELP: Ortíz (caution), 80
ELP: Daroma (caution), 90+2
ELP: Daroma (ejected), 90+3
ELP: Alfaro (ejected), 90+5

Lineups:
PHX: GK Rakovsky, D Neville (Cuello, 67), D Traore, D Mar Boye (C), D Smith, M Avayevu (Ping, 90+6), M Sainté (Scearce, 67), M Okello, F Rivera, F Cabral, F Formella (Sacko, 45)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Henry, D Montgomery, D Araneda, M Doratiotto

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (two players, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (seven players, 1); FOULS: 17 (Smith, 4); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 0

ELP: GK Waite, D Alfaro, D Ackwei, D Ortíz (C), D Torres (Ruíz, 67), M Díaz (Quezada, 67), M Moreno, M Daroma, F Coronado (Twumasi, 75), F Moshobane (Cabrera Jr., 67), F Avila (Carter, 82)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Mora-Mora, D Romero, D Vazquez, F Valdivia

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (two players, 3) SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Moreno, 2); FOULS: 12 (four players, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 2

Referee: Calin Radosav
Assistant Referees: Matthew Schwartz, Seun Yinka-Kehinde
Fourth Official: Muhammad Kaleia
Attendance: 4,386

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.

Pa-Modou Kah makes his debut as Rising Head Coach, Braxton Montgomery receives his first professional minutes

Phoenix Rising fell just short in its home opener, conceding midway through the first half in a 1-0 loss to FC Tulsa on Saturday afternoon. Pa-Modou Kah manned the touchline for the first time at Phoenix Rising Stadium, while academy product Braxton Montgomery made his professional debut. 

“Obviously, you give away a goal, but for me it’s the performance that matters to me the most,” Kah said. “We’re not in control of the results but we are in control of the performance, and I think the boys gave their effort and I will never fault them for that. They were brilliant.”

A NIGHT OF DEBUTS

Seven Rising players (Noble Okello, Ihsan Sacko, Carl Sainté, Damián Rivera, Hope Avayevu, Braxton Montgomery, Collin Smith) played their first minutes with the team, while Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah took charge from the sidelines for the first time.  

Notably, Braxton Montgomery –– a product of the Phoenix Rising Academy –– made his professional debut, checking in for the game’s final 15 minutes. The 17-year-old defender is one of five academy players to recently sign a USL Academy contract, which allows players to retain college eligibility while playing professional soccer. 

“To have one of our academy players make his debut at home is massive for (Montgomery),” Kah said. “We’re happy to play him. We needed players in the position, know he can do the job and he did his job fantastically.” 

GOAL-SCORING PLAYS

TUL – Alexander Dalou, 25th minute: Capitalizing on a Tulsa shot that fell to the middle of the box, Dalou ran onto the rebound and used his right foot to curl a shot into the upper-right corner of the net.  

NOTES

• Tonight’s match was Phoenix Rising’s first of the 2025 USL Championship season. 

• Notably, it was the first under new Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah. 

• Defender Braxton Montgomery made his professional debut tonight, entering the match in the 75^th minute. 

• Goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky finished with a game-high four saves. 

NEXT MATCH

Rising next embarks on its first road match of the 2025 season, traveling to El Paso, Texas, to face El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday, March 15 at Southwest University Park. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. (Mountain) on AZFS and ESPN+.  Local radio broadcasts can be found on KDUS 1060 AM (English) and La Onda 1190 AM (Spanish). 
 
Phoenix Rising (0-1-0, 0pts) vs. FC Tulsa (1-0-0, 3pts) 
March 8, 2025 – Phoenix Rising Stadium (Phoenix, AZ.) 
 
Goals by Half                0          0          0  
Phoenix Rising           0         0          0 
FC Tulsa                         1          0          1 
 
Scoring Summary: 
TUL: Dalou, 25 
 
Misconduct Summary: 
TUL: Dalou (caution), 24 
PHX: Formella (caution), 35 
TUL: Cissoko (caution), 66 
 
Lineups: 
PHX: GK Rakovsky, D Flood (Montgomery, 75), D Traore, D Mar Boye (C), D Smith, Avayevu (Dennis, 80), M Okello, M Sainte, F Rivera (Johnson, 71), F Cabral (Sacko, 71), F Formella 
 
Substitutes Not Used: GK Henry, D Neville, D Araneda, M Scearce, M Ping 
 
TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (seven players tied, 1); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (three players, 1); FOULS: 15 (Okello, Rivera, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 4 
 
TUL: GK Peñaranda, D Batista, D Cissoko (C) (Pierre, 68), D Rogers, M Damm (Seagrist, 89), M Diallo, M Colli, M St. Clair, F Dalou (Laszo, 61), F Calheira (ElMedkhar, 68), F Stojanovic (Bettache, 89) 
 
Substitutes Not Used: GK Dowd, M Lukic 
 
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (two players, 2) SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Dalou, 2); FOULS: 17 (Diallo, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2 
 
Referee: Elton Garcia 
Assistant Referees: Darren Bandy, Bennett Savage 
Fourth Official: Abdu Razzaq Juma 
Attendance:  6,478 
 
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial. 

Late push for equalizer falls short as Rising bows out in first-round playoff thriller.

Phoenix Rising’s season came to a heart-wrenching close in the first round of the playoffs, as a late surge for an equalizer fell just short against New Mexico United, sealing a narrow 2-1 defeat on the road in dramatic fashion.

Phoenix Rising started the match assertively, recording four shots in the first 30 minutes before New Mexico United registered its first attempt. Federico Varela and Emil Cuello were both on target for Rising, challenging New Mexico goalkeeper Alexander Tambakis with crucial saves.

However, the first half was defined by defense. Rising limited New Mexico to just one shot, none on target. New Mexico’s key forward, Greg Hurst, finished the half with only eight touches. Possession was evenly split, as both teams played cautiously, focusing on preventing each other from advancing rather than aggressively seeking the opening goal.

The second half began with renewed intensity, as New Mexico’s Mukwelle Akale cut to his left just two minutes in and pulled a shot across the goal, forcing Rocco Rios Novo into his first save of the night.

Rising quickly countered, with Jearl Margaritha finding space on his right foot and attempting a dipping shot to the far corner. The ball deflected favorably for Phoenix Rising, landing at the feet of Federico Varela, who tapped it in for the opening goal and his fourth of the 2024.

New Mexico then pressed hard for an equalizer. After ten minutes of sustained pressure, they finally broke through as Will Seymore found himself in the right spot after a flurry of shots. He struck the ball, which ricocheted off all three posts before finally crossing the line.

The game continued back and forth, with Rising seizing the initiative, recording four unanswered shots after conceding the equalizer. However, they were ultimately caught on the counterattack, as Mukwelle Akale found space on the right to connect with substitute Avionne Flanagan’s cross for the go-ahead goal.

Rising continued pressing for an equalizer as time ran out. New Mexico held a deep defensive line, but Darius Johnson nearly leveled the score in the final moments when Charlie Dennis delivered a cross near the penalty spot, allowing Johnson to steer it toward the net. It was the last effort from either side, as Phoenix’s season concluded on the road in the first round of the playoffs.

Scoring:
PHX – 49′ Federico Varela
NM – 58′ Will Seymore
NM – 85′ Mukwelle Akale (Avionne Flanagan)

Discipline:
PHX – 61′ Alejandro Fuenmayor (Caution_
PHX – 63′ Laurence Wyke (Caution)
NM – 76′ Anthony Herbert (Caution)

Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Ríos Novo, Emil Cuello (90′ JP Scearce), Alejandro Fuenmayor, Pape Mar Boye, Laurence Wyke (89′ Juan Carlos Azocar), Renzo Zambrano, Jearl Margaritha, Federico Varela (84′ Dariusz Formella), Charlie Dennis, Edgardo Rito (68′ Darius Johnson), Tomás Ángel (90′ Remi Cabral)

Substitutes Not Used – Jose Hernandez, Patrick Rakovsky

New Mexico United – Alexander Tambakis, Christopher Gloster, Talen Maples, Anthony Herbert, Will Seymore, Zico Bailey (90+2′ Nicky Hernandez), Nanan Houssou, Mukwelle Akale (90+2′ Kalen Ryden), Marco Micaletto (82′ Sergio Rivas), Marlon Vargas (73′ Avionne Flanagan), Greg Hurst

Substitutes Not Used – Kristopher Shakes, Jacobo Reyes, Daniel Bruce

Phoenix heads into first-round clash on the road after season finale defeat to Louisville City FC

Phoenix Rising fell 4-1 to Louisville City FC in its final regular-season match. After a hard-fought season, Rising now heads into the USL Championship playoffs to face the Western Conference’s top seed, New Mexico United. The matchup kicks off on November 3 at 6:00 p.m., marking the start of Rising’s championship title defense.

Louisville started strong, with the first of its 12 first-half shots arriving in just the 4th minute. Wilson Harris, Louisville’s top scorer with 17 goals this season, received the ball deep in Phoenix Rising’s penalty area. Turning quickly, he aimed a left-footed shot that narrowly missed the far post.

However, it was Rising that opened the scoring. After defending a corner, Edgardo Rito surged forward, finding space behind Louisville’s back line. Staying composed, Rito sent a pass past goalkeeper Damian Las to Jearl Margaritha at the back post, who tapped in his second goal of the season since joining the club in mid-August.

Louisville, a team that has thrived at home all season, has proven resilient even when trailing; they’ve lost only once and won four times after conceding the first goal. Relentless in attack after going behind, they ultimately capitalized on their chances. Harris secured a first-half brace, first by controlling a Kyle Adams cross and firing into the top of the net, then just minutes later, heading in an Adrien Perez cross.

Rising maintained strong possession throughout the match, controlling 66 percent of play, but Louisville was ultimately too dominant on the day. Despite a slow start to the second half, Louisville added two more goals before the final whistle. Ray Serrano scored the first, finding space between Rising’s center backs and chipping the ball over goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo from just inside the 18-yard box. Phillip Goodrum added another in stoppage time, heading in a corner kick to close the match.

With a loss in its final regular-season match, the path forward is now clearer for Rising. The club will travel one state over to face the top-seeded team in the Western Conference, New Mexico United, in the first round of the USL Championship playoffs. The match is set for November 3, with kickoff at 6:00 p.m.

Scoring:
PHX – 8′ Jearl Margaritha (Edgardo Rito)
LOU – 24′ Wilson Harris (Kyle Adams)
LOU – 28′ Wilson Harris (Adrien Perez)
LOU – 66′ Ray Serrano (Kyle Adams)
LOU – 90+2′ Phillip Goodrum (Jake Morris)

Discipline:
PHX – 81′ Alejandro Fuenmayor (Caution)

Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Ríos Novo, Emil Cuello, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Mohamed Traore, Laurence Wyke (79′ JP Scearce), Renzo Zambrano, Edgardo Rito (67′ Damien Barker John), Federico Varela (66′ Dariusz Formella), Charlie Dennis (79′ Jose Hernandez), Jearl Margaritha, Tomás Ángel (46′ Remi Cabral)

Substitutes Not Used – Patrick Rakovsky, Darius Johnson

Louisville City FC – Damian Las, Kyle Adams, Sean Totsch, Wes Charpie, Jake Morris, Elijah Wynder, Taylor Davila (87′ Niall McCabe), Aiden McFadden (76′ Manny Perez), Ray Serrano (87′ Sam Gleadle), Wilson Harris (76′ Phillip Goodrum), Adrien Perez (69′ Jansen Wilson)

Substitutes Not Used – Danny Faundez, Amadou Dia, Hayden Stamps

Late drama sees Rising denied an offside goal, but favorable league results ensure a postseason berth ahead of the regular season finale

Phoenix Rising (11-9-13) fell 1-0 at home in front of a 2024 regular season best crowd of 8,620, to Memphis in a hard-fought match, but despite the defeat, they secured a spot in the USL Championship playoffs, thanks to favorable results around the league and a tiebreaker advantage over San Antonio.

The match had a playoff atmosphere, with both teams in desperate need of three points with only two games remaining. For Memphis, a win would edge them closer to hosting a first-round match in the USL Championship postseason. For Phoenix Rising, a victory would secure a playoff spot.

With so much on the line, the match began cautiously. The first shot came in the 16th minute when Tomas Angel received the ball in midfield and pushed it forward, finding Darius Johnson on the wing. Johnson took on his defender, driving into the box before pulling the ball back to Fede Varela at the top of the box. Varela took a touch before firing a shot just wide of the far post.

Johnson threatened again a few minutes later, once more beating his defender. This time, he attempted to score himself but sent the ball high over the net after trying to beat Memphis goalkeeper Tyler Deric at the near post.

Memphis created a few chances of their own in the first half, the first coming just before the 30-minute mark. Akeem Ward crossed the ball into the box, where Dylan Borczak flicked a shot toward Phoenix goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo’s left. Rios Novo reacted quickly, diving to collect the ball without giving up a rebound. Ten minutes later, Jon Bakero had space at the top of the box, but his shot went well wide of the target.

Just before halftime, Memphis found the breakthrough. Bakero, with time to pick out a teammate, delivered a well-weighted pass that beat Phoenix defender Pape Mar Boye and found Borczak, who calmly slotted it into the left side of the net.

Taking a lead into halftime has been favorable for Memphis. In its last ten USL Championship matches, the team has remained unbeaten after leading at the break. Phoenix Rising looked to end that trend with a great chance when Jearl Margaritha, who had just entered the game, played a long diagonal pass to Darius Johnson. Johnson took a touch and chipped the goalkeeper, finding the back of the net. However, as the stadium erupted in celebration, the assistant referee raised the flag for offside, and the goal was disallowed.

Things seemed to be going from bad to worse for Rising in the 73rd minute when Bruno Lapa went down over Laurence Wyke’s extended foot, and the center official awarded a penalty. But after a brief consultation with her assistant referees, the official reversed the decision, giving Lapa a yellow card for simulation instead of a penalty.

Energized by the overturned penalty, Memphis pressed forward. Lapa had a one-touch chance in the Phoenix penalty box after a cross found him in space. He aimed low to Rocco Rios Novo’s left, but the goalkeeper reacted quickly, diving to palm the ball away.

In the final ten minutes, it was Phoenix Rising who dominated the match. Desperate for an equalizer, Rising attacked relentlessly. Charlie Dennis nearly leveled the score with a free kick that struck the crossbar, and Pape Mar Boye’s side-footed shot from the top of the box was deflected, almost sneaking into the bottom right corner. Despite their efforts, Rising fell 1-0 at home.

Though the result wasn’t what Rising had hoped for, the day ended on a positive note. Thanks to results around the league and their tiebreaker over San Antonio, Rising clinched a playoff berth. With one game left, the worst they can finish is 8th place. Phoenix heads on the road next week to face league-leaders Louisville in the final match of the regular season, kicking off on Saturday, October 26, at 4:30 p.m. Fans can follow the action on Arizona’s Family Sports or stream it on ESPN+.

Scoring:
MEM – 44′ Dylan Borczak (Jon Bakero)

Discipline:
PHX – 10′ Pape Mar Boye (Caution)
PHX – 23′ Charlie Dennis (Caution)
MEM – 35′ Zach Duncan (Caution)
PHX – 40′ Darius Johnson (Caution)
PHX – 55′ Dariusz Formella (Caution)
PHX – 56′ Emil Cuello (Caution)

Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Ríos Novo, Emil Cuello (81′ Juan Carlos Azócar), Alejandro Fuenmayor, Pape Mar Boye, Laurence Wyke (81′ Edgardo Rito), Renzo Zambrano, Dariusz Formella (59′ Jearl Margaritha), Fede Varela (59′ Rémi Cabral), Charlie Dennis, Darius Johnson (89′ Mohamed Traore), Tomás Ángel

Substitutes Not Used – Braxton Montgomery, Jamison Ping, Patrick Rakovsky, John Scearce

Memphis 901 FC – Tyler Deric, Akeem Ward, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Tulu, Oscar Jiménez (60′ Álvaro Quezada), Zach Duncan (80′ Lucas Turci), Samuel Careaga, Dylan Borczak (80′ Leston Paul), Bruno Lapa, Noe Meza (69′ Luiz Fernando), Jon Bakero

Substitutes Not Used – Triston Henry, Panos Armenakas, Nighte Pickering

Rising strengthens playoff position with a four-point cushion, as Angel scores for the second straight match to push the team closer to postseason qualification

Phoenix Rising (11-9-12) secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Oakland Roots, with Tomas Angel’s second-half header propelling the team closer to a playoff berth, extending their lead to four points above the playoff line with two matches remaining.

Phoenix absorbed pressure for the first 15 minutes before finding Tomas Angel on an outlet run behind Oakland’s backline. Although his well-timed run was flagged offside, Angel made the most of his first touch, bringing down the lobbed pass and putting it past Oakland goalkeeper Paul Blanchette, which would have opened the scoring.

Oakland continued playing a direct style, quickly bypassing the midfield and pushing men forward whenever in possession. Their first real chance came when Edgardo Rito fouled Camden Riley near the sideline, allowing Baboucarr Njie to deliver a set piece into the box. Riley attempted a volley but sent it over the net.

Phoenix dominated the final 30 minutes of the half, controlling possession and limiting Oakland’s attacking opportunities. Charlie Dennis and Angel both had chances denied by Blanchette—Dennis with a long-range shot straight at the keeper, and Angel with a header that forced Blanchette to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Oakland Roots started the second half with a near-breakthrough as Diaz made a run into the box from a wide position, but he couldn’t control the through pass, and the ball rolled harmlessly over the endline.

After surviving that early chance, Rising dominated the next fifteen minutes and eventually broke through with Tomas Angel scoring his second goal in as many matches. Rito was played through and sent a low cross into the box, which ran all the way to Emil Cuello, who had made a late run. Cuello beat Diaz with a touch before lofting a pass toward Angel, who headed it in to give Rising a 1-0 lead.

Rising managed just one more shot before weathering a barrage of attacks from the home side. Oakland tallied seven shots to close the match, highlighted by Diaz forcing a save from Phoenix Rising goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky with a half-volley from distance, and Miche-Naider Chery coming off the bench to hit the woodwork with a header at the far post.

It was a massive shutout win for Rising, now four points above the playoff line and jumping to sixth place with two matches left. A win in their next match, or a San Antonio loss, will secure Rising’s second-straight playoff appearance, as they aim to repeat last year’s success and bring another championship to Phoenix. Next up for Rising is its final home match of the regular season, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Find tickets today at phxrisingfc.com/tickets.

Scoring:
PHX – 55′ Tomás Ángel (Emil Cuello)

Discipline:
OAK – 38′ Guillermo Diaz (Caution)
OAK – 68′ Johnny Rodriguez (Caution)
PHX – 68′ Pape Mar Boye (Caution)
OAK – 70′ Gagi Margvelashvili (Caution)
PHX – 73′ Tomás Ángel (Caution)
PHX – 90+4′ Charlie Dennis (Caution)

Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Patrick Rakovsky, Emil Cuello, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Pape Mar Boye, Laurence Wyke, Giulio Doratiotto (70′ Mohamed Traore), Dariusz Formella (90+7′ José Hernández), Renzo Zambrano, Charlie Dennis, Edgardo Rito (81′ JP Scearce), Tomás Ángel

Substitutes Not Used – Rocco Ríos Novo, Federico Varela, Jamison Ping, Christopher Grote

Oakland Roots – Paul Blanchette, Camden Riley, Neveal Hackshaw, Gagi Margvelashvili, Baboucarr Njie, Daniel Gomez (72′ José Sinisterra), Rafael Baca (72′ Irakoze Donasiyano), Guillermo Diaz, Trayvone Reid (72′ Miche-Naider Chéry), Dom Dwyer (60′ Justin Rasmussen), Johnny Rodriguez

Substitutes Not Used – Etsgar Cruz, Ilya Alekseev, Thomas Camier, Timothy Syrel

After conceding early, Rising comes from behind to beat its Southwest rival – earning its first victory of the season from a losing position

Phoenix Rising FC (10-9-12) secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory on the road against rivals New Mexico United, overcoming early adversity and playing the final minutes with ten men. In a match defined by high pressure, physicality, and a flurry of second-half cards, Rising’s resilience earned them a crucial three points in their push toward the playoffs.

Phoenix Rising started on the front foot, with smooth play out of the back between Alejandro Fuenmayor, Emil Cuello, and Darius Johnson, successfully breaking New Mexico’s high press and pushing forward with numbers. Opting to take it on himself, Charlie Dennis unleashed a strong left-footed shot from distance, but New Mexico goalkeeper Alexander Tambakis collected it at the center of the goal for the first shot on target of the match.

Rising had another chance just a few minutes later from a corner delivered by Dennis into the box. Pape Mar Boye out-jumped his defender and directed a header toward the far corner, but a New Mexico defender cleared it away. Fifteen minutes in, Rising had two attempts with one on target while preventing any opportunities for New Mexico, despite the home side controlling nearly 70 percent of possession.

Rising continued to seek counter-attacking opportunities but were undone when Mukwelle Akale stepped in front of Laurence Wyke, then collapsed to draw a penalty. Talen Maples stepped up to the spot and slotted the ball into the lower left corner, opposite a diving Rocco Rios Novo, giving New Mexico the lead.

After the goal, Rising increased the pressure and held more possession, aiming to exploit New Mexico’s high press by switching the ball from side to side and challenging defenders on the wings. As halftime approached, Rising closed the possession gap and managed to equalize just before the break.

Cuello was pushed in the back by Nanan Houssou after receiving a chipped ball into the box, earning Rising a penalty. Tomas Angel, who had converted Phoenix’s last penalty about a month earlier, confidently stepped up again and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, placing the ball low to the left to level the score at 1-1.

Phoenix Rising continued to press the attack as they came out of the locker room for the second half, with Johnson creating an early chance for the visitors, though he was unable to direct it on target. Giulio Doratiotto and Cuello also got involved with shots in the 53rd and 56th minutes, respectively, but neither effort posed a threat to goalkeeper Tambakis.

Rising took the lead in the 59th minute through Dennis. After a series of chances, a rebounded ball fell to Doratiotto, who struck it powerfully and low. The shot appeared to be heading wide until Dennis stuck out his boot, deflecting it into the roof of the net to put Rising ahead.

After a strong start to the second half, Phoenix Rising found themselves under pressure following their go-ahead goal. New Mexico tried to exploit Rising’s advanced positioning of their outside backs and wings, working the ball from the outside in. By the 75th minute, New Mexico had kept nearly 42 percent of the action in Phoenix Rising’s defensive third.

The pressure continued to build as New Mexico pushed more players forward in search of an equalizer. However, shots from Sergio Rivas, Mukwelle Akale, and Kalen Ryden all failed to hit the target.

With just two minutes left in regulation, Phoenix Rising defender Juan Carlos Azócar was shown a red card for his second bookable offense within six minutes, forcing Rising to finish the match with ten men. The game saw its fair share of cards, with nine shown in total, most in the second half—a typical feature of a rivalry match.

Despite conceding first and facing their Southwestern rivals on the road, Phoenix Rising emerged victorious, taking all three points from Albuquerque. It was the first time this season Rising won after conceding the opening goal, and it marked their third consecutive match scoring at least one goal. For New Mexico, it was their first loss after scoring the opening goal since August 2023.

Phoenix Rising now heads to Oakland for a quick stop before returning home for their final home match of the season on October 19. As part of a double matchweek, the club kicks off this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at CSUEB Pioneer Stadium. The match can be streamed live on ESPN+ or broadcast locally on Arizona’s Family Sports.

Scoring:
NM – 28′ Talen Maples (Penalty)
PHX – 45+3′ Tomas Angel (Penalty)
PHX – 59′ Charlie Dennis (Giulio Doratiotto)

Discipline:
PHX – 14′ Renzo Zambrano (Caution)
PHX – 19′ Charlie Dennis (Caution)
NM – 45+2′ New Mexico Bench (Caution)
NM – 51′ Nanan Houssou (Caution)
NM – 61′ Talen Maples (Caution)
PHX – 67′ Tomás Ángel (Caution)
PHX – 89′ Juan Carlos Azócar (Caution)
PHX – 90′ Emil Cuello (Caution)
PHX – 90+5′ Juan Carlos Azócar (Ejection)

Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Ríos Novo, Giulio Doratiotto (70′ Mohamed Traore), Pape Mar Boye, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Laurence Wyke, Renzo Zambrano, Darius Johnson (78′ JP Scearce), Emil Cuello, Charlie Dennis (78′ Juan Carlos Azócar), Edgardo Rito (90+3′ José Hernández), Tomás Ángel

Substitutes Not Used – Federico Varela, Patrick Rakovsky, Dariusz Formella

New Mexico United – Alexander Tambakis, Christopher Gloster, Kalen Ryden, Talen Maples, Arturo Astorga (85′ Will Seymore), Sergio Rivas, Nanan Houssou (85′ Nicky Hernandez), Jacobo Reyes (71′ Daniel Bruce), Mukwelle Akale, Harry Swartz (61′ Marco Micaletto), Greg Hurst

Substitutes Not Used – Anthony Herbert, Kristopher Shakes, Marlon Vargas, Jace Sais, Derek

Phoenix Rising dominates the stat line but drops three at home to Monterey Bay.

Phoenix Rising (9-9-12) dominated the stats sheet but couldn’t convert their superiority into a win, falling 2-1 to Monterey Bay despite registering 22 shots and 39 touches in the opposition box. A late goal from Dariusz Formella gave the home side hope, but Monterey’s early strikes and a deflection off goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo proved decisive. The loss marked Rising’s third consecutive defeat, despite controlling possession and outpacing their opponents in nearly every metric.

Phoenix Rising started the match strong, with Jearl Margaritha breaking through the defense after taking the ball past a pressing defender. However, just as he prepared to release his shot, it was blocked by a second defender.

Despite Rising controlling play and holding 61 percent possession, Monterey Bay FC countered to score the first goal. Mobi Fehr unleashed a half-chance from the top of the box in the 15th minute that deflected off a defender, wrong-footing Phoenix Rising goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo and trickling into the net.

Rising continued to pile on the pressure, with efforts from Renzo Zambrano, Darius Johnson, and Tomas Angel. However, things went from bad to worse for Rising when, in the 44th minute, Rios Novo collided with Pierce Gallaway as he attempted to collect a ball that had bounced high in the box. The ball deflected off Rios Novo and into the top corner of the net, allowing Monterey to double their lead.

It was another match where the stats told a different story than the scoreline. With 22 shots, Rising recorded their highest total in a single match this season in the USL Championship, while Monterey Bay managed just eight. Phoenix Rising had 39 touches inside the opposition box, compared to Monterey Bay’s 13. Passing accuracy, crosses, corners, possession, and total passes all favored the home side.

In the 84th minute, that positive play finally resulted in a goal. Carlos Azocar, having just entered the match, played a well-weighted ball across the box to Dariusz Formella, who was waiting near the penalty spot and tucked it into the lower corner.

A barrage of shots followed, with Rising maintaining 77 percent possession to close out the match, spending 43 percent of that time in Monterey Bay’s final third. But in the end, it didn’t matter. The final whistle blew, and Rising found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreline, dropping their third match in a row.

Things don’t get easier from here, with Phoenix Rising taking to the road for a midweek matchup against the top point-getters in the Western Conference this season, New Mexico United. The club will then travel to the west coast to finish the week in Oakland.

Scoring:
MB – 15′ Mobi Fehr (Morey Doner)
MB – 44′ Rocco Ríos Novo (Own Goal)
PHX – 84′ Dariusz Formella (Juan Carlos Azócar)

Discipline:
PHX – 25′ Renzo Zambrano (Caution)
MB – 61′ Carlos Guzmán (Caution)

Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Ríos Novo, Gabi Torres (45′ Pape Mar Boye), Mohamed Traore, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Laurence Wyke (74′ Juan Carlos Azócar), Renzo Zambrano, Jearl Margaritha, Rémi Cabral, Charlie Dennis (83′ Damien Barker John), Darius Johnson (61′ Dariusz Formella), Tomás Ángel (74′ Giulio Doratiotto)

Substitutes Not Used – José Hernández, Patrick Rakovsky, Jamison Ping, Skylar Odle

Monterey Bay FC – Carlos Herrera, Carlos Guzmán, Alex Lara, Kai Greene, Morey Doner, Pierce Gallaway, Mobi Fehr, Michael Gonzalez (59′ Xavi Gnaulati), Adrian Rebollar, Walmer Martínez, Christian Volesky (80′ Anthony Orendain)

Substitutes Not Used – Ryan Dieter, Diego Gutiérrez, Miguel Guerrero-Medina, Antony Siaha, Max Glasser