Match Recap

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

Phoenix Rising was on the wrong side of late-goals, dropping a one goal lead and three points at home.

In a dramatic match that showcased a new lineup and formation, Phoenix Rising (9-9-11) suffered a heartbreaking loss at home to Las Vegas Lights, conceding two late goals in stoppage time. Despite the setback, the team remains five points above the playoff line as they prepare for their final Dollar Beer Night of the regular season next Friday against Monterey Bay FC.

Phoenix Rising had a different look, with both Remi Cabral and Tomas Angel in the starting lineup and Rocco Rios Novo wearing the captain’s armband. The club set up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Tomas playing as a false nine and Cabral stretching the backline.

The match began with back-and-forth play as both teams tried to establish their identity early, but Las Vegas quickly seized the initiative. They controlled 69% of possession in the opening 15 minutes and created four shots that were either blocked before reaching Phoenix Rising goalkeeper Rios Novo or missed the target. It took 24 minutes for Las Vegas to register the first shot on goal, with Gennardo Nigro forcing a diving save to Rios Novo’s left.

Rising wasn’t far behind, earning a corner kick in the 30th minute. Charlie Dennis delivered a cross that Remi Cabral knocked down into a Las Vegas defender, with the deflection sending the ball off the crossbar before it was cleared. The game then settled, with each team managing two more shots before the end of the half.

The second half started much slower than the first, with Las Vegas continuing to control possession, but neither team creating many chances. The first shot of the half came ten minutes in, when Valentin Noel attempted to beat Rios Novo after spotting him off his line. He struck it from distance, but Rios Novo had it covered, pushing the ball over the crossbar.

With an hour gone, Phoenix Rising found the opening goal. Capitalizing on a poor touch by Las Vegas Lights goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena, Rising won the turnover, and Jearl Margaritha played the ball into the box, where Cabral placed it past the Vegas keeper. This marked his seventh goal of the USL Championship season and his first since scoring against Sacramento Republic in late May.

With 90 minutes played, it seemed Phoenix Rising was on track to secure all three points and achieve its second consecutive win at home. However, with seven minutes of stoppage time remaining, Vegas scored twice in the 90+6 and 90+9 minutes. The first goal came from Jean-Claude Ngando, who bent a set piece around the wall from distance into the back of the net. Vegas scored its second three minutes later, as a cross from Joe Gyau was slightly deflected by Grayson Doody, settling into the far corner of the goal.

It was the first match Phoenix Rising lost at home since April 20, and it marked the 18th point Las Vegas Lights has earned in the USL Championship this season from a losing position. However, results on the night across the league went Rising’s way, and the Phoenix team still maintains a five-point cushion above the playoff line with five matches left to play.

Phoenix Rising returns home next Friday for its final Dollar Beer Night of the regular season. Rising will welcome Monterey Bay FC, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Get your tickets today at phxrisingfc.com/tickets.

Scoring:
PHX – 60′ Remi Cabral (Jearl Margaritha)
LV – 90+6′ Jean-Claude Ngando
LV – 90+9′ Grayson Doody (Joe Gyau)

Discipline:
PHX – 17′ Pape Mar Boye (Caution)
PHX – 70′ Mo Traore (Caution)
LV – 74′ Ousman Jabang (Caution)
PHX – 86′ Alejandro Fuenmayor (Caution)
LV – 90+1′ Khori Bennett (Caution)

Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Rios Novo, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Mohamed Traore, Pape Mar Boye, Laurence Wyke, Remi Cabral (63′ Renzo Zambrano), Edgardo Rito (63′ Darius Johnson), JP Scearce, Charlie Dennis (88′ Giulio Doratiotto), Jearl Margaritha (88′ Dariusz Formella), Tomas Angel (75′ Juan Carlos Azocar).

Substitutes Not Used – Gabi Torres, Patrick Rakovsky, Jamison Ping, Christopher Grote.

Las Vegas Lights FC – Raiko Arozarena, Gennaro Nigro (90+6′ Grayson Doody), Maliek Howell (90+6′ Elias Gartig), Joe Hafferty, Shawn Smart, Christian Pinzon (71′ Joe Gyau), Ousman Jabang (77′ Vaughn Covil), Jean-Claude Ngando, Solomon Asante (77′ Coleman Gannon), Valentin Noel, Khori Bennett.

Substitutes Not Used – Edison Azcona, George Marks.

Conceding two first half goals, Phoenix Rising is unable to score against Orange County and drops three points on the road

Phoenix Rising (9-9-10) fell 2-0 on the road against Orange County SC, with forward Ethan Zubak scoring both goals.

It was a challenging first half for Phoenix Rising, as attacking, defending, and officiating all seemed to go against them. Just two minutes in, Jose Hernandez received a yellow card, one of three shown to Rising players, as the team was called for 11 fouls in the first half.

A foul near the corner of the penalty area, where Dariusz Formella kicked out at the legs of Orange County forward Bryce Jamison, led to the opening goal. Midfielder Seth Casiple delivered a cross, and Zubak headed in his seventh goal of the season, beating Phoenix Rising goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo. This marked the third straight home match in which Orange County scored during USL Championship play.

Phoenix responded with a series of chances, primarily through forward Jearl Margaritha, who dribbled aggressively and played dangerous passes. Despite pushing deep into the Orange County box, Rising couldn’t get a shot past the defenders and ended the half without a shot on target.

Goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo was a standout in the first half, making several key saves, including a crucial stop in the 20th minute to deny Jamison’s first-time effort from the penalty spot after midfielder Ryan Doghman found him with a low cross. Orange County spent much of the half defending in a low block and springing forward on the counter.

Orange County doubled its lead in the 39th minute, with Zubak earning his brace by beating Phoenix defender Pape Mar Boye to a Jamison cross and slotting the ball past Ríos Novo. Zubak was a constant threat, attempting five shots in the first half alone.

Phoenix Rising controlled possession for much of the first half, and after halftime, they looked to break down Orange County’s organized backline. Substitute Charlie Dennis fired the first shot on target for Rising in the 61st minute, forcing Colin Shuttler into a full-stretch save. Minutes later, Dennis had another opportunity, but his shot deflected and landed on top of the net.

Rising dominated possession after the 60th minute, holding 84% of the ball. A promising chance came when Remi Cabral was fouled at the top of the box. Tomas Angel’s free-kick dipped past the wall but was deflected away by a defender.

Phoenix kept the pressure on, creating multiple chances while Orange County absorbed the attacks. In the dying moments, Margaritha cut inside and fired a strong shot toward the far post, which deflected to Remi Cabral. However, Cabral could only steer his effort into the side netting.

The final whistle blew with Orange County securing their first win against Rising in USL Championship play since August 2022. For Phoenix Rising, the result left them just one point ahead of Orange County in the Western Conference standings.

Phoenix Rising returned home on Saturday to face Las Vegas Lights. The match kicked off at 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets were available at phxrisingfc.com/tickets.

Scoring:
OC – 7′ Ethan Zubak (Seth Casiple)
OC – 39′ Ethan Zubak (Bryce Jamison)

Discipline:
PHX – 2′ Jose Hernandez (Caution)
PHX – 36′ Jearl Margaritha (Caution)
OC – 36′ Christopher Hegardt (Caution)
PHX – 45+5′ Laurence Wyke (Caution)
PHX – 54′ Gabi Torres (Caution)
OC – 65′ Kevin Partida (Caution)
PHX – 66′ Charlie Dennis (Caution)

Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Phoenix Rising Lineup: Rocco Rios Novo, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Pape Mar Boye, Laurence Wyke (88′ Edgardo Rito), Jose Hernandez (58′ Charlie Dennis), Renzo Zambrano, Giulio Doratiotto (58′ Remi Cabral), Gabi Torres (77′ Juan Carlos Azocar), Dariusz Formella (78′ Damien Barker John), Tomas Angel, Jearl Margaritha.

Substitutes Not Used – JP Scearce, Patrick Rakovsky.

Orange County SC – Colin Shutler, Pedro Guimaraes (46′ Cameron Dunbar), Dillon Powers, Markus Nakkim, Owen Lambe, Ryan Doghman, Kevin Partida (87′ Benjamin Norris), Seth Casiple, Bryce Jamison (46′ Ashish Chattha), Ethan Zubak, Christopher Hegardt (74′ Thomas Amang).

Substitutes Not Used – Andrew Fox, Christian Sorto, Tomas Gomez, Benjamin Barjolo, Ashton Miles.

With four goals and another shutout, Phoenix Rising has moved five points clear of the playoff line

Phoenix Rising (9-9-9) delivered a commanding 4-0 win at home against San Antonio FC, marking the team’s 12th shutout of the season.

“It was a great game, 4-0—always happy,” said Phoenix Rising forward Dariusz Formella. “We haven’t had many games like this, this season, but the most important ones are coming up, and we’re going to do everything to keep this momentum going.”

Red smoke lingered in the air throughout the night, rising from the south end after each of Rising’s four goals. It was the first time this season that Rising had scored four goals in a match, and they looked like the likely winners early on. With just 30 minutes played, Rising had racked up eight shots. Formella and Giulio Doratiotto each had a pair, with Emil Cuello, Tomas Angel, and Mohamed Traore also getting involved.

“The difference for us tonight was getting the first goal quickly, followed by a second. From there, we gained the confidence we needed,” said Interim Head Coach Diego Gomez. “The atmosphere was incredible on Hispanic Heritage Night. Phoenix has a lot of cultural heritage, and within our team, it’s represented by different Latin communities. We’re proud to represent them.”

Ultimately, it was Pape Mar Boye who scored the match opener and his second of the season, rising high and heading it home past San Antonio goalkeeper Richard Sanchez, scoring off the corner kick delivered by Charlie Dennis.

It was a crucial first goal for Rising, a team that has struggled to score this season but remains undefeated at home when scoring first. They now have seven wins after netting the opening goal. For San Antonio, conceding first has been a bad omen—they haven’t won any of their last 16 matches after allowing the first goal.

“We’ve done quite a lot of similar stuff the last few weeks, sometimes you just get unlucky, and sometimes maybe you try too hard, or do too much — you want it too much and then you miss,” said Formella. “Everything needs time and we have struggled a few games this season, that’s not great for us, but we tried to do some different things tonight in a different way. We needed time and then we showed what we can do, and today was our day and I hope we’re going to continue this way.”

Rising pressed on, and just 12 minutes after Mar Boye’s opener, Formella scored the second goal. He latched onto a precise pass from Doratiotto that split San Antonio’s defense. After driving into the box and cutting inside, Formella slotted a low shot through Sanchez’s legs. It was his fifth goal of the season and his first since late June.

Rising dominated the first half, controlling 60% of the possession and taking 11 shots compared to San Antonio’s one. While San Antonio managed a slight improvement in the second half, Rising’s 10 shots on target dwarfed their opponents’ single effort.

Rising quickly found its third goal 20 minutes into the second half. Dennis received the ball at the top of the box, and with time to think, slotted it low into the corner for his first goal with Phoenix and his second of the USL Championship season (his first came earlier this year with the Tampa Bay Rowdies). Jearl Margaritha picked up his first assist for Rising on the play.

Phoenix wasn’t done yet. Substitute Damien Barker John opened his account for Rising in the 84th minute, pouncing on a blocked shot from Angel and smashing it home from six yards out with his right foot.

“I’m very happy with the guys, they did everything well,” said Gomez “We wanted the opening goal, and especially for us, that was important because we felt like we had some good moments and we’ve been playing good — even after last week in Sacramento, the guys felt good and confident — and we showed it today on the field.”

This was the first match since July 19 where Rising scored multiple goals, and it was their seventh clean sheet in the last nine games. Hoping this is the spark their attack needed, Phoenix travels to Orange County for a crucial late-season matchup between the seventh and eighth seeds. After that, Rising returns home next Saturday to face Las Vegas Lights. That match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT. Get tickets at phxrisingfc.com/tickets.

Scoring:
PHX – 27′ Pape Mar Boye (Charlie Dennis)
PHX – 40′ Dariusz Formella (Giulio Doratiotto)
PHX – 65′ Charlie Dennis (Jearl Margaritha)
PHX – 84′ Damien Barker John

Discipline:
SA – 68′ Jorge Hernandez (Caution)
SA – 79′ Mitchell Taintor (Caution)
PHX – 79′ Rocco Rios Novo (Caution)
PHX – 89′ Laurence Wyke (Caution)
SA – 90+3′ Nelson Blanco (Caution)

Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Rios Novo, Mohamed Traore, Pape Mar Boye, Laurence Wyke, Emil Cuello (67′ Gabi Torres), Renzo Zambrano, Giulio Doratiotto (78′ JP Scearce), Charlie Dennis (67′ Jose Hernandez), Dariusz Formella (78′ Damien Barker John), Tomas Angel, Jearl Margaritha (85′ Juan Carlos Azocar).

Substitutes Not Used – Patrick Rakovsky, Jamison Ping, Edgardo Rito, Skylar Odle.

San Antonio FC – Richard Sanchez, Mitchell Taintor, Kendall Burks, Carter Manley, Nelson Blanco, Trova Boni (55′ Kevon Lambert), Bura (64′ Juan Agudelo), Rece Buckmaster (75′ Shannon Gomez), Jesus Brigido (46′ Machop Chol), Luis Solignac (75′ Jake LaCava), Jorge Hernandez.

Substitutes Not Used – Luke Haakenson, Kendall McIntosh.

Phoenix Rising’s win streak ends at two and shutout streak ends at four as it falls to Sacramento Republic

SACRAMENTO, California (September 14) — Phoenix Rising (8-9-9) conceded twice on the road to end its four match shutout streak as it dropped three points against Sacramento Republic in a 2-0 match.

Phoenix Rising had failed to win any of its last 12 matches when conceding first in the USL Championship. Republic came into the game looking to capitalize on that, recording two shots that were blocked before reaching Rocco Rios Novo, and one cross that was ultimately collected by Rios Novo before the first minute had passed.

It took only seven minutes for Sacramento to find the opening goal. After controlling the ball in the penalty area, Russell Cicerone played it out wide to an overlapping Jack Gurr, who lofted a cross into the box. Sebastian Herrera rose above Edgardo Rito at the far post, just six yards out, and knocked the ball down with his head toward the endline and into the back of the net.

Rising quickly recovered and began searching for an equalizer, controlling the next few minutes of the match and repeatedly playing the ball dangerously into the box. However, Rising’s best chance of the first half came twenty minutes later when Laurence Wyke played a long ball to Pape Mar Boye, who headed it across the box toward Tomas Angel. Angel attempted an acrobatic bicycle kick but made too much contact with the ball, sending it over the crossbar.

With the second half underway, Rising looked like the more threatening team. Jearl Margaritha was particularly dangerous in the attacking third, sparking Rising’s offense in the first minute of the half. He cut in from the endline onto his right foot and rattled the crossbar with a shot as Rising searched for an equalizer.

A change in the 60th minute saw an extra striker introduced, with Remi Cabral coming onto the field. Just a minute later, Cabral recorded his first shot of the match, finding space near the Sacramento penalty area and attempting to curl a shot into the upper corner, but it went slightly high and wide.

Another great opportunity came three minutes later, as Emil Cuello played the ball over the top to a streaking Margaritha. He cut toward the center of the pitch and delivered a low pass to Tomas Angel, who took a shot but couldn’t fully control the ball under his feet, sending it toward Sacramento goalkeeper Danny Vitiello, who palmed it over the net.

Despite Rising’s continued pressure, it was Sacramento that added to its total against the run of play. Gurr once again delivered a well-placed cross into the box, this time met by newly introduced Kieran Phillips, who headed it home. It was Gurr’s seventh assist of the season.

In search of a consolation goal, Vitiello was called into action with just a few minutes remaining, as Pape Mar Boye rose to strike a strong header. Vitiello made a crucial save with his left hand right on the line, preserving the clean sheet. It was his third save of the night.

With Rising unable to salvage a point, the final whistle blew at 2-0 in favor of the home side, breaking Phoenix’s four-game shutout streak. Rising will resume action next weekend against San Antonio FC at home, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Night. Tickets are available now at phxrisingfc.com/tickets.

Scoring:
SAC – 7′ Sebastian Herrera (Jack Gurr)
SAC – 67′ Kieran Phillips (Jack Gurr)

Discipline:
PHX – 25′ Laurence Wyke (Caution)
SAC – 25′ Sebastian Herrera (Caution)
SAC – 27′ Luis Rodrigues (Caution)
PHX – 48′ Alejandro Fuenmayor (Caution)
SAC – 73′ Aldair Sanchez (Caution)
PHX – 76′ Jose Hernandez (Caution)
SAC – 78′ Danny Vitiello (Caution)
PHX – 90+5′ Dariusz Formella (Caution)
SAC – 90+5′ Lee Desmond (Caution)
PHX – 90+6′ Mohamed Traore (Caution)

Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Rios Novo, Emil Cuello (72′ Gabi Torres), Alejandro Fuenmayor, Pape Mar Boye, Laurence Wyke (72′ Mohamed Traore), Renzo Zambrano, Edgardo Rito (60′ Darius Johnson), Jose Hernandez, Giulio Doratiotto (60′ Remi Cabral), Jearl Margaritha, Tomas Ángel (79′ Dariusz Formella)

Substitutes Not Used – John Scearce, Patrick Rakovsky

Sacramento Republic FC – Danny Vitiello, Lee Desmond, Jared Timmer, Chibuike Ukaegbu (66′ Conor Donovan), Aldair Sanchez, Luis Rodrigues, Justin Portillo, Jack Gurr (83′ Damia Viader), Russell Cicerone (67′ Harvey Neville), Nick Ross (90+4′ Blake Willey), Sebastian Herrera (66′ Kieran Phillips)

Substitutes Not Used – Trevor Amann, Da’vian Kimbrough, Rafael Jauregui, Jared Mazzola