PHOENIX, ARIZONA (Saturday, May 8) – Rising FC earned its first shutout of the season, and its two-time defending USL MVP, Solomon Asante found the back of the net twice to lead Phoenix to a 3-0 win vs. Oakland Roots tonight at Wild Horse Pass.
Asante opened his 2021 account in the 10th minute of the match when high pressure from Phoenix forced a turnover in a very dangerous spot. Rising forward Rufat Dadashov was in a great position to capitalize on the mistake by Oakland. He immediately struck a first-touch volley on goal. Roots’ goalkeeper Zeus De La Paz made a save on the play, diving high to his right side but the rebound fell to the feet of Asante, who buried the chance to make it 1-0.
Oakland’s Jeremy Bokila nearly took advantage of a slip by Rising center back James Musa in the 20th minute. The New Zealand international picked off a pass that was meant for the Roots’ forward and tried to turn upfield but lost his footing. Bokila recovered the ball in the area and tried to beat Rising goalkeeper Ben Lundt to his right side but the attempt went well wide of the post.
Dadashov nearly gave Phoenix a two-goal lead in the 34th minute when Rising’s high press forced another turnover. Phoenix’s No. 9 hit another first-touch shot, but his chance skipped just wide of the post to De La Paz’s left side.
Three minutes into the second half, Phoenix got its two-goal lead when a long ball played over the top of Oakland’s backline by Musa was ran down by Santi Moar. The striker latched onto the ball on the opposite side of Root’s defense and ran at the goalkeeper before beating De La Paz five-hole for his second goal of the season.
Asante picked off a pass from De La Paz and quickly made the goalkeeper pay by knocking a sharp, low shot into the back corner of the net to make it 3-0 in the 68th minute.
Rising’s newest signing, defending USL Championship goalkeeper of the year, Lundt made his best save, diving to his right side to slap a free kick away in the 85th minute. The German finished the match with two saves to earn a clean sheet in his first appearance for Rising.
Scoring:
PHX – Solomon Asante 10
PHX – Santi Moar (James Musa) 48
PHX – Solomon Asante 68
Discipline:
PHX – Darnell King (caution) 29
PHX – Kevon Lambert (caution) 50
PHX – Noah Billingsley (caution) 83
PHX – Aodhan Quinn (caution) 86
PHX – James Musa (caution) 87
OAK – Akeem Ward (caution) 87
Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Ben Lundt, Ryan Flood, James Musa, Tobi Adewole (Joe Farrell 77), Darnell King (Noah Billingsley 63), Aodhan Quinn (Joey Calistri 88), Kevon Lambert (Jeremy Kelly 63), Jon Bakero, Santi Moar (Prince Saydee 77), Rufat Dadashov, Solomon Asante.
Substitutes Not Used: Edward Delgado, Noah Billingsley, Joe Farrell, Joey Calistri, Jeremy Kelly, Prince Saydee, Seyi Adekoya.
Oakland Roots – Zeus De La Paz, Tarek Morad, Max Ornstil, Guillermo Diaz (Soya Takahashi 62), Akeem Ward, Lindo Mfeka (Ariel Mbumba 78), Matias Fissore, Wal Fall (Danny Flores 16), Jesus Enriquez, Tyler Blackwell (Tarn Weir 78), Jeremy Bokila (Yohannes Harish 63).
Substitutes Not Used: Taylor Bailey, Luis Flores, Saalih Muhammad, Tarn Weir.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA (Saturday, May 8) – Rising FC earned its first shutout of the season, and its two-time defending USL MVP, Solomon Asante found the back of the net twice to lead Phoenix to a 3-0 win vs. Oakland Roots tonight at Wild Horse Pass.
Asante opened his 2021 account in the 10th minute of the match when high pressure from Phoenix forced a turnover in a very dangerous spot. Rising forward Rufat Dadashov was in a great position to capitalize on the mistake by Oakland. He immediately struck a first-touch volley on goal. Roots’ goalkeeper Zeus De La Paz made a save on the play, diving high to his right side but the rebound fell to the feet of Asante, who buried the chance to make it 1-0.
Oakland’s Jeremy Bokila nearly took advantage of a slip by Rising center back James Musa in the 20th minute. The New Zealand international picked off a pass that was meant for the Roots’ forward and tried to turn upfield but lost his footing. Bokila recovered the ball in the area and tried to beat Rising goalkeeper Ben Lundt to his right side but the attempt went well wide of the post.
Dadashov nearly gave Phoenix a two-goal lead in the 34th minute when Rising’s high press forced another turnover. Phoenix’s No. 9 hit another first-touch shot, but his chance skipped just wide of the post to De La Paz’s left side.
Three minutes into the second half, Phoenix got its two-goal lead when a long ball played over the top of Oakland’s backline by Musa was ran down by Santi Moar. The striker latched onto the ball on the opposite side of Root’s defense and ran at the goalkeeper before beating De La Paz five-hole for his second goal of the season.
Asante picked off a pass from De La Paz and quickly made the goalkeeper pay by knocking a sharp, low shot into the back corner of the net to make it 3-0 in the 68th minute.
Rising’s newest signing, defending USL Championship goalkeeper of the year, Lundt made his best save, diving to his right side to slap a free kick away in the 85th minute. The German finished the match with two saves to earn a clean sheet in his first appearance for Rising.
Scoring:
PHX – Solomon Asante 10
PHX – Santi Moar (James Musa) 48
PHX – Solomon Asante 68
Discipline:
PHX – Darnell King (caution) 29
PHX – Kevon Lambert (caution) 50
PHX – Noah Billingsley (caution) 83
PHX – Aodhan Quinn (caution) 86
PHX – James Musa (caution) 87
OAK – Akeem Ward (caution) 87
Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Ben Lundt, Ryan Flood, James Musa, Tobi Adewole (Joe Farrell 77), Darnell King (Noah Billingsley 63), Aodhan Quinn (Joey Calistri 88), Kevon Lambert (Jeremy Kelly 63), Jon Bakero, Santi Moar (Prince Saydee 77), Rufat Dadashov, Solomon Asante.
Substitutes Not Used: Edward Delgado, Noah Billingsley, Joe Farrell, Joey Calistri, Jeremy Kelly, Prince Saydee, Seyi Adekoya.
Oakland Roots – Zeus De La Paz, Tarek Morad, Max Ornstil, Guillermo Diaz (Soya Takahashi 62), Akeem Ward, Lindo Mfeka (Ariel Mbumba 78), Matias Fissore, Wal Fall (Danny Flores 16), Jesus Enriquez, Tyler Blackwell (Tarn Weir 78), Jeremy Bokila (Yohannes Harish 63).
Substitutes Not Used: Taylor Bailey, Luis Flores, Saalih Muhammad, Tarn Weir.
