Match Preview

PREVIEW: Rising’s “Family” Plays for the USL Championship Trophy, Sunday at 5 PM on ESPN2

Phoenix Rising FC Match Preview presented by NAU

Just as it opened the 2023 season on March 11, Phoenix Rising is heading to Charleston, South Carolina to take on the Battery. This time around a league title is on the line (Sunday. Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. on ESPN2).

“It’s not just another game,” said Rising Head Coach Juan Guerra. “It’s a final. We’re playing for something this organization has never achieved before. We want it very badly.”

From match one to match 40, not much has remained the same. Rising’s opening-day lineup featured six players that have not started a post-season game. Three of the remaining five are likely to start Sunday’s match in a different position than they did on March 11. One of those, Alejandro Fuenmayor left the match 20 minutes in due to an injury.

“It’s going to be a tough game,” Guerra said. “Charleston is a blue-collar team. Charleston works hard. They don’t give up. They’re talented. They have a good mix of youth and experience. They can hurt you in multiple ways. It’s going to be a battle.”

For Charleston, former Phoenix midfielder Arturo Rodriguez has started the team’s last five matches in central midfield, scoring twice and adding two assists. Despite being the third seed, they’ve enjoyed three home matches thanks to some upsets on that side of the bracket. Phoenix had a much different journey, sweeping a three-game set against higher seeds in California thanks to late-match heroics from Emil Cuello (x2) and Dariusz Formella.

“I have an apple watch and this thing tells me I’m going to die around five times a game,” said Guerra. “We’ve been preparing for these moments all year. We navigate the emotions together. The rest of the coaching staff know when to push and when to calm down.

This is a team that enjoys and embraces playing away matches. Every single player feels important. In this final stretch, every player has understood their role. They’re ready to execute wherever they are assigned. That is what gives us an edge. It feels more like a family, which is stronger than just a good soccer team.”

MATCHDAY HQ: Phoenix Rising FC vs Sacramento Republic FC 11.04.23

Playoffs Round 3: Conference Finals

MATCHDAY 37: Phoenix Rising FC vs. Sacramento Republic FC
Location: Health Heart Park
Time: 7:00pm
TV: Arizona’s Family Sports and Entertainment Network (Channel 3)
Streaming: ESPN+ | Rising Radio (audio only; English & Spanish)
USL Match Center
Match Preview: Rising/Orange County, Saturday at 7 PM

Watch Party: Walter Station Brewery
Specials: All day Happy Hour and $2 off pints

PREVIEW: Western Conference Final, Saturday at 7 PM

Phoenix Rising Match Preview presented by NAU

Rising travels to Sacramento, Saturday at 7 p.m. (live on 3TV & ESPN+), looking to make it three for three in Western Conference Finals since 2018.

The site of the team’s worst loss of the regular-season, Rising is embracing the opportunity to rectify that 4-0 defeat on July 26.

“I saw the players in the locker room after that game,” said Rising Head Coach Juan Guerra. “How I saw them at breakfast the next morning before we traveled to Monterey… They were upset and committed. They absorbed a lot of adversity in a very bad result. [Because of all that] and because we’re not playing at home, we want to go back to Sacramento and play a final.

The turning point of our season was losing 4-0 to Sacramento away. How you bounce back from adversity… How you fight back or push forward when things aren’t going well is what dictates how far you make it in anything, not just sports, but also life.”

Sacramento visited Phoenix roughly a month after the initial meeting. Manuel Arteaga (60) and Danny Trejo (65) scored minutes apart to lead Phoenix to a 2-1 win. Republic held a 52-48 edge in possession that game, completing just six more passes than Rising, 386-380.

Phoenix has taken its possession game to a new level during this postseason run, completing a season-high 781 passes against Orange County last weekend. The team’s previous high was recorded a week earlier, in a 4-3 win against San Diego in the opening match of the playoffs.

“We feel strong,” said Guerra. “We feel the need to keep pushing forward and growing. We have belief and ambition. We want to make sure the dream is not done this week. To do that we have to go through Sacramento. It’s going to be a hostile environment with a packed stadium. Many factors are going to go against us, but we already understand that. We’ve done it for two weeks.”

In both matches, Guerra has brought players off the bench to make a difference when it mattered most. In San Diego, it was Erickson and Arteaga that set up Dariusz Formella for the game winning goal. In Orange County, it was Erickson to Emil Cuello that made it a 2-1 final.

“We have enough depth on this team to make substitutions and make sure we continue to get better as the game progresses,” said Guerra. “That has been key for us in this playoff run. We’ve given opportunities to every field player on the bench. We have the tools. We have the assets. Now we have an opportunity to play a final.”

The turning point of the last two playoff wins has been the team’s response in the face of adversity. The ability to refocus after giving up a penalty kick goal that sent the match into overtime vs. San Diego. Finding a second gear on the left flank after 116 minutes of action in Orange County. Where does that come from?

“It’s losing to Sacramento 4-0 on the road and understanding you have 48 hours to bounce back and go again,” answered Guerra. “It’s understanding this is a new project with so many new players at the beginning of the year. These players hadn’t even put on the jersey before and they were feeling pressure because there were important players that left the organization. These new players have come in and absorbed that pressure since day one. This group has been under pressure since before they got on the place to come to Phoenix. People were saying who are these guys? How are they going to represent us? Now, nine months later, look where we are… look what these guys have done. We want to make sure we can keep dreaming.”

MATCHDAY HQ: Phoenix Rising FC vs Orange COunty SC 10.28.23

Playoffs Round 2: Conference Semifinals

MATCHDAY 36: Phoenix Rising FC vs. Orange County SC
Location: Championship Soccer Stadium
Time: 7:00pm
TV: Arizona’s Family Sports and Entertainment Network App
Streaming: ESPN+ | Rising Radio (audio only; English & Spanish)
USL Match Center
Match Preview: Rising/Orange County, Saturday at 7 PM

Watch Party: Walter Station Brewery
Specials: All day Happy Hour and $2 off pints

PREVIEW: Rising Hosts First Playoff Match at Wild Horse Pass

Phoenix Rising FC (20-5-7) finished the 2021 regular season unbeaten at Wild Horse Pass (11-0-5), earning the top spot in the Western Conference and home field advantage through the Conference Finals.

Rising (4-2-4 all-time in the playoffs) has made the postseason every year since rebranding to Phoenix Rising FC in 2017. Phoenix advanced to the USL Championship Final in both 2018 and 2020, but have yet to bring home the ultimate trophy.

Rising begins its playoff quest on Saturday, facing Rio Grande Valley Toros, which finished fourth in the Mountain Division with a 13-11-8 record. Phoenix is 5-0-3 all-time vs. RGV, having outscored the Texas side, 12-4. In Arizona vs. the Toros, Rising is 4-0-0, outscoring RGV club, 9-2.

RGV enters the match on a three-game winning streak, including a 4-1 victory in its regular-season finale. That win cam against the Mountain Division's number one seed, El Paso. In its only meeting this season, Rising defeated the Toros 3-1 in Phoenix on July 31.

"They've done a really good job," said Rising Head Coach Rick Schantz. "[Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera] has changed the team quite a bit. He's got a couple loan players who have come in since we played them last. It's going to be a big challenge."

While expectations might be high for Phoenix to return to the USL Championship Final for what could be the third time in four seasons, Schantz emphasized the importance of staying focused on the game at hand.

"We're focusing on winning one more game," said Schantz. "Would we like to win a championship? Absolutely, but you can't get that unless you beat RGV this weekend."

RGV enters the match on a three-game winning streak, including a 4-1 victory in its regular-season finale. That win cam against the Mountain Division’s number one seed, El Paso. In its only meeting this season, Rising defeated the Toros 3-1 in Phoenix on July 31.

“They’ve done a really good job,” said Rising Head Coach Rick Schantz. “[Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera] has changed the team quite a bit. He’s got a couple loan players who have come in since we played them last. It’s going to be a big challenge.”

“We’re focusing on winning one more game,” said Schantz. “Would we like to win a championship? Absolutely, but you can’t get that unless you beat RGV this weekend.”

PREVIEW: Rising's Oktoberfest Match, Tomorrow vs. Sacramento

Phoenix Rising FC (20-5-5) earned three points in a 6-3 win at Las Vegas last Saturday, and now are tied with Tampa Bay (21-7-2) on 65 points for the best regular-season record in the USL Championship this season.

Rising's six goals scored vs. Vegas tied a franchise record for most in a game. David Egbo, Joey Calistri, Santi Moar, Darnell King and Luis Seijas all scored for Phoenix, while Aodhan Quinn picked up three assists. Rising’s youngest player, Niall Dunn, made his professional debut at age 16, playing the full 90 minutes at center back.

Phoenix now turns it's attention home to Wild Horse Pass, where it could remain throughout playoffs, if things fall its way, beginning this weekend with Sacramento Republic. While Rising won the first two matchups in Sacramento, the clubs drew 0-0 in the most-recent meeting on August 21 in Phoenix. All three games have been close affairs, decided by one goal or less.

With a win on Saturday, Phoenix would clinch the top seed in the Western Conference, guaranteeing home-field advantage through the Western Conference Finals. In order to secure the best record in the league and home field advantage in the league Finals, Rising will need to pick up at least one more point than Tampa in its last two games. Tampa holds the tiebreaker of goal-differential in head-to-head matches due to its 2-1 win in Tampa Bay on May 15. Home field advantage would be huge for a Phoenix team that is unbeaten at Wild Horse Pass (11-0-3).

But to get where it wants to be, Rising is focused on accomplishing the tasks in front of the team, one at a time.

"It's Sacramento, this is just one week," said Rising head coach Rick Schantz. "We have to treat this game as if it's the first round of the playoffs. It's a must-win game for us. If we do that, then we get the right frame of mind for two weeks. Then, we'll be prepared for playoffs."

Rising’s six goals scored vs. Vegas tied a franchise record for most in a game. David Egbo, Joey Calistri, Santi Moar, Darnell King and Luis Seijas all scored for Phoenix, while Aodhan Quinn picked up three assists. Rising’s youngest player, Niall Dunn, made his professional debut at age 16, playing the full 90 minutes at center back.

Phoenix now turns it’s attention home to Wild Horse Pass, where it could remain throughout playoffs, if things fall its way, beginning this weekend with Sacramento Republic. While Rising won the first two matchups in Sacramento, the clubs drew 0-0 in the most-recent meeting on August 21 in Phoenix. All three games have been close affairs, decided by one goal or less.

But to get where it wants to be, Rising is focused on accomplishing the tasks in front of the team, one at a time.

“It’s Sacramento, this is just one week,” said Rising head coach Rick Schantz. “We have to treat this game as if it’s the first round of the playoffs. It’s a must-win game for us. If we do that, then we get the right frame of mind for two weeks. Then, we’ll be prepared for playoffs.”

PREVIEW: Rising at Vegas, Tomorrow at 2 PM

Phoenix Rising FC (19-5-5, 61 PTS) dropped a 1-0 decision to Orange County on Wednesday night in Irvine, California. Phoenix dominated possession (57.7%) and outshot Orange County 14-12, but was unable to overcome an early goal by Orange County’s Ben Mines.

The defending Western Conference Champions now head to Las Vegas on Saturday, October 16 (2 PM), for what could be the final road match of the season. Vying for the best overall record in the league with Tampa Bay (20-7-1, 61 PTS) and El Paso (16-2-10, 58 PTS), Phoenix would host each round of the 2021 playoffs at Wild Horse Pass if it can finish the regular season atop the league table.

Rising is 8-5-2 on the road, one of three teams in the league to win eight matches away this season, along with Tampa (8-5-1) and Birmingham (8-4-3).

Vegas and Phoenix are meeting for the fourth time this season. While Rising had decisive wins at home vs. Lights FC, the two teams split the spoils, 2-2, last time out at Cashman Field on August 7.

Rising Head Coach Rick Schantz says his team is prepared for the tough atmosphere in Las Vegas, and despite defeating the Lights 4-1 in its most-recent matchup, Phoenix not be overlooking this youthful squad.

“It’s good we understand what the atmosphere there is like,” said Schantz. “A lot of our guys hadn’t played there before. They didn’t realize what a circus it was. You’ve got a difficult field. It’s a bit smaller. You have a very good, energetic, young team that can cover more space in smaller spaces. It can be challenging. For us, coming off a loss, it’s important we take it very seriously.”

After dropping points to Orange County on Wednesday, Phoenix will be eager to get three points as it attempts to hold off Tampa Bay and finish with the best regular-season record in the league.

Undefeated at Wild Horse Pass (11-0-3) this season, Rising would be the odds-on favorite to claim the 2021 USL Championship trophy this postseason, if all its matches are played at home. It may still be the favorite even if the league final is played in Tampa… where Rising has some unfinished business.

Rising is 8-5-2 on the road, one of three teams in the league to win eight matches away this season, along with Tampa (8-5-1) and Birmingham (8-4-3).

Vegas and Phoenix are meeting for the fourth time this season. While Rising had decisive wins at home vs. Lights FC, the two teams split the spoils, 2-2, last time out at Cashman Field on August 7.

After dropping points to Orange County on Wednesday, Phoenix will be eager to get three points as it attempts to hold off Tampa Bay and finish with the best regular-season record in the league.

Preview: Rising Battles Orange County Tomorrow at 7PM

Phoenix Rising FC (19-4-5) earned its second consecutive shutout and a 1-0 win vs. Oakland Roots last weekend at Wild Horse Pass. Darren Mattocks scored the lone goal of the match, netting his fifth in only eight appearances with the club. Phoenix remains unbeaten at home (11-0-3), as well as unbeaten when (14-0-4) when Andre Rawls starts in goal.

Four games now remain in the regular season, as Rising looks to lock up home field advantage through the entirety of the playoffs with a first place finish in the league standings. With 62 points, Phoenix has a one-point lead over Tampa Bay, who also has four games left on its schedule.

Rising will travel to Orange County on Wednesday and Las Vegas on Saturday, before closing out the season with two games at Wild Hose Pass. While Phoenix has gone 2-0-1 against Orange County this season, the wins have been close affairs – all were decided by a single goal.

Orange County comes into Wednesday's match having lost two straight. The club sits third in the Pacific Division with 37 points. OCSC has not clinched a playoff spot yet, with LA, Oakland, Tacoma, and Sacramento all within striking distance.

Phoenix has been dominant on offense all year, leading the league in goals (60) and shots (560), but its defense has been the reason for the club's last two wins, which came via shutout on Oct. 2 in Orange County and at home on Oct. 9.

Rising conceded 10 goals in six matches during September, but has yet to allow a goal this month – a promising trend according to the proverb "defense wins champinships," and a team heading into a postseason with a strong case of unfinished business.

"We're officially getting into playoff soccer mode," said Rising goalkeeper Andre Rawls. "We're down to four games left. It's crunch time. This isn't the time to be letting the foot off the gas. This is the time to be perfecting it. This is the time when winning is everything. Winning our individual battles is everything. As a core defensively, if we win our individual battles, we keep a clean sheet. We've proven that."

Orange County comes into Wednesday’s match having lost two straight. The club sits third in the Pacific Division with 37 points. OCSC has not clinched a playoff spot yet, with LA, Oakland, Tacoma, and Sacramento all within striking distance.

Phoenix has been dominant on offense all year, leading the league in goals (60) and shots (560), but its defense has been the reason for the club’s last two wins, which came via shutout on Oct. 2 in Orange County and at home on Oct. 9.

Rising conceded 10 goals in six matches during September, but has yet to allow a goal this month – a promising trend according to the proverb “defense wins champinships,” and a team heading into a postseason with a strong case of unfinished business.

“We’re officially getting into playoff soccer mode,” said Rising goalkeeper Andre Rawls. “We’re down to four games left. It’s crunch time. This isn’t the time to be letting the foot off the gas. This is the time to be perfecting it. This is the time when winning is everything. Winning our individual battles is everything. As a core defensively, if we win our individual battles, we keep a clean sheet. We’ve proven that.”

PREVIEW: Rising Hosts Oakland Tomorrow at 7:30 PM

Phoenix Rising FC (18-4-5) secured top seed in the Pacific Division and a first-round home playoff match with a 1-0 win Saturday in Orange County.

Darren Mattocks scored the lone goal of the match for Rising. The defending Western Conference Champions picked up a regular-season victory in Orange County for the first time since August 7, 2016. Andre Rawls finished the match with fives saves to produce Phoenix’s ninth clean sheet of the season and its first since August 21.

After playing the last three matches on the road, the Pacific Division Champions return home to Wild Horse Pass to take on Oakland Roots SC on October 9. Phoenix remains unbeaten at home, where it boasts a 10-0-3 record and has outscored opponents 38-10.

Oakland (9-11-7) has dramatically stepped up its game in the last few months. After starting the year with only one win in its first 13 matches, Oakland has gone 8-3-3 since August 14. Roots now sit fourth in the Pacific Division, clinging to a playoff spot. LA Galaxy II, Sacramento Republic and Tacoma Defiance all are within four points of Oakland, meaning Roots will enter Saturday's match at Wild Horse Pass with plenty of urgency.

"We know they're going to be extremely hungry and aggressive," said Rising Head Coach Rick Schantz. "They want to play. They're a good team. They've got some good players. We're going to have to be extremely sharp and strong, and ready for the match."

It will be the fourth and final matchup between the two teams. While Rising won the first two games, the Roots responded with a 3-1 victory in the last meeting on August 25. That loss ended a 10-game unbeaten streak for Phoenix.

Rising heads back out on the road for two matches next Wednesday (Orange County) and Saturday (Las Vegas) with one eye on Tampa Bay and El Paso. If Phoenix can continue to preform well heading into playoffs, it has a shot at claiming the regular-season championship and securing home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

"This is what we expect from our players at Phoenix Rising," said Schantz. "When it gets to be this time of year, all of our guys understand that this is when you pick it up another notch. This is the time of year we love in Arizona."

Phoenix Rising FC (18-4-5) secured top seed in the Pacific Division and a first-round home playoff match with a 1-0 win Saturday in Orange County.

Oakland (9-11-7) has dramatically stepped up its game in the last few months. After starting the year with only one win in its first 13 matches, Oakland has gone 8-3-3 since August 14. Roots now sit fourth in the Pacific Division, clinging to a playoff spot. LA Galaxy II, Sacramento Republic and Tacoma Defiance all are within four points of Oakland, meaning Roots will enter Saturday’s match at Wild Horse Pass with plenty of urgency.

“We know they’re going to be extremely hungry and aggressive,” said Rising Head Coach Rick Schantz. “They want to play. They’re a good team. They’ve got some good players. We’re going to have to be extremely sharp and strong, and ready for the match.”

“This is what we expect from our players at Phoenix Rising,” said Schantz. “When it gets to be this time of year, all of our guys understand that this is when you pick it up another notch. This is the time of year we love in Arizona.”

PREVIEW: Rising at LA Galaxy II, Wednesday at 7:30 on ESPN+

Phoenix Rising FC (17-3-5, 56 points) officially became the first team in the USL Championship to qualify for the 2021 postseason with a 2-1 win over Tacoma Defiance on Saturday. Jon Bakero put in a goal off the bench, while Santi Moar scored the game-winner for Rising in the 90th minute of the match. It was Moar’s sixth consecutive match with a goal, just one shy of Solomon Asante's 2019 record of seven consecutive games.

Next up for Phoenix is LA Galaxy II in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29. The two clubs will meet for the fourth and final time this season, with Rising taking the first three games. While Rising won the first two matchups handily (3-0 and 5-0), it took an LA own-goal in the final seconds of stoppage time for Phoenix to secure a 4-3 victory in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Rising comes into the match on a six-game winning streak, its longest since winning 20 straight in a historic 2019 season. Phoenix brings another streak into the match, having won a club-best 13 straight regular-season games against Galaxy II.

Los Angeles, who sits in sixth place in the Pacific Division, is coming off victories over Oakland and Sacramento. Those wins were Los Dos' first consecutive wins of the season. LA has been a strong offensive team all season, tied for sixth in the league with 42 goals, but their struggles have come on the defensive end. LA has given up 46 goals – fourth-most in the league.

"This is a very good attacking team," said head coach Rick Schantz of Los Dos on Sept. 7. "They like to take shots. They like to be in one-on-one situations. They like to go forward but they've struggled a bit defensively."

LA Galaxy II's results have taken on a different look since giving up four goals in back-to-back loses to San Diego and Phoenix on Sept. 5 and Sept. 11. Since then, LA is 2-0-0 with consecutive shutout wins, meaning this second meeting between the clubs in LA in September may not be the same shootout-style match as the last game.

Los Angeles, who sits in sixth place in the Pacific Division, is coming off victories over Oakland and Sacramento. Those wins were Los Dos’ first consecutive wins of the season. LA has been a strong offensive team all season, tied for sixth in the league with 42 goals, but their struggles have come on the defensive end. LA has given up 46 goals – fourth-most in the league.

“This is a very good attacking team,” said head coach Rick Schantz of Los Dos on Sept. 7. “They like to take shots. They like to be in one-on-one situations. They like to go forward but they’ve struggled a bit defensively.”

LA Galaxy II’s results have taken on a different look since giving up four goals in back-to-back loses to San Diego and Phoenix on Sept. 5 and Sept. 11. Since then, LA is 2-0-0 with consecutive shutout wins, meaning this second meeting between the clubs in LA in September may not be the same shootout-style match as the last game.

Match Preview

Playoffs Round 3: Conference Finals

Playoffs Round 2: Conference Semifinals

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