Phoenix Rising celebrates a 1-0 win over Oakland Roots at Laney College on August 4, 2021. (Twitter Photo / @ PHXRisingFC)
Phoenix Rising picked up a well-deserved three points in their 1-0 win over Oakland Roots in their first game, which was played on the new turf at Laney College Field on Wednesday night.
The win brings PRFC back to the top of the entire USL championship with the most points of all teams with 35.
Phoenix’s formidable form continues as Rising is now 6W-1D-0L in their last seven games (four wins in a row) and stands out from the rest of the competition with a top division goal difference of +25. The next best in USLC is Lousiville City at +14.
The PRFC did not allow a single shot on goal on the night on the way to their fourth goal in this period and the seventh in the 2021 season, with El Paso Locomotive, which is also the only club in the league, with the most in the league USL Championship are fighting to allow fewer goals than Phoenix with only 10 conceded compared to Risings 11.
Phoenix Rising coach Rick Schantz made three changes to his starting XI, replacing goalkeeper Andre Rawls, midfielder Jon Bakero and striker David Egbo in place of Ben Lundt, Arturo Rodriguez and Rufat Dadashov respectively.
Newly acquired Mexican center-back Manuel Madrid was there on Matchday 18, but the former Cruz Azul defender didn’t make his promoted debut that night.
Given the uncertainty of how the pitch would play – which consisted of six 75 x 25 meter strips attached to a platform with Velcro and described as a “gymnastics floor” – it took Phoenix Rising about 20 to 25 minutes had settled in the game under control.
Another look at Oakland’s new grass pitch, made up of six strips 75 yards wide by 20 yards long, connected to a platform with Velcro fasteners that # PRFC manager Rick Schantz described as “It’s like being on a gym floor.” #OAKvPHX | #RisingAsOne pic.twitter.com/05lcnKugZ6
– Jake Anderson (@ jwa1994) August 5, 2021
Oakland came in with most of the possession in the first half but didn’t put as much pressure on defense by choosing to stay compact, give PRFC time on the ball and force Rising to break roots.
The first half left a lot to be desired, as both teams were only able to score one combined shot on goal in a total of six attempts, four of which were from the PRFC.
Rising had a little more possession (54%) in the first 45 minutes, while the corners were evenly split between two players. Pass accuracy was also poor for both teams, with Phoenix topping this category with 73% of 197 passes completed, compared with 68% for Oakland with 172 passes.
The lone shot on the net was on the 45th of the night with three crucial saves and some major clearings.
A look at Santi Moars🇪🇸 shot that nearly got #PRFC in the lead👇🏼
0-0 | #OAKvPHX | #RisingAsOne pic.twitter.com/2pYuNkteFC
– Jake Anderson (@ jwa1994) August 5, 2021
Phoenix fired in the second 45-minute frame, finishing with a total of 10 shots (three on target) compared to Oakland’s five attempts. PRFC also ended up with 52% possession and six corners compared to Roots with 48% possession and three corners.
One of Rising’s misses included Aodhan Quinn’s shot form distance, which jammed the crossbar on the way over the goal and thus technically did not count as a shot on the net.
But PRFC finally broke through with the only goal of the night from Quinn in the 64th minute thanks to a great passing game that started with center-back Joe Farrell, who continued his formidable form to cement his place in Schantz’s starting XI.
The Philadelphia native played a long ball for captain Solomon Asante, who passed it to David Egbo at the top of the box after being dumped by Moar and then let into the back of the net by the Nigerian for Quinn, making it 1-0 in favor of Rising .
Consecutive matches with beautiful passing to a goal by Phoenix Rising.
0-1 | #OAKvPHX | #RisingAsOne pic.twitter.com/7DaGmqEoSf
– Jake Anderson (@ jwa1994) August 5, 2021
The combo game objective is the second in as many Phoenix games and proves to opposing teams that PRFC has the ability to disband teams trying to play in either low block and / or compact defensive form.
With Rising’s next game, which marks the official halftime for the club in the 2021 season (Game # 16 of 32), the team currently has the largest divisional lead in USLC with 10 points and one game in second place Orange County (25 points ) and the third-placed San Diego Loyal (24 points) in the Pacific Division.
El Paso – who has the second most points in the league with 34 – is even in games with PRFC and will keep the club for the top spot in the Western Conference and home advantage in the playoffs.
EXTRA TIME
Phoenix Rising No. 6 Kevon Lambert and Schantz both made their 100th appearances for PRFC, making it the second player and only the third club member to accomplish this feat in the club’s history after Asante did it earlier this season.
NEXT
Phoenix will end its two game road trip to the Las Vegas Lights on Saturday night.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on ArizonaSports.com and the Arizona Sports app.
Follow @ jwa1994
Comments are closed.