Phoenix Rising regains form with a home win over New Mexico

The Phoenix Rising beat rivals New Mexico United 3-2 thanks to a brace from Joey Calistri and a last-minute screamer from Santo Moar.

New Mexico hit Sergio Rivas with a throw early in the 10th minute.

The first half was full of tough tackles from both teams, with Rising’s Arturo Rodriguez receiving a yellow card along with United’s Juan Guzman.

Phoenix responded by desperately pushing forward to create opportunities and firing 10 shots but only two on target. After 45 minutes it stayed 1-0.

Rising’s reaction came after half time when the game started to click.

“We didn’t start the way we wanted, but when we got in at halftime it was spraying in that locker room,” said Rawls. “We were all on fire and knew that we had this game in hand and that we would come out as a different team in the second half.”

The newly promoted goal game in the 59th minute with a low cross from Quinn to Calistri, who brought the ball past the United goalkeeper into the net.

Calistri brought the ball back into the net just ten minutes later in the 65th minute to give the newcomer a 2-1 lead.

United forced an own goal from Musa towards the end of the 80th minute, but Moar responded with a goal just ten minutes later to seal the much-needed win for the newly promoted team.

“After the tough results we’ve had in the last three or four games, the hitting back just shows the character of this team,” said Calistri.

Captain Solomon Asante didn’t return to the field tonight after suffering a hamstring injury last Saturday and could be out for a week or two, according to head coach Rick Schantz.

In addition to the loss of Asante due to an injury, the team lost goalkeeper Ben Lundt on Friday, who was recalled to Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.

Goalkeeper Andre Rawls saved the promoted team in the goalless draw last Saturday with nine shots blocked from defeat and this evening picked up his teammates after the own goal and led them to victory.

“It was just one of those unfortunate goals, the stars aimed for us to be a little unlucky,” said Rawls. “I told him we’d get it back, don’t worry.”

Darren Mattocks made his debut for the Rising in the 74th minute and had a chance to score with his first touch of the ball, but the shot went just wide of the post.

Today’s game marks the Rising’s second win against New Mexico United. Phoenix won their last game against New Mexico United in April 5-2 and New Mexico won their last game in 2020 4-0. In the 2019 season, the two teams faced each other three times and all ended in a draw.

Tonight, Phoenix got the better half of United and put on a show in front of their home audience and a noisy New Mexico traveler in the second half.

“It generates energy, our fans have also fed from their energy,” said Schantz. “I could see everyone was in that game and that’s the Phoenix Rising we’re used to. The fans gave us this win.”

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