Rising continues to climb the Western Conference table following a “statement” win in Pittsburgh
Phoenix Rising needed just one goal to pick up its third straight victory in USL Championship play, defending a one-goal lead en route to a 1-0 victory over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on May 2 at F.N.B. Stadium.
Following the match, Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah and midfielder JP Scearce discussed the result, building confidence and picking up momentum in league play.
HEAD COACH PA-MODOU KAH
On his thoughts on the match…
“It was a great performance from the lads. You play against the defending champions and during the week I told the players that when you play against a champion – because that’s what we want to become – you have to go in there and take what you deserve. Today I think we played to our game plan very well and it was a very mature performance.”
On the club’s recent road performances…
“I think they have been fantastic. It’s a group that has shown resilience, a group that is working and fighting together. It’s a family and a group that adapts quickly to the circumstances that we are in. Everybody worked and were fantastic. For us to keep a clean sheet and keep building, we’re happy and still have a way to go.”
On the Academy players continuing to step up …
“The academy players have been magnificent for us. They’re well led and take their chances when they have the opportunity. That’s all we can do and ask for as a coaching staff… We’re very grateful to the academy players and the ways they are playing and showing their character. We have to continue to build off that with their pathway.”
MIDFIELDER JP SCEARCE
On his thoughts on the match…
“It was a difficult match, but I’m very happy with how we managed the game. We were very brave on the ball, defended together as a unit and happy to have gotten the result. It’s a statement win for us.”
On recent results on the road…
“The team has been gelling together, growing in confidence and it’s translating onto the field where you can see us playing with a lot of confidence.”
On being the first team to win in Pittsburgh this season…
“It’s a statement win for us. (Pittsburgh) is a very hard team for us to beat at home and for us to have done it says a lot about how the team is doing right now. Hopefully we can keep building on this win.”
