Phoenix Rising earned a 3-1 victory over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Wednesday night at 38th & Washington. The two sides have now met three times this season, with the all-time series between the familiar foes sitting level at 9-9-3. Rising’s last victory over Colorado Springs before Wednesday came in August 2025, notably also on home turf. The result continued Phoenix’s strong form at 38th & Washington, where the club has lost just two of its 10 USL Championship matches this season, making its home stadium a difficult place for opponents to visit.
“It’s about finding your momentum,” Kah said. “Today, we were a united group that understood what is needed for the club and the desire to fight for the club. I’m always so proud of my players.”
Rising concludes its two-match week on the road with a trip to Sacramento, where it will face Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday at 8 p.m. PT. The two sides last met in May, when Phoenix came away with a 2-0 victory at 38th & Washington. Now, Rising will look to replicate that result on the road as it closes out a busy week of USL Championship action.
STEPPING UP
Phoenix Rising made the most of its only nationally televised match of the season, delivering a 3-1 victory over Colorado Springs at 38th & Washington. Ihsan Sacko set the tone once again, scoring the opening goal for the sixth time in USL Championship play this season and reaching double digits with his 10th league goal. Rising remained unbeaten at home when scoring first this season, improving to a 3-1-0 record in those matches.
“It was a good job from the team,” Sacko said. “We stepped up together so the hero tonight is the team because we did it all together.”
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Phoenix Rising’s depth was on full display against the Switchbacks, with Gunnar Studenhofft making an immediate impact off the bench. The forward scored his third USL Championship goal of the season – his first since July 5 against Colorado Springs – and has now contributed to two goals as a substitute this year, with one goal and one assist.
Notably, two of his three league goals this season have come against the Switchbacks. Diego Gómez also added his third assist of the campaign as Rising scored three goals in a USL Championship match for the first time since its 3-2 victory over Monterey Bay in July.
“Now we have to focus on Sacramento on Saturday,” Sacko said. “We have to recover well from the travel because we are playing away and it’s going to be a tough game. But, we’re going there to get three points.”
GOAL-SCORING PLAYS
PHX- IHSAN SACKO, 34: Diego Gomez makes a left footed pass near the center circle to the left side of the pitch to Ihsan Sacko who makes a right footed shot from near the PK mark into the lower center of the goal.
COS- ADRIEN PEREZ, 47: Right footed cross into the 18-yard-box to Bryce Jamison which developed into a scramble inside of the 6-yard-box dropping to the right foot of Perez going high center of the net.
PHX- OWN GOAL, 72: Jean Eric Moursou with a right footed cross inside of the 18-yard-box off the left foot of Matt Mahoney into the lower left hand corner of the net.
NOTES
- This match is the only nationally televised game for Phoenix Rising this season.
- Phoenix holds an 8-9-3 record across all competitions.
- Tate Schmitt made his debut for Phoenix Rising.
- Ihsan Sacko has now scored the opening goal in 6 USL Championship matches this season.
- Sacko has scored his 10th goal in the USL Championship this season
- Phoenix Rising have a record of W3, D1, L0 when scoring the opening goal at home in the USL Championship this season.
- Diego Gómez has assisted his third goal in the USL Championship this season.
- Gunnar Studenhofft has played a part in 2 goals after coming off the bench this USL Championship season (1 goal, 1 assist).
- Studenhofft has scored his third goal in the USL Championship this season, netting for the first time since 5th July 2026 against Colorado Springs.
- Two of Studenhofft’s three goals in the USL Championship this season have come against the Switchbacks.
- Phoenix Rising have scored 3 goals in the USL Championship game for the first time since 19th July 2026 against Monterey Bay (W: 3-2).
Phoenix Rising (5-7-7, 22 pts) vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks (8-7-4, 28 pts)
Goals by Half 2 1 FT
Phoenix Rising 1 2 3
Colorado Springs 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
PHX: SACKO: 35
COS: PEREZ: 47
PHX: OWN GOAL: 72
PHX: Studenhofft: 91
Misconduct Summary:
PHX: G. Rivera (caution); 27
COS: Lacroix (caution); 44
COS: Tejada (caution); 60
PHX: Scearce (caution); 82
Lineups:
PHX: GK Rakovsky, F Badji (Schmitt, 77), D Mar Boye, D Scearce, D Smith (Studenhofft, 85), D Flores (D. Rivera, 85), M Gomez (Czichos, 62) M Moursou, M G. Rivera (Pelayo, 62), F Sacko, F Dennis,
Substitutes Not Used: GK Odunze, D Ramirez, M Balanzar de la Cruz, F Ambursley
TOTAL SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 18; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 1
COS: GK Herrera, D LaCroix (Magee, 83), D Mahoney, D Maples, M Creek, M Daroma (Masereka, 63), M Rocha, M Williams (Echevarria, 78), F Jamison (Bennett, 62), F Perez, F Tejada (Fjeldberg, 83)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Shutler, D Decoteau
TOTAL SHOTS: 16; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 3
Referee: Matt Thompson
Assistant Referees: Salvador Reyes, Mark Novosel
Fourth Official: Jorge Medina
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
