Rising Travels to Irvine for Its Final Away Game of the Regular Season
Rising is coming off a 3-2 victory over Las Vegas Lights FC last Saturday and looks to keep its playoff hopes alive as it travels to Irvine for its final away match of the regular season. Saturday’s matchup marks the fourth meeting between Rising and Orange County SC this season. The sides played to a 1-1 draw in league action on March 14 in Phoenix before Rising secured a 2-1 extra-time victory in the U.S. Open Cup and a 2-1 win in the USL Prinx Tires Cup.
“I feel really confident to go there and get three points,” Studenhofft said. “I think the guys are really in a good area right now, a good head space. So what matters is we focus on one game at a time and go there and do our best to win the game.”
GAMEDAY INFORMATION –
WHAT: Phoenix Rising at Orange County SC
WHEN: Saturday, October 17 (7:00 p.m. PT)
WHERE: Championship Soccer Stadium (Irvine, CA)
HOW TO WATCH: Golazo, AZFS, ESPN+, 90MasRising (Spanish)
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
With just three points separating Phoenix Rising from the playoffs, the club has continued to create chances regardless of the final scoreline. Looking back two games, Rising recorded a season high 24 shots to New Mexico’s 11 while holding just under 54% possession. Rising stacked on that performance with a 3-2 win over Las Vegas Lights, recording 15 shots to Las Vegas’ nine and putting five shots on target compared to three. Rising’s ability to generate chances and pressure opposing defenses has remained consistent throughout the season and will be critical as the season concludes.
“I believe we stood there like we were ready for the moment. We’re ready to move into the next one because you get another opportunity to showcase yourself, and we can showcase who we are even better, and put pressure, because that’s what you want to do. We have a great opportunity on Saturday to apply that pressure on Orange County, and that’s what we’re looking to do.”
SPOTLIGHT ON SACKO
Ihsan Sacko recorded a brace in Phoenix Rising’s 3-2 win over Las Vegas Lights FC, earning a spot in the top four USL Championship Goals of the Week. Not only that, Sacko was named Player of the Week and in the starting lineup for the USL Team of the Week. Sacko opened the scoring in the 24th minute off a ball over the top from Jean Eric Moursou before adding a penalty in the 54th minute. With 14 goals this season, Sacko is tied for second in the league, just two goals behind the Golden Boot leader. His Team of the Week selection marks his sixth of the season.
“I think it’s great, I think he’s well deserving. Obviously coming off two goals you’re always going to put yourself into the picture,” Kah said. “The crazy part with him is in every game that he plays, he always has 1 or 2 moments where he can be decisive. And again, he took his chances very well. So, you can tell for him it was about time.”
A FAMILIAR FOE
Orange County SC enters the matchup three points ahead of Rising in seventh place with a 10-9-9 record and 39 points, level with San Antonio. Orange County is looking to keep its playoff hopes alive but is 1-4-0 in its last five matches and coming off a 2-1 loss to El Paso Locomotive FC. Yaniv Bazini leads the squad with nine goals, followed by Ousmane Sylla with six. Overall, the squad has scored 37 goals while conceding 44 this season.
“I think we don’t go away from how we’ve been playing. I think we go there and we bring our game to them. They’re obviously in a situation where they need to win as well so it has to be who wants it more and I believe us, Phoenix Rising, our guys, we want it. We know what we have to do together and get the three points.”
