Match Preview Presented by Mayo Clinic
Phoenix Rising FC (1-3-1) returns home for an early season matchup against Colorado Springs Switchbacks (0-4-0) this Saturday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Rising’s opponents the next two weeks – Colorado Springs and Pittsburgh both finished higher in the league standings last season. Head-to-head, Phoenix was 0-2-1 against Colorado Springs and Pittsburgh in 2023. The Switchbacks were also the last team to beat Rising (October 14) before the team reeled off four consecutive wins to claim the 2023 USL Championship Trophy.
Last season aside, these three clubs are now a combined 1-10-2 in the new but young 2024 season.
“We have a lot of focus on going after two wins at home in the next two weeks,” said Rising head coach Danny Stone. “As far as the teams we are playing, we’re aware of our opponent. We’re always aware of their situation within the league, however, there is no bigger expectation than the one that comes from within our dressing room.”
Rising’s concern had been offense going into last week’s matchup in Tulsa. Its defense had allowed 0.75 goals per game prior to April 5 but gave up three in a 3-3 draw last time out. The good news is that forwards Dariusz Formella and Remi Cabral (x2) broke the ice and the team will now be looking to put it all together just in time for a two-game homestand.
“Three goals away from home is a big positive,” said Stone. “And with just 10 men, we won a penalty and equalized. We created moments with 10 players. We had drive and energy. We were committed to not just leaving the game where it was at and defend the point.”
“We’re hungry,” added Cabral. “We want more next game. Three goals is good for our confidence, but we cannot stop there. I look forward to getting more goals for the team. You need to be a killer in front of goal in this league. You don’t have many chances to be the difference. Against Tulsa, we had three or four chances. We scored three goals. We need to be killers in front of goal.”
On paper, finishing has also been the Achillies heel for Colorado. Despite adding Ronaldo Damus in the offseason – a player that scored as many goals as Charleston, Sacramento and Orange County combined vs. Rising in the playoffs last season, Switchbacks have produced just two shots on goal per game this season.
“Attackers always want to score so it was good for [Formella and Cabral] to find the back of the net,” said Rising Captain John Stenberg who returned from illness to make his first start of the season vs. Tulsa. “I’m sure that game boosted their confidence. That will be good for us as a team. We always have to believe we will score. We’ve been shaking off the rust in that area as a team, so I am happy we were able to get three goals.”
“There is always pressure to play for Phoenix Rising,” said Stenberg. “Especially at home. We haven’t performed at our best yet. That’s pressure to us and we like that pressure. We want it that way. We’re ready for it. We don’t focus too much on what Colorado has been going through. We focus on us and try to do better.”
Stenberg joined Rising for the final 16 games of the 2023 season, steadying the ship and eventually scoring in the final to lead the club to its first USL Championship Title. Imagine what he can do with the 29 regular-season games remaining this season.
