Rising secures comeback result in the Lone Star State
Phoenix Rising closed a busy week out with a road result, scoring in the 70th minute to secure a point in its first meeting against El Paso Locomotive FC of 2026 with a 1-1 draw on June 13 at Southwest University Park. Following the match, Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah, forward Damián Rivera and midfielder JP Scearce spoke about the match, the team’s fight and takeaways from the away day.
HEAD COACH PA-MODOU KAH
On his thoughts on the match…
“It was a fight. It shows our will. We were missing a little bit of the intensity I would say, but we came back and for that you have to credit the fight.”
On how tonight compares to the midweek match…
“I am happy that we came back. I’m happy that we’re getting players back in the mix with Dom (Badji) and Kelvin (Arase), along with Damian (Rivera). Getting those healthy bodies shows what a different team we can be. But after a long and hard week, it’s now time to regroup. We have a couple of days before we go again next Saturday.”
On the play of JP Scearce and Damian Rivera…
“We know (Scearce) can be the guy who gives us things in attack. I’m very happy that he scored the goal, delighted for the fight...For Damian, that is his quality. That’s why I say getting healthy bodies back and players who are difference makers for our team. We saw that today.”
FORWARD DAMIÁN RIVERA
On his thoughts on the match…
“It was back and forth. We stuck together and wanted the three points here, but we didn’t leave empty-handed. We still have work to do, but we’re focused on next week.”
On the message coming into the match in the second half and his assist…
“(Kah) told me to be direct, create something and the first touch for me I did that. I’m happy.”
On coming off the bench…
“For me, coming off the bench down in a game, there isn’t as much pressure in a way. For me, my mindset was to be aggressive, and that’s what I did.”
On closing a busy week…
“It wasn’t an easy week. Louisville midweek and here in El Paso tonight, two very difficult games. We stuck together here and got a point on the road.
MIDFIELDER JP SCEARCE
On his thoughts on the match…
“It was a bit tough at the end of a three-game week. We could have been better in possession, cleaner on the ball, played more simple instead of forcing it. But I think we reacted well to going down a goal. We showed a lot of fight and character to come back into the game. Those are positives we can take going into next week as we try and get a win next weekend.”
On scoring the goal.…
“It feels good to score. To tie the game after going down. We could have scored a couple more had we been cleaner on the ball, but it feels good to score. Hopefully there are more goals to come.”
On the team’s fight…
“We showed a lot of fight and character. It’s not easy going down a goal away from home. To show that fight sums up the type of team we are. We never give up and are always going to fight until the end.”
