PHOENIX, Arizona (Wednesday, April 20) – Phoenix Rising FC extended its current winning streak to five games with a 2-1 win vs. New Mexico United in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup tournament tonight at Wild Horse Pass.
Phoenix will learn its opponent in the fourth-round draw being held by U.S. Soccer tomorrow at 9 a.m. local time. That match will be played in May but Rising must prepare to face The Miami FC in a regular season match at Wild Horse Pass this Saturday, April 23 (7:30 p.m.)
Tonight, Phoenix broke through in the sixth minute when Aodhan Quinn played a quick ball into the corner for Calistri. The midfielder caught up to the pass on the right edge of the area and attempted to play a cross to the back post. Fortunately for Rising, a New Mexico defender slid in to block the cross and redirected the ball up, high into the air, and over the head of United goalkeeper Ford Parker. The looping shot dipped over the head of Parker and into the back of the next, giving Rising an early, 1-0 lead.
Calistri nearly had a second in the 42nd minute when Joe Farrell stepped in to intercept a pass and start a counterattack. Farrell’s pass found the feet of Marcus Epps, who took off towards goal before distributing out wide to Calistri. The Chicago native feinted outside before coming back with a move to the middle of the field. He tried to slip a curling, left-footed shot just inside the post to Parker’s right side, but the ball skipped just beyond the bar.
New Mexico equalized in the 65th minute when a long ball played over the top got in-between Phoenix’s back line and goalkeeper Ben Lundt. Rising’s goalkeeper was unable to beat United’s Neco Brett to the 50-50 ball and the speedy striker poked a shot past Lundt to knot the score, 1-1.
Ryan Flood took a pass from Santi Moar in the 72nd minute and tried to pick out a spot behind Parker but the goalkeeper came off his line to slam the door on the wingback from very close range.
Hamilton High School alumni Channing Chasten set up the game-winner in the 80th minute, when he swung in a cross from the right flank. Santi Moar was there to head the ball back across the face of goal to Greg Hurst, who was wide open in the center of the six-yard box. Hurst redirected a header that pinged off the back post and settled into the net to send Rising into the next round.
Scoring:
PHX – Joey Calistri 6
NM – Neco Brett 65
PHX – Greg Hurst (Santi Moar) 81
Discipline:
NM – Daniel Bruce (caution) 8
NM – Neco Brett (caution) 38
PHX – Manuel Madrid (caution) 80
Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Ben Lundt, Channing Chasten (Luis Seijas 83), Joe Farrell, Manuel Madrid, Kevon Lambert, Baboucar Njie (Ryan Flood 61), Aodhan Quinn, Arturo Rodriguez, Joey Calistri (Darnell King 89), Marcus Epps (Santi Moar 61), Claudio Repetto (Greg Hurst 61).
Substitutes Not Used: Lalo Delgado, Richmond Antwi.
New Mexico United – Ford Parker, Austin Yearwood, Will Seymore, Alexis Souahy, Sam Hamilton (Preston Etaka 31), Harry Swartz (Jerome Kiesewetter 71), Justin Portillo, Daniel Bruce (Raddy Ovouka 46), Chris Wehan, Neco Brett, Ilija Ilic (Michael Azira 58).
Substitutes Not Used: Sergio Rivas, Carl Sainte, Christian Nava.
Rising head coach Rick Schantz
General thoughts on the match…
For us to be able to move on against a very good team, and to beat them twice, our guys showed a lot of heart and commitment. I’m very proud. We played two or three different systems in tonight’s game that we have never played before. We had three days to put it into place. It worked out perfectly other than when we got a little bit lazy and gave up that goal. Other than that I thought we were very good.
Rising midfielder Joey Calistri
General thoughts on the match…
To play New Mexico United twice in a short span, it was difficult. We came out and took it one game at a time. It’s fun. We want to make a run in the U.S. Open Cup. But now, after this, it’s back to a league match on Saturday. One game at a time.
We were playing well tonight. We were defending well. We had chances but we gave up a goal that we didn’t want to give up. The character to fight back and score another goal and seal the game was incredible.
Rising forward Greg Hurst
General thoughts on the match…
It’s always good to score goals, especially a game-winner. It was our second game in five days against that team, so we knew it was going to be tough. It feels good to come away with a win.
