Rising delivered a dominant performance against Orange County SC in its final away match of the 2026 regular season. The three-goal effort was a full-team performance, once again headlined by Ihsan Sacko, who recorded a brace. Pape Mar Boye added his first goal of the season when it mattered most, converting a Diego Gomez corner kick inside the opening 10 minutes to set the tone for the remainder of the match.
“We wanted to be on the front and aggressive,” Kah said. “You don’t need many messages…they understand the message themselves. They are unbelievable. We also know who we are and we keep fighting.”
Rising returns home for its final match of the regular season at home on Friday, October 24, to face Lexington SC for Fan Appreciation Night. With the postseason in sight, Rising will look to close out its home schedule on a high note as it continues its push for a playoff berth. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT.
THREE GOALS…THREE POINTS
For the second consecutive week, Rising scored three goals to secure all three points and move into eighth place and playoff contention with 39 points, three behind San Antonio. Last weekend, Ihsan Sacko recorded a brace alongside Gunnar Studenhofft. This week, Sacko delivered another brace, joined by Pape Mar Boye, who scored his first goal of the season. Jean Eric Moursou assisted Sacko’s opening goal, while Diego Gomez set up Boye’s goal to record his fifth assist of the season, the most by any Rising player.
“It’s going to be a battle back at home and we are going to have our home fans and we love our home and it’s literally the best in the country – the absolute best in the country,” Odunze said.
CAN’T STOP SACKO
After a standout week, French forward Ihsan Sacko doubled down with another brace against Orange County SC. With two goals last weekend and two more this week, Sacko now leads the league with 16 goals, the most of any player this season in the USL. Against Orange County, he recorded four shots, three on target, two put away.
“I think it’s an unbelievable achievement. I think he could have had more, that’s just me. and he knows that himself,” Kah said. “It’s a great thing and I hope he turns that into next week and the team helps him. He has been amazing.”
GOAL-SCORING PLAYS
PHX- PAPE MAR BOYE, 10: Off of a corner kick from Diego Gomez, the ball bounced off the body of Boye from inside the six-yard-box to the lower left corner.
PHX- IHSAN SACKO, 19: Ihsan Sacko dispossessed the Orange County defender and shot near-post of the keeper into the lower right side of the goal tallying his 15th of the season.
PHX- IHSAN SACKO, 57: Right footed cross from Jean Eric Moursou to the head of Sacko inside the six-yard-box to the center of the goal.
OC- YANIV BAZINI, 76: Left footed cross in from Ryan Doghman to the right foot of Bazini who took a touch through two Rising defenders and into low center.
NOTES
- This is the 39th time Phoenix Rising and Orange County SC have faced off across all competitions, the most frequent matchup between any two teams in the USL.
- This is the fourth time the two sides have met this season (2-0-1).
- Rising has held the edge in the regular-season series, owning a 14-11-10 all-time record dating back to 2014.
- Rising’s away record ends in 3-7-5.
- Pape Mar Boye scored his first goal of the season since 2024.
- Diego Gomez recorded his fifth assist, now leading the team ahead of Ihsan Sacko.
- Ihsan Sacko recorded his 15th goal of the season.
- Ihsan Sacko recorded his 16th goal of the season, nobody in the league has more.
- Jean Eric Moursou recorded his fourth assist of the season.
- Tate Schmitt had the most passes ending in the final third with nine of 10 successful.
Phoenix Rising (9-10-9, 36 pts) vs. Orange County (10-9-9, 39 pts)
Goals by Half: 1st – 2; 2nd – 2; FT – 4
Phoenix Rising: 1st – 2; 2nd – 1; FT – 3
Orange County: 1st – 0; 2nd – 1; FT – 1
Scoring Summary:
PHX: BOYE, 10
PHX: SACKO, 19
PHX: SACKO, 57
OC: BAZINI, 76
Misconduct Summary:
OC: Benalcázar, (caution); 15
PHX: Essengue, (caution); 51
PHX: Boye, (caution); 52
PHX: MOURSOU, (caution); 78
OC: HEGARDT, (caution); 79
PHX: SCHMITT, (caution); 81
Lineups:
PHX: GK Odunze, D Biasi (Torres, 87), D Essengue, D Boye, D Moursou, M Scearce, M Gomez (Pelayo, 87), M Schmitt, M Arase (Smith, 72), F Studenhofft (Badji, 79), F Sacko
Substitutes Not Used: GK Rakovsky, F Rivera, F Ambursley
TOTAL SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 FOULS: 24; OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 4
OC: GK Rando, D Doghman (Bunbury, 86), D Espy (Lindsey, 45), D Brewitt, D Benalcázar, M Palomino (Johnson, 66), M Partida (Cambridge, 35), M Sylla, F MacKinnon (Kelly, 35), F Bazini, F Hegardt
Substitutes Not Used: GK Kadono, D Tubbs, M Solis, F Wathuta
TOTAL SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 5
Referee: Matthew Corrigan
Assistant Referees: Salvador Reyes, Brendan Lucas
Fourth Official: Michael Almeida
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
