OAKLAND, Calif. (Saturday, June 24) – Phoenix Rising FC (5-4-7) drew, 1-1, at Oakland Roots tonight.
Manuel Arteaga scored the game-tying goal for Phoenix in the third minute of stoppage time. He was assisted on the play by Erickson Gallardo. The team returns to 38th St/Washington next Saturday, July 1 for Military Appreciation Night. Tickets for that match are available here or by calling 623-594-9606
Tonight, Rising nearly took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute when Carlos Harvey earned a free kick 30 yards from goal near the left sideline. Fede Varela opted to take the kick, lobbing a cross to the top of the six-yard box. Arteaga was there to contest the header with a slew of Roots defenders and Oakland goalkeeper Paul Blanchette. Arteaga was first to the ball, chipping a shot backwards towards goal, over the head of the goalkeeper, but the chance sailed inches wide of the post.
Oakland tested Rocco Rios Novo twice in the first 45 minutes. Both times the Argentine came up with the save. His best came in the 38th minute when Johnny Rodriguez got to the end line off to the goalkeeper’s left side. His centering pass went to Jeciel Cedeño who redirected a shot from very close range, but Rios Novo kicked out his left boot to make an outstanding kick save.
Oakland took a 1-0 lead in the 82nd minute when Lindo Mfeka played a through ball across the pitch to Dariusz Formella. The forward took a touch and rocketed a hard shot into the far corner of the net to give the home side the lead.
Phoenix created more chances throughout the second half and finished the game with a 14-9 edge in shots but could not find a way to put one past the Roots’ goalkeeper until stoppage time. Arteaga found a way just before the final whistle when Gallardo blew past his defender on the right side. The cross was perfect and Arteaga timed his run well, redirecting a header just under the crossbar for his ninth of the season.
Scoring:
OAK – Dariusz Formella (Lindo Mfeka) 82
PHX – Manuel Arteaga (Erickson Gallardo) 90+3
Discipline:
PHX – Manuel Arteaga (caution) 28
PHX – Danney Trejo (caution) 35
PHX – Gabi Torres (caution) 57
PHX – Eddie Munjoma (caution) 59
OAK – Trayvone Reid (caution) 90+1
Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Rios Novo, Daniel Krutzen, Alejandro Fuenmayor (Jose Andres Hernandez 84), Gabi Torres (Uzo 61), Danny Trejo, Renzo Zambrano, Carlos Harvey, Panos Armenakas, Fede Varela (Erickson Gallardo 61), Manuel Arteaga, Eddie Munjoma.
Substitutes Not Used: Patrick Rakovsky, Baboucarr Njie, Darnell King, Carlos Anguiano.
Oakland Roots – Paul Blanchette, Danny Barbir, Jaciel Cedeno, Wolfgang Prentice (Trayvone Reid 68), Memo Diaz, Napo Matsoso (Daniel Gomez 73), Joseph Nane Tarek Morad, Dariusz Formella, Johnny Rodriguez (Anuar Pelaez 88), Lindo Mfeka (Emrah Klimenta 88).
Substitutes Not Used: Taylor Bailey, Kevin Wright, Ryan Her, Taylor Bailey.
