PHOENIX, Arizona (Saturday, August 6) – Phoenix Rising FC extended its shutout streak to 455 minutes, the second-longest streak in franchise history, with its fifth consecutive clean sheet tonight in a 0-0 draw with Las Vegas at Wild Horse Pass.
Las Vegas’ Cal Jennings got in-behind Phoenix’s back line and went one-on-one against goalkeeper Ben Lundt in the 10th minute of the match. Jennings attempted to take a touch around the left side of Lundt, but the goalkeeper stuck out his leg and made a kick save on the play. Seconds later Vegas had Lundt beat but defender Darnell King slid across the goal line to once again extend Rising’s shutout streak, which had already become the second-longest in club history.
Rising continued to control large portions of the match, but Vegas created more dangerous scoring opportunities through the 29th minute. Just then, JJ Williams fought through a pack of defenders at the top of the area and got off a left-footed shot that was deflected on its way towards goal. The shot ricocheted off the left post and smacked Vegas goalkeeper Tomas Romero in the back before he recovered and dove on the rebound.
Lundt was called upon again in stoppage time of the first half when Lights FC‘s Danny Trejo brought
the ball down in a crowed area and dribbled through three defenders at the top of the six-yard box. Trejo looked to have the far post open but decided to try and slip a shot under Lundt’s left foot at the near post. The goalkeeper had it covered, making his third save of the night.
Rising won four corner kicks in short succession to start the second half. The most dangerous came in the 64th minute when Luis Seijas took a short corner and clipped a pass to the back post. There, James Musa came free and attempted to fit a corner between the post and the goalkeeper but pushed his header just wide of the post.
Lundt finished the evening with four saves. He now leads the league in saves (80) and ranks fifth in USL with eight shutouts, two behind the leader Matt Van Okel (10).
Scoring:
NONE
Discipline:
LV – Jorge Almaguer (caution) 9
PHX – Santi Moar (caution) 45+5
LV – Darón Iskenderian (caution) 53
PHX – Richmond Antwi (caution) 90
LV – Dekel Keinan (caution) 90+4
LV – Mohaned Traore (caution) 90+6
Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Ben Lundt, Darnell King, Joe Farrell, James Musa, Joey Calistri, Kevon Lambert, Luis Seijas (Koze Donasiyano 70), Aodhan Quinn, Baboucarr Njie (Arturo Rodriguez 58), Santi Moar (Greg Hurst 58), JJ Williams (Richmond Antwi 88).
Substitutes Not Used: Lalo Delgado, Marcus Ferkranus, Lamin Jawneh.
Las Vegas Lights FC – Tomas Romero, Mohaned Traore, Alejandro Lara, Tony Leone, Dekel Keinan, Ima Iskenderian (Erik Duenas 77), Frank Daroma, Daniel Trejo, Cal Jennings (Nathan Ordaz 88), Jorge Almaguer (Morten Bjorshol 70), Daniel Crisostomo.
Substitutes Not Used: Abaraham Romero, Nathan Sepulveda, Nathan Ordaz.
Rising head coach Rick Schantz
General thoughts on the match…Five straight clean sheets is pretty impressive. We also have played a lot of really good attacking teams lately. We dominated possession tonight but struggled to break them down. Overall, we’re continuing to improve. It was nice to get Arturo [Rodriguez] out there for a little bit longer tonight. We were settling to hit crosses a little too early. We weren’t shooting from the top of the box and that’s where the space was, I think. It’s a little bit frustrating but I told the team as long as they continue to get clean sheets, we’ll be ok.
