IRVINE, California (Saturday, May 20) – Phoenix Rising FC (4-2-4) picked up its second road win of the season and picked up its first shutout of the year in a 1-0 win against Orange County tonight at Championship Soccer Stadium.
Manuel Arteaga scored the lone goal for Phoenix in the second half. The goal was Arteaga’s team-leading fifth of the season. Rising is back in action at home next Friday, May 26 for $1 Beer Night at 38th St/Washington (7:30 p.m.). Tickets for that match are available here or by calling 623-594-9606.
Phoenix Rising withstood early pressure from Orange County in the opening 10 minutes of the match. Rocco Rios Novo, the league leader in saves coming into the game added two more to his total to keep the game scoreless until Phoenix gained it bearings. The team began to control the ball, won three corner kicks and had a goal called back for an offsides ruling in the second 10 minutes of the match.
Danny Trejo and Eddie Munjoma combined on the left flank to produce Rising’s best chance of the first half in the 28th minute. Munjoma, making his third start of the season, cut inside and attempted to pick out the far post with a curling shot but Orange County goalkeeper Colin Shutler made a diving save to his left side to push the ball out for a corner kick.
Phoenix took a 1-0 lead in the 67th minute when Renzo Zambrano lofted the ball over the top for Artega. Rising’s No. 9 got a foot to the long pass, bringing it down in the area and shielding off a defender, before turning, getting to the end line, and turning the corner at the near post. Arteaga got off a left-footed shot from close range. The ball deflected off the knee of the goalkeeper before ricocheting into the far side netting to put the visitors up a goal with 23 minutes left to play.
Rising’s defense took it from there, limiting Orange County to one shot on goal in the second half to secure the clean sheet.
Scoring:
Manuel Arteaga (Renzo Zambrano) 67
Discipline:
PHX – Alejandro Fuenmayor (caution) 5
OC – Ryan Doghman (caution) 50
OC –Ben Norris (caution) 81
Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Rios Novo, Daniel Krutzen, Kevon Lambert, Darnell King (Baboucarr Njie 69), Eddie Munjoma, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Danny Trejo, Renzo Zambrano, Carlos Harvey, Manuel Arteaga, Jose Andres Hernandez (Fede Varela 69).
Substitutes Not Used: Patrick Rakovsky, Carlos Anguiano, Liam Mullins, Joel Torbic, Jackson Conway.
Orange County – Colin Shutler, Owen Lamb (Brent Richards 46), Ryan Doghman, Marcus Nakkim, Dillon Powers, Daniel Pedersen (Ashton Miles 60), Bryce Jamison (Alex Villanueva 65), Seth Casiple, Kyle Scott (Ben Norris 74), Milan Iloski, Marc McNulty (Brian Iloski 46).
Substitutes Not Used: Cody Cropper, Nico Ruiz.
