PHOENIX, Arizona (Wednesday, April 6) – Phoenix Rising FC needed extra time, but it “survived and advanced” 1-0, in a second-round U.S. Open Cup match vs. Valley United FC tonight at Wild Horse Pass.
Claudio Repetto scored the lone goal for the home side in the 115th of 120 minutes. Rising must now wait for Friday’s draw (9 a.m. local), which will determine the team and site of its third-round match.
Tonight, Phoenix Rising traded a few corner-kick opportunities with Valley United FC through the opening 45 minutes but neither team could get a clear opportunity to take the lead. The most noteworthy event of the first half was Greg Hurst entering the match in the 42nd minute due to an injury to last season’s leading scorer Santi Moar.
Phoenix nearly broke through in the 52nd minute when Arturo Rodriguez sent a corner to the top of the six-yard box. There, Manuel Madrid fought through a pile of defenders to win the ball, knocking a header towards the near post. Fortunately for the visitors, goalkeeper Javier Olmedo dove far to his left side to push the attempt off the post and away from danger.
Rising got two more chances via corner kicks before the 70th minute, one on a diving header by Joe Farrell, who put his attempt just wide and a second from Rodriguez. Phoenix’s No. 10 whipped a corner kick into the area and the ball redirected towards goal, off a crowd of players in front, but Olmedo was equal to the task and kept the match tied, 0-0.
After Valley United was reduced to 10 men for a second caution issued to Sebastian Contreras, Luis Seijas rang a shot off the near post after combining with Darnell King and Rodriguez on the right flank in the 88th minute. Unfortunately for Rising that was as close as they would come to ending the match in regulation.
Phoenix began the first of two 15-minute overtime sessions by earning a free kick in a dangerous spot. Roughly 20 yards from goal, Seijas tried to curl the ball over the wall, but the attempt floated just over the crossbar.
Rodriguez forced another diving save out of Olmedo in the 110th minute of the match but it took until the 115th minute for a ball he sent in from the left flank to find the head of Madrid. The center back tipped the ball into the six-yard box, where Darnell King battled to create a chance for Claudio Repetto. The ball ricocheted off a Valley United defender and up into the air long enough for Repetto to volley it home, giving Phoenix the 1-0 win.
Scoring:
PHX – Claudio Repetto (Darnell King) 115
Discipline:
VU – Sebastian Contreras (caution) 51
VU – David Koloko (caution) 54
VU – Nick Gaitan (caution) 57
PHX – Arturo Rodriguez (caution) 73
VU – Sebastian Contreras (caution) 81
VU – Sebastian Contreras (ejection, second caution) 81
VU – Rick Velazco (caution) 87
PHX – Adohan Quinn (caution) 94+
VU – Sam Caceres (caution) 98
PHX – Manuel Madrid (caution) 103
VU – Javier Olmedo (caution) 108
Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Lalo Delgado, Joey Calistri (Darnell King 78), Joe Farrell, Manuel Madrid, Ryan Flood, Aodhan Quinn, Carlos Anguiano (Luis Seijas 61), Arturo Rodriguez, Santi Moar (Greg Hurst 42), Marcus Epps (Channing Chasten 79), Richmond Antwi (Claudio Repetto 61).
Substitutes Not Used: Kevon Lambert, Ben Lundt.
Valley United FC – Javier Olmedo, Sam Caceres, Sebastian Contreras, Nicholas Gaitan (Stephan Elias 59), Luis Gil (Rick Velazco 65), Daniel Herrera, David Koloko (Facundo Canete 60), Robin Lafarge, Luis Murillo, Alexander Tejera (Jeffery Otoo 71, Gus Vargas 97), Mustafa Troncoso (David Diosa 71).
Substitutes Not Used: Sam Howard.
Rising head coach Rick Schantz
General thoughts on the match…Everything we did well in San Antonio, we did the opposite tonight. We didn’t play with urgency. We didn’t play with conviction. With a few minutes left in the second overtime we finally played like our backs were against the wall. That’s what we have been doing the first three games of this season. Credit Valley United FC. They fought. They were very organized. The red card hurt them quite a bit. They made it difficult, and we made it worse by playing with no energy or tempo. It’s cup football though. You just need to survive and advance. Who cares how you do it?
Rising forward Claudio Repetto
On scoring the game-winning goal…It took a bit too long to be honest, but this is what we’re made of – we fight until the end. We got the result, that’s all that matters.
What did you see on the goal?
We were all focusing on the service into the area. At that point, we were just trying to get players into the box. I saw the ball go to Darnell [King] and he was able to pop it up into the air and I hit it.
Rising Survives and Advances, 1-0
