Phoenix Rising’s five-match unbeaten streak came to an end Saturday night against El Paso Locomotive, the top team in the table. Rising entered halftime level with Locomotive before El Paso pulled away late to secure a 3-1 victory. Despite playing a player down, Rising continued to compete throughout the match, maintaining 52.6% of possession and outshooting Locomotive 17-11. The performance showed Rising’s ability to stay in the match and create opportunities against one of the league’s top sides.
Phoenix Rising hits the road next weekend to face Oakland Roots SC, which currently sits one spot behind Rising in 11th place with 27 points. The match is set for 7:00 p.m. PT and will air on AZFamily and stream on ESPN+.
RECOGNITION FOR RISING
Phoenix Rising continues to find contributions from across its attack, with 11 goals over its last six matches and 35 goals from 11 different scorers this season. That depth was on display again in the match, as Kelvin Arase made his return from injury in the 66th minute, Czichos scored his first goal for Phoenix Rising with JP recording his second assist of the season. The individual contributions continue to highlight the variety of attacking options Rising has found throughout the season.
“For us, it was more of making sure that we get ball progression on the ball,” Rakovsky said. “That was the decision—it was just tactical… It’s step-by-step with [players coming off injury]. We just got to continue to go slowly, step-by-step.”
A LOOK AT THE POSTSEASON
With Saturday’s result, Phoenix Rising remains on 33 points and sits just outside the playoff places in the Western Conference. The three teams currently occupying sixth through eighth place each have 36 points, leaving Rising three points from the playoff line. Las Vegas also sits on 33 points, while Oakland Roots remains 11th with 27 points.
With six matches remaining, a win would move Rising to 36 points and put the club level with the teams currently holding playoff positions. Across the league, Charleston Battery became the latest team to clinch a playoff spot.
“We can’t change where we are in the rankings, but we can continue to go,” Kah said. “We have everything to play for… So for us, it’s looking back at this game, analyze it, and move forward because we have to go to Oakland and pick up three points.”
GOAL-SCORING PLAYS
ELP- RUBIO RUBÍN, 11: Through ball by Amando Moreno at the top of the 18-yard-box to Rubio Rubín off of his right foot into the high center of the net.
PHX- RAFAEL CZICHOS, 41: Off of a corner kick to the head of JP Scearce to the backpost falling inside the 6-yard-box to the feet of Czichos who hit it one time into high center.
ELP- ERIC CALVILLO, 51: Right footed one time shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner, assisted by Nicolás Cardona.
ELP- RUBIO RUBÍN, 96: Clearance by Kenneth Hoban down the right side of the field to Rubín who gets into a foot race and shoots with his right foot inside the box to the low right side of the goal.
NOTES
- 5-2-5 overall record when facing El Paso.
- The clubs played out a 1-1 draw in their last USL Championship meeting, a June match at Southwest University Park.
- Phoenix Rising has the better of ELP of late, unbeaten in the last eight USL Championship matches between the two teams.
- ELP is currently sitting in first place in the Western Conference with 43 points.
- ELP on a seven match winning streak.
- PHX is unbeaten through five games.
- Ascel Essengue makes his first start for Rising in 2026.
- Rafael Czichos scored his first goal of the 2026 season.
- JP Scearce has his second assist of 2026.
- JuanDavid has the most passes into the final third with 18.
Phoenix Rising (8-7-9, 33 pts) vs. El Paso Locomotive FC (13-7-4, 43 pts)
Goals by Half: 1st – 2; 2nd – 2; FT – 4
Phoenix Rising: 1st – 1; 2nd – 0; FT – 1
Las Vegas Lights FC: 1st – 1; 2nd – 2; FT – 3
Scoring Summary:
ELP: RUBÍN, 11
PHX: CZICHOS, 41
ELP: CALVILLO, 51
ELP: RUBÍN, 96
Misconduct Summary:
ELP: Alfaro, (caution); 8
ELP: Dollenmayer, (caution); 23
PHX: Torres, (caution); 27
PHX: Moursou, (caution); 48
ELP: Coronado, (caution); 63
ELP: Cardona, (caution); 67
PHX: Biasi, (caution); 78
PHX: Biasi, (ejection); 80
Lineups:
PHX: GK Rakovsky, D Flores (Schmitt, 76) D Czichos (Pelayo, 83), D Essengue, D Biasi, M Scearce, M Moursou, M Gómez (Sacko, 66), F Rivera (Arase, 66), F Torres, F Badji (Studenhofft, 76)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Odunze, D Boye, D Cross, M Irwin
TOTAL SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 17; OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 2
El Paso Locomotive FC: GK Cruz, D Alfaro, D N. Ruiz, D Dollenmayer, D Torres, M Coronado (Gomez, 71), M Calvillo (R. Ruiz, 92), M Sanite (Hoban, 86), F Mendez (Farkarlun, 72), F Rubín, F Moreno (Avila, 72)
Substitutes Not Used: D Diaz, F Mora, GK Romero
TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 22; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 2
Referee: Servando Berna
Assistant Referees: Seth Martin, Emmanuel Padilla
Fourth Official: Abdullah AlJanabi
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
