Match Preview

Phoenix Rising FC Match Preview presented by Mayo Clinic

Phoenix Rising FC (4-5-4) hosts Orange County SC (5-4-3) this Saturday, June 8 at 8 p.m.

A total of 13 games in, Rising is a point off the pace set by last season’s squad (4-4-5). While the offense has yet to ignite (14 GF), it is still just two goals off the pace of the 2023 team (16 GF). Rising’s defense has improved, having allowed only 14 goals compared to 17 at this point last season.

“We are much better in possession of the ball than we showed against Vegas,” said Rising head coach Danny Stone. “We need to create more moments of quality in possession when threatening the goal but also just in sustaining attacking moments. We created too many transitions against Vegas.”

Despite the lackluster performance, Rising earned a point on the road thanks to a 10-save gem by Rocco Rios Novo, who celebrated his 22^nd birthday Tuesday. The clean sheet was Rios Novo’s fourth of the season, a mark he did not reach until August 12 last season. In fact, Rising’s first shutout of the 2023 season came in Orange County on May 20.

“Orange County is a consistent team,” said Stone of this weekend’s opponent. “Milan Iloski took an opportunity abroad during the offseason. He was a key player for them, one that had been there for several years, but as far as the team goes, they’re a good club, a good team again. There are a lot of similarities. They’ll once again be a difficult team to face. Across the league, I don’t see a comfortable game ever, in this league. Orange County will be a difficult opponent, same as the last few times we have faced them.”

The last time was a 2-1 overtime win in the Western Conference Semifinals.

“That was a very tight game,” said Stone looking back. “The whole squad was needed to win that game. That will also be the case on Saturday. Players came off the bench to finish the game. Those players are just as important to us now as the players that start games.”

“We need to approach this game with better energy than we did [against Las Vegas],” added Stone. “We were disappointed with the last game. We expect better performances than that. We need to make sure the team collectively give a good reaction and give a better display at home.”

Rising Captain John Stenberg was much more direct with his comments.

“Vegas is one of those days that we didn’t reach our level,” said Stenberg. “That’s how it is sometimes. You just need to battle through it and move on. Orange County is a good team. We played them in the preseason. They fight hard. They have some good players, especially offensively. It will be another tough game for us. Right now, we need to bounce back. This game is a good opportunity for us to get a good result at home.”

Match Preview Presented by Mayo Clinic

Phoenix Rising FC tries its luck in Vegas this Saturday, June 1, vs. Lights FC. The match will be broadcast live on Arizona’s Family Sports and streamed on ESPN+ beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Nearly 150 Phoenicians plan to make the trip to Vegas to support Rising as it looks to rebound from a pair of 2-1 road losses last week.

“Whether it is the eight or nine fans that sat behind our bench in Rhode Island singing the entire game or its 300 or more, it makes a massive difference,” said Rising head coach Danny Stone. “It’s an incredible thing to have as an organization. I’m happy we’ll have that backing and support this weekend. That extra support in the stadium coupled with needing to bounce back from last week will be extremely powerful. It reminds you of who you are playing for back home. This gives us a little edge. I can’t wait to see them. They make a huge difference to us.”

Rising played well in a three-game week that began with a 2-0 win vs. Miami on May 18. Phoenix took the lead in a midweek U.S. Open Cup match in Seattle before falling 2-1 to the four-time cup champion. Rising then traveled to Indiana to play a red hot Eleven side was 4-0-1 in its last five games. Phoenix took a 1-0 lead, then made a costly pair of mistakes to fall, 2-1, again.

“Between Seattle and a tough third game of the week in Indy, we deserved more than we got from a performance point of view,” said Stone. “We must find ways in those games to reward ourselves for what we feel was a week that was approached well overall. Moving forward, the team feels it has more to go after now. We’re not satisfied. We need to push together and push further.”

Rising’s opponent on Saturday, Vegas (3-7-2), unlike Indy, is 0-3-2 in its last five games. It’s leading scorer Valentin Noel, has five goals in 11 appearances this season while Jean-Claude Ngando leads the team with 21 chances created. Former league MVP and Rising star Solomon Asante also signed with Lights during the offseason. He has one assist and eight chances created in 11 appearances.

“This is going to be a good team we face on Saturday,” said Stone. “They’ve played games where results haven’t gone their way, but they still played well. We go to Vegas this weekend expecting to see a team that plays well. It is an improved team from last year. Every team in the league, on their day, will cause you problems.”

Last season, the away trip to Vegas (August 26) galvanized Phoenix. The team came from behind twice to win 3-2, then went on its first of two, three-game winning streaks.  

“I have a clear memory of that game,” said Stone. “Manu [Arteaga] scores an incredible overhead kick. We’re 2-1 down and Gabi Torres comes in and has a very big impact on the game. The first half was frustrating. Halftime was heated. The second half, the players had a reaction to what was said. Certain games during the season can be a catalyst. That was one of those games. It proved to the group that they had it within them to grind, to fight and to come back from being down. That previous proof gives real steel and confidence when faced with having to do it again.”

MATCHDAY 12: Phoenix Rising FC at Indy Eleven
Watch Party: Walter Station – 4056 E Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85034
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Streaming: CBS Sports Goalazo Network | Rising Radio (audio only: English) 

WATCH PARTY
As Phoenix Rising returns to league play, join us at Walter Station for the official Phoenix Rising Watch Party and experience the excitement firsthand.

Phoenix Rising heads to Indianapolis to face Indy Eleven, Saturday, May 25. That match will be broadcast live on Arizona’s Family Sports Network and streamed on the Goalazo Network at 4 p.m.

Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to WIN FOUR (4) PREMIUM TERRACE TICKETS and a 2023 Hispanic Heritage Training Top to the upcoming Phoenix Rising vs. Orange County SC match on June 8th.

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Match Preview Presented by Mayo Clinic

Coming off a 2-1 loss to Seattle Sounders FC in the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Wednesday, Phoenix Rising heads to Indianapolis to face Indy Eleven, Saturday, May 25. That match will be broadcast live on Arizona’s Family Sports Network and streamed on the Goalazo Network at 4 p.m.

“I’m incredibly disappointed for the team,” said Rising head coach Danny Stone following last night’s defeat. “It was a good game. We played well in general. For much of the first half we were very good. We earned ourselves a goal and the lead at halftime. We knew coming out in the second half they needed to push the game. Seattle needed to generate some more attacking thrust, which they did. For long spells, we coped with that. There was a 15–20-minute period in the second half where we got to grips with the game again… Some very good stuff.”

Against an MLS opponent, Rising held a 57-43 edge in possession and led 1-0 at halftime.

“The effort was very spirited against a very good team,” added Stone. “They were 1-0 down. They had to come at us. We knew we were going to have to defend the box. We knew we had to put in some grit and grind in that second half. I’m disappointed that we weren’t able, at the least, able to take it to extra time. I felt the game was even over the full 90 minutes. I felt the team was outstanding in many ways, but we move on quickly now. We recover and go again on Saturday.”

Phoenix will have no time to linger on the loss as it faces an Indy Eleven side Saturday that has won four consecutive league matches vs. North Carolina (2-1), Monterey Bay (1-0), Miami (3-1) and Hartford (4-1).

“There is no time to feel sorry for ourselves,” said Stone. “We have to quickly recover and go again. We play another tough opponent, another away game. We’ll be confident in the 11 we put on the field. The target is the same, we’ll go and try to win a game of football one game at a time.”

Rising’s team defense remains the strength of the team 11 matches into the campaign, having allowed 1.09 goals per game. Phoenix’s offense, which has scored 1.18 goals per game may be poised to gain some momentum against Indy, which has allowed the third-most goals in the East (19, 1.72 goals per game).

OPEN CUP ROUND OF 16: Phoenix Rising FC at Seattle Sounders FC
Watch Party: Pour Decisions – 4209 N Craftsman Ct, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Streaming: ussoccer.com | Rising Radio (audio only: English) 

WATCH PARTY
As Phoenix Rising competes in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16, join us at Pour Decisions for the official Phoenix Rising Watch Party and experience the excitement firsthand.

Then, watch as your Rising take to the road. Phoenix Rising FC travels West to take on MLS side Seattle Sounders FC. Rising is coming off a 2-0 win at home to Miami FC on Saturday.

Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to WIN FOUR (4) PREMIUM TERRACE TICKETS to the upcoming Phoenix Rising vs. Orange County SC match on June 8th.

RECENT POSTS

Phoenix Rising heads into its midweek U.S. Open Cup match with MLS side (7:30 p.m. on USSoccer.com), Seattle Sounders FC at Starfire Sports Complex riding a five-game unbeaten streak dating back to April 20. During that stretch, Phoenix has allowed just 0.80 goals per game, traveled to the East Coast twice, tied the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference (Detroit), 1-1 away and earned a draw with the top team in the Western Conference (1-1 vs. Sacramento Republic).

“We now have a tough game against a very good opponent away from home,” said Danny Stone following Saturday’s 2-0 win vs. Miami FC. “We’ve done that a week ago, so we’re well practiced at that. Tonight’s game was another good performance and a positive result. That leads nicely into the next game and hopefully gives us a feeling of confidence heading into [Wednesday].”

Seattle is 3-3-4 across all competitions since April 1 and currently sits 10^th in the MLS’ Western Conference. They advanced to this Round of 16 match via kicks from the mark (5-4) following a 2-2 draw with Louisville City at Starfire Sports Complex on May 8. Seattle leads the league in red cards this season (4) and has a 0-2-2 record in those matches.

In three of its last seven matches, Seattle has taken a lead and then allowed late goals, as was the case in its Open Cup match against Louisville. The USL side came from behind, scoring in the 67^th and 89^th minutes to erase a 2-0 deficit and send the match to penalties.

Seattle also went ahead 3-0 vs. Philadelphia on April 30, then allowed two goals and watched the Union put a header off the crossbar late before hanging on for the 3-2 win. Last week, Seattle led the majority of the match, only to give up a late penalty kick goal to Vancouver to draw, 1-1.

“We know we have a very good team,” said Rising’s No. 10, who scored a goal and had an assist in a 2-0 win on Saturday. “We know our capacity to play. We have confidence in our style of play. It is an important game for us against an MLS team. There will be additional visibility for us to show our quality, our character and the identity of Phoenix Rising.”

Varela (2G, 1A, 10CC, 10 appearances), who is already approaching his output from 2023 (2G, 2A, 20 CC, 26 appearances) just 12 games into the 2024 season will be an important piece if Phoenix is to pull off an upset and advance to its first U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal on Wednesday.

“I came from Europe to the USL and it took me a bit to adjust to the style of play,” said Varela. “I needed time to adapt to the new league, the new competition, my new teammates… all while being far away from my home. Now, I am 100% adapted to the city, to the team. I feel confidence from the coach and owners. I am happy here and it has shown in the last few games. I hope to give more and more and continue to help the team.”

Match preview presented by Mayo Clinic

Phoenix Rising FC hosts Miami FC this Saturday, May 18 for School’s Out night at 38^th St./Washington. The match will also be broadcast live on Arizona’s Family Sports at 7:30 p.m.

Miami FC comes into the match after falling, 3-1, at home to Indy Eleven on Sunday, May 12.

“Miami have good pieces,” said Rising head coach Danny Stone. “They’re a difficult opponent with good players. We’ve seen that a lot in the attacking side of their game. If you give them space and time… Allow them opportunities to threaten the goal, they will do that. They have a style, philosophy and identity they play consistently. Do not for a moment underestimate the opponent coming to Phoenix this weekend. This will be a difficult game, just as every game in this league is now.”

That being said, Miami FC has yet to win an away match, falling in Hartford (3-2 on April 6) and Pittsburgh (1-0 on May 4) while drawing 2-2 in Orange County on March 23. Miami has scored 1.2 goals per game this season and Rising regained the defensive form it established in the first four games of the season (0.75 GA) recently, having allowed just one goal in each of its last four matches across all competitions.

On offense, Phoenix continues to take steps forward. After beginning the season with just one goal in its first four games, Rising has not been held without a goal since March 30 (seven games).

“It’s something that only comes with time,” said Stone. “It comes with work. It comes with training and thought. When they walk onto that pitch, [the players are] the ones that have to play with each other. They have to know each other and get the best out of each other.”

Miami has given up 1.9 goals per game, which feels like the perfect matchup for Rising’s offense to ignite in 2024, but teams visiting Phoenix typically focus on a full team defensive effort.

“[A low block] is a difficult thing to break down,” said Stone. “The reality is, between the ball and the goal, there are a lot of players. They compact a lot of space. Teams will come here and do that consistently. It’s a difficult thing to break down because they’re taking away space. Players need to be able to operate in tighter spaces with less time.”

“It comes down to individuals producing a moment of quality,” concluded Stone. “Put the team on their back a little bit and say ‘I’ll be the one that takes responsibility here.’ I always feel we have 11 players on the field at any moment that are comfortable taking that responsibility. It’s production in the moments that matter that makes the difference.”


 

MATCHDAY 10: Phoenix Rising FC at Detroit City FC
Watch Party: Z’ Tejas – 7221 W Ray Rd, Chandler, AZ 85226
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Streaming: CBS Sports Network | Rising Radio (audio only: English) 

WATCH PARTY
As Phoenix Rising returns to league play, join us at Z’ Tejas for the official Phoenix Rising Watch Party and experience the excitement firsthand.

Then, watch as your Rising take to the road. Phoenix Rising FC travels East to take on Detroit City FC. Rising is coming off a 2-1 win on the road against North Carolina on Wednesday during the Round of 32 Open Cup.

Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to WIN FOUR (4) PREMIUM TERRACE TICKETS to the upcoming Phoenix Rising vs. Miami FC match on May 18th. In addition fans can win this cooler presented by el Jimador Spiked Bebidas!

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Match Preview Presented by Mayo Clinic

Fresh of the biggest U.S. Open Cup win in franchise history, Phoenix Rising FC remains in the East this week, traveling to Detroit City FC for Saturday’s match on CBS Sports Network at 2 p.m. local time.

Last night’s win was a milestone for both Rising, which advances to the Cup’s Round of 16 for the first time and midfielder Giulio Doratiotto, who netted his first professional goal 10 days shy of his 20^th birthday (May 18).

“It feels amazing,” said Doraitotto. “It’s my first professional goal, a moment I have been waiting for and I am so happy it came at a moment like this, when I can help the team get a win.”

Doraitotto’s goal came in the 111^th minute of a match that saw three players ejected as well as a weather delay to begin the evening. Eventually, the match finished 2-1 in favor of Rising, putting the defending USL Champions into a Round of 16 showdown in Seattle against Sounders FC on Wednesday, May 22.

“We won a tough away game,” said head coach Danny Stone. “We’re happy to be into the next round and the last 16. It’s a good step forwards in this competition. The attention now turns to our league game and recovery. Credit goes to the players that fought hard and deserved to come away with this victory.”

Rising’s league game will be a difficult one too as Detroit appears to have turned a corner during the offseason. The team is 5-1-1 in 2024 and 3-0-0 in Michigan. Team defense seems to be the key to their success. Detroit has allowed fewer goals this season (4) than it did in last season’s match against Rising, which finished 5-0 in Arizona on September 16.

“Detroit is coming off a long match on Tuesday as well,” said Stone. “Of course, they have an extra day to recover but it makes no difference. We go to Detroit with the same attitude we came to North Carolina. We’ll make some decisions in the next few days and go attack the game on Saturday.”

OPEN CUP ROUND OF 32: Phoenix Rising FC at North Carolina FC
Watch Party: Walter Station Brewery – 4056 E Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85034
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Streaming: ussoccer.com | Rising Radio (audio only: English) 

WATCH PARTY
As Phoenix Rising competes in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32, join us at Walter Station for the official Phoenix Rising Watch Party and experience the excitement firsthand.

Then, watch as your Rising take to the road. Phoenix Rising FC travels East to take on North Carolina FC. Rising is coming off a 1-1 tie at home to Sacramento Republic on Saturday.

Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to WIN FOUR (4) PREMIUM TERRACE TICKETS to the upcoming Phoenix Rising vs. Miami FC match on May 18th.

RECENT POSTS