Match Preview

Phoenix Rising Match Preview Presented by Mayo Clinic

In a rematch of the 2023 USL Championship, Phoenix Rising FC hosts Charleston Battery at 38^th St/Washington this Saturday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. One of the most anticipated games of the year will also be the first $1 Beer Night, the club’s annual Pride celebration and its first nationally televised match of this season on ESPN2.

“There is a lot of noise coming into the game on Saturday,” said midfielder JP Scearce, who started his second match in the last three weeks vs. El Paso on June 15. “We respect Charleston. We know they have great players and are having a good season.”

Unlike El Paso, Phoenix is catching Charleston at the right time. The Battery rocketed out of the gate, remaining unbeaten in its first 11 matches before dropping a 2-1 decision to El Paso on May 24. Since then, Charleston is 0-2-2 and has been outscored 4-1 in its last four games (0.25 GPG).

“It doesn’t change the fact that they’re a very strong team with a very good set of players,” said Rising head coach Danny Stone. “At some point they will begin firing and scoring a lot of goals. We’ll do everything we can to make sure that doesn’t happen this week. Either way, I have no doubt they’ll be around the top of the table at the end of the season.”

During media availability on Tuesday, Stone was asked what is different about between this Battery side and the one Rising faced in last season’s finale.

“They’ve added a few players into the group,” said Stone. “And they’re good players. [Aaron] Molloy in the midfield is an integral piece for them. He has been a good player in the league for a few seasons now. Stylistically they’re consistent and similar to what we saw last season. We’re familiar with [Nick] Markanich from last year but he has had an outstanding first half of the season. I singled out those two, but this is a strong team overall. I expect to see some similar things and there is good reason for that. They have been successful.”

The difference in Stone’s team is an improved defense that has allowed a franchise low 1.06 goals per game. Phoenix has leaned on that team defense and the play of goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo to lose only once in its last eight league matches.

A big part of that defense has been Mo Traore who, much like last season, increased his role on the team when Rising was at its best. Traore came on strong at the end of last season, starting 12 games in a row heading into the final, then delivering the all-important cross that John Stenberg headed home against Charleston in the 90^th minute of the final. He has now started seven of the last nine games for Phoenix, continuing to grow into a role in the team’s offense.

“Like we saw against Orange County, Mo was an integral part of both goals we scored,” said Stone. “Him and Laurence [Wyke] have the ability to provide for us when they get into the higher areas.”

Getting its outside backs into the attack more often may be the answer for Rising as it looks to increase its rate of scoring. The team has taken strides, increasing its shots on goal per game from 3.8 in 2023 to 4.5 this season, but the conversation rate has dipped from 19% (2023) to 12%. Phoenix (5-5-5) is just a point off pace from 2023 (5-4-6) and the turning point last season was a match on ESPN2 on July 1, when Rising’s offense caught fire in the summer heat and dropped six goals on a Memphis 901 side that was tearing up the league at that point (8-2-4).

Rising is back on ESPN2 this Saturday and a former Memphis midfielder will be patrolling Charleston’s midfield… there’s a lot of things lining up this weekend, but that’ll happen when you’re selling Modelos for $1.

Phoenix Rising FC Match Preview presented by Mayo Clinic

Boasting just one loss in its last seven league matches, Phoenix Rising FC (5-5-4) now embarks on a stretch of three away matches in its next four, beginning with a trip to El Paso (3-9-2) to face the retooled Locomotive FC this Saturday, June 15 at 6 p.m. That match will be broadcast live on Arizona’s Family Sports and ESPN+.

“We were not consistent during the first part of the season,” said forward Dariusz Formella, who was named USL Championship Player of the Week on Tuesday. “We had a lot of good performances without the results and some good results without strong performances. I hope this game will be another big step for us and we’ll start a nice winning streak.”

Having navigated a portion of the schedule that included Sacramento (6-1-6), Indy (winners of seven in a row) and Detroit (6-3-2), Rising did well to avoid a dip in a Western Conference table where third through ninth place are separated by just two points.

“This is a very tricky game,” said Formella. “If you look at the table, El Paso is at the bottom, but they deserve much better. El Paso has very good players. I don’t know the reason they’re struggling at home, but we cannot underestimate El Paso. They have a much better team than what the table shows. It will be a battle.”

Unbeaten in its Desert Rose kits (1-0-1) and, when combined with the club’s 3-0-1 playoff run, Phoenix is riding a streak of six-games unbeaten while wearing white.

“We have gained some consistency in playing together,” said Rising head coach Danny Stone. “It takes some time to put pieces in place. There is a mental aspect to developing as a team. Learning how each other play together tactically and perform as a team. We can play some good football, but we need to continue the focus of being effective at the end of that. There is a bit of a ‘never beaten’ mentality we did see last weekend and that we do speak about as a group. There’s a lot of credit to be given there but that takes time and games together to develop. You almost need to prove it to yourself that it remains within you.”

“No chance we’re going to underestimate El Paso,” said Formella. “That would be the worst thing that could happen to us at this point in the season. During the season, it’s nice to check the table for statistics but it doesn’t matter now, only in October.”

Away from home for most of the Arizona summer, Rising will look to move up the table once more against El Paso, which is 2-1-0 under head coach Wilmer Cabrera after beginning the season 1-8-2.

“They’re a squad full of good players that have played well and not gotten results,” said Stone. “With Wilmer coming in, it has caused a change in energy. The players that have been less involved feel they have more opportunity. Players that have been involved feel they need to reestablish that they deserve to be in the lineup. That’s normal. Wilmer is a good coach as well. Since he has come into the club, they have become more effective.

Coming off a brace last time out and having scored a stoppage-time, game-tying-goal in 25 minutes of action last time he was in El Paso (September 23), Formella is one of the most effective players around since returning from a midseason trip to Poland to be with his family for the birth of his daughter, Mia.

“I remember that goal,” said Formella. “It was a good team goal with solid combinations, but this is a new game, new season, new coaches, new players… everything different.”











 

 

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.

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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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