Rising Falls, 2-0, to Oakland
September 11, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Phoenix Rising FC News Release
Phoenix Rising in action
(Phoenix Rising FC)
PHOENIX, Arizona (Saturday, September 10) – Phoenix Rising FC lost, 2-0, to Oakland Roots SC in front of a season-high crowd of 8,615 tonight at Wild Horse Pass.
The team hits the road next week, traveling to San Diego for a match next Saturday, September 17 (7 p.m.) on Bally Sports Arizona Extra.
Tonight, Oakland’s Lindo Mfeka recovered a loose ball at the top right corner of the box following a Roots corner kick in the fifth minute and sprinted towards goal. No Rising defender stepped up to front the ball and Mfeka used his momentum to fire a low shot into the far corner of the goal to make it 1-0 early.
Rising showed signs of life in the 26th minute when Greg Hurst received a pass at the top of the box, cut to his right and fired a shot past Oakland goalkeeper Paul Blanchette. Unfortunately for Phoenix, the shot caught the inside of the post and rebounded back to the goalkeeper, who smothered the loose ball.
Seconds later, Oakland took a 2-0 lead with a give-and-go at the top of the area between Mfeka and Ottar Karlsson. The return pass found Mfeka alone in front of Rising goalkeeper Ben Lundt. The midfielder chipped a shot to the goalkeeper’s right side to give the visitors a two-goal lead.
Rising came out of halftime looking to push the pace of the game. Baboucarr Njie cracked a shot off the crossbar and Santi Moar nearly found a pair of goals at the back post with headed shots, but Phoenix once again could not find the back of the net.
Rising’s next home match is Saturday, October 1 (7:30 p.m.) versus Red Bull New York II. Click here for ticket information.
Scoring:
OAK – Lindo Mfeka (Alejandro Fuenmayor) 5
OAK – Lindo Mfeka (Ottar Karlsson) 27
Discipline:
OAK – Juan Carlos Azócar (caution) 32
PHX – Joe Farrell (caution) 40
PHX – James Musa (caution) 76
PHX – Kevon Lambert (caution) 80
PHX – JJ Williams (caution) 83
OAK – Mikael Johnsen (caution) 89
OAK – Benny Diaz (caution) 89
OAK – Ottar Karlsson (caution) 90+1
OAK – Aodhan Quinn (caution) 90+3
OAK – Charlie Dennis (caution) 90+7
Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Ben Lundt, Marcus Ferkranus (Luis Seijas 46), Joe Farrell, James Musa (Hayden Sargis 86), Baboucar Njie, Joey Calistri, Aodhan Quinn, Kevon Lambert, Santi Moar, Greg Hurst (JJ Williams 46), Arturo Rodriguez (Koze Donasiyano 66).
Substitutes Not Used: Lalo Delgado, Lamin Jawneh, Carlos Anguiano.
Oakland Roots SC – Paul Blanchette, Edguardo Rito, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Emrah Klimenta (Mikael Johnsen 74), Danny Barbir, Matias Fissore (Joseph Nane 66), Juan Carlos Azócar (Jesus Enríquez89), Charlie Dennis, Ottar Karlsson, Dariusz Formella (Johnny Rodriguez 90), Lindo Mfeka (Benny Diaz 66).
Substitutes Not Used: Taylor Bailey, Max Ornstil.
Rising assistant coach Danny Stone
On what was missing tonight…
In some moments we lacked intensity, bravery, the competitive aspect of the game and then just the moments of quality we needed. We had good spells in the game. The first 25 minutes of the second half, we had some good momentum. We just could not connect with quality in the end.
A lot of the game was played in transition moments from our mistakes. When we were not good enough in possession of the ball, which I don’t think we were tonight, we gave the ball away and that created counterattacking moments. A lot of Oakland’s ability to run behind came from our mistakes. Things we could have avoided. We made it very difficult for ourselves.
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