USL Phoenix Rising FC

Arizona United SC Stuns Whitecaps FC 2

August 4, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release


Peoria, AZ - Arizona United Soccer Club squared off with the top team in the Western Conference and walked out with a stoppage time winner from forward Chris Cortez in a 3-2 win over Whitecaps FC 2. Midfielder Luke Rooney also scored a pair of goals to help Arizona United SC earn three points.

"I'm really proud of the guys," said Arizona United head coach Frank Yallop. "They did a good job not only offensively but defensively to not give up another goal when we're pushing hard to get back into the game. I'm very very happy, they gave everything they had. It's important to know we came out with a victory which is huge."

Near the end of a six-minute stoppage time, Cortez chested the ball to his feet off a Long Tan header, then kicked a shot into the back of the net for the game winner.

"We always had belief, especially in the first half," Cortz said. "I think the second half we kept pushing, kept pushing, and had more and more belief in what we were doing. We knew the chances would come and I think a team coming from Vancouver to Arizona doesn't help their cause in the second half either. So we'll take it for home field advantage."

Arizona had to erase a two-goal deficit for the win. The comeback began in the 65th minute. Rooney received a pass near the top of the box, then sidestepped his defender. With space, he curled a shot into the left corner of the net to make it 2-1.

In the 78th minute it was Rooney again. Forward Long Tan raced down the left side of the field with the ball, then fired a low pass toward the top and middle of the box. Rooney came rushing in and smacked a shot past the diving goalkeeper to tie the match 2-2.

"The team hasn't been getting results and I haven't really been scoring goals so tonight it's nice for that to finally change and I'm really pleased," Rooney said. "I don't think my confidence has ever been low on a personal level, but I think as a team it's not quite come together. But hopefully if this can't be a turning point, I don't know what will."

Whitecaps FC 2's goals came at the end of the first half and early in the second half. Daniel Heber made it 1-0 in the 45th minute. Abdul Fataw Safiu made it 2-0 in the 54th minute.

Arizona United SC improves to 6-8-6. Whitecaps FC 2 falls to 10-5-6. Arizona United SC play again on Sunday, August 7, at OC Blues FC. That match kicks off at 4 P.M.

Match: Arizona United SC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2

Date: August 3rd, 2016

Location: Peoria Sports Complex | Peoria, AZ

Attendance: 803

Man of the Match: Luke Rooney

ARIZONA UNITED SC 3-2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2

AZ: '65 10-Luke Rooney (5-Daniel Antunez), 78' 10-Luke Rooney (29-Long Tan), '90 9-Chris Cortez (29-Long Tan)

WFC: '45 56-Daniel Haber (58-Will Seymore), '54 49-Fatawu Safiu,

AZ: 1-Carl Wosczcynski; 21-Julian Ringhof, 4-Brock Granger ('57 5-Daniel Antunez), 31-Adam West, 35-Matheus Silva ('82 12-Christian Silva), 2-Uchenna Uzo ('45 26-Peter Ramage), 8-Blair Gavin ('73 6-Miguel Timm), 17-Tyler Blackwood ('62 11-Sam Garza), 29-Long Tan, 10-Luke Rooney, 9-Chris Cortez

Subs: 13-Jordan Stagmiller; 14-Tony Cascio

Head coach: Frank Yallop

WFC: 40-Sean Melvin, 63-Kadin Chung, 41-Jackson Farmer, 54-Elliot Green, 62-Deklan Wynne ('64 42-Jordan Haynes), 58-Will Seymore ('68 20-Deybi Flores), 65-Matthew Baldisimo, 45-Giuliano Frano ('82 75-Michael Boldisimo), 49-Fatawu Safiu, 56-Daniel Haber ('81 61-Terran Campbell), 57-Thomas Sonner

Subs: 53-Mark Village, 73-Joel Harrison, 50-Sahil Sandhu

Head coach: Alan Koch

Cautions

AZ: '41 4-Brock Granger

WFC: '27 62-Deklan Wynne, '70 49-Fatawu Safiu

Reds

AZ:

WFC:

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