USL Phoenix Rising FC

Arizona United Well Rested Ahead of Home Opener

April 29, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release


Week 6 - Over a month into the 2016 United Soccer League season, Arizona United Soccer Club will finally play its USL home opener against Portland Timbers 2 on Saturday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m.

"It's always good to play a game at home, in front of your home fans, when it means something," said Arizona United SC head coach Frank Yallop. "The word 'friendly' is there for a reason. There's nothing at stake. It doesn't matter if you win or lose the game. ... But this Saturday night, it means something."

Not only will the club play in a friendly environment; the players and staff also just have some time to breathe.

To begin the season Arizona United traveled to Los Angeles on a Saturday (March 26). They came back home for a brief stint, then traveled to Seattle on a Tuesday (March 29) for a Wednesday (March 30) match. Then the team flew from Seattle to Sacramento the next day (March 31) for a match with Republic FC on Saturday (April 2).

Three matches. One week.

The team fought through various injuries and ailments in their remaining two matches at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC ( a 0-2 loss) and at Real Monarchs SLC (1-0 win). Following the Monarchs match on April 15, Arizona United played it's friendly against the U20 Mexican National Team on April 17.

Everyone finally took a breath on April 18.

With last weekend being an off week for the team, Yallop and the players had two weeks-worth of training sessions ahead of their opener.

"(The extra time) helps," Yallop said. "You get to work on stuff in practice. You get to talk about situations in games. There's no rush."

For now, Yallop said he thinks the roster is as strong as it's been in 2016. He mentioned Long Tan was getting closer to his top game shape, as well as Luke Rooney. And after scoring a goal in his first appearance with the club, Tyler Blackwood will only integrate himself more into the team.

Now that the team will have a large crowd behind it, Yallop hopes its best soccer is still ahead.

Scouting Report: Don't lose Kharlton Belmar. Of all the keys to this match, this is the one that should be circled, underlined, and all caps-ed. While Belmar only has one goal and one assist in his club's first six matches, he's scored three goals in two matches against Arizona United. Two of those goals came in United's home opener last season. Oh, and he's coming off being named to the USL Team of the Week.

Previous meetings: The clubs have just met twice in their history and Arizona United has lost both matches: a 0-2 loss on April 25 and a 1-3 loss on July 2.

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