Phoenix Rising Moves FC to Top of Table, Clinches Playoff Berth Following 1-0 Win
Published on September 16, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release
Following a 1-0 win over Seattle Sounders 2 in Tacoma, WA, Phoenix Rising FC sits alone at the top of the Western Conference standings for the first time in club history. The club also clinches a spot in the USL playoffs for the second-consecutive season.
The club's leading goal-scorer, forward Chris Cortez, scored the match's lone tally in the first half, his 16th of the season and goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski notched his 10th clean sheet of the campaign.
Rising's only goal of the match came early. In the 16th minute, defender Saad Abdul-Salaam rushed into the box to collect a pass from midfielder Solomon Asante. Abdul-Salaam took one touch into the middle of the box before leaving a pass off for Cortez. The club record holder for most goals in a single season placed a perfect shot to beat the goalkeeper and make it 1-0. The goal moves Cortez into second place in the USL Golden Boot race. (GOAL)
The team held on to the one-goal lead for over an hour thanks to stalwart defending from the back line and timely goalkeeping from Woszczynski.
No save was bigger than the one that came in the 84th minute. Seattle's David Olsen smashed a free kick from just outside of the box and looked to put it just under the crossbar at the center of the net. But Woszczynski managed to make a fingertip save to push the ball over the bar and maintain the clean sheet. (SAVE)
Phoenix Rising finishes its three-match road swing next Saturday, September 22, at Colorado Springs to face Switchbacks FC. The match is scheduled to kickoff at 5 p.m.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 16, 2018
- Penn FC Drops Points against North Carolina FC - Penn FC
- North Carolina FC Shuts Down Penn FC in 1-0 Victory on the Road - North Carolina FC
- Bone records late game-winning goal as the Orange and Blue extend unbeaten streak to 18 matches - FC Cincinnati
- Match Day | Fresno FC vs. Orange County SC - Fresno FC
- Lights FC Closes Mexican Independence Day Looking for Season Sweep of Portland Timbers 2 - Las Vegas Lights FC
- S2 Has Five-Game Home Unbeaten Streak Snapped by Phoenix Rising FC - Tacoma Defiance
- Phoenix Rising Moves FC to Top of Table, Clinches Playoff Berth Following 1-0 Win - Phoenix Rising FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Phoenix Rising FC Stories
- Rising Keeps Clean Sheet Against Vegas
- Rising Keeps Clean Sheet in 0-0 Draw Against Las Vegas Lights FC
- Phoenix Rising FC Acquires Cameroonian Midfielder Jean-Éric Moursou on Loan
- Match Preview: Phoenix Rising vs Las Vegas Lights FC
- Forward Ihsan Sacko Named to USL Team of the Week 26
