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USL Phoenix Rising FC

Phoenix Rising Returns to USL Championship Action at Home against Colorado Springs

March 29, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release


Phoenix Rising FC returns to Casino Arizona Field for a showdown with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC following a week off from USL Championship action. The match is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m. The first 2,500 fans who arrive will receive a free PRFC t-shirt courtesy of HP2 Products and Promotions.

Rising FC was off during Week 3 of the USL Championship season. In Week 2, the club drew with New Mexico United, 3-3. The match was similar to the club's season-opening 3-3 draw in San Antonio. Like the first match of 2019, Rising FC had to score three consecutive equalizers to steal a point. And forward Jason Johnson netted the match-tying goal with a header in both matches.

Midfielder Solomon Asante came away from the match with two goals, both from the penalty spot, and was named to the USL Team of the week for Week 2 for his performance.

Tickets for tomorrow's match are still available and fans can purchase them by going to PHXRisingFC.com

A Little Bit About Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Switchbacks FC comes into the match level with three other teams for the most points in the Western Conference (7) but is fourth in the conference on tiebreakers.

The club has given up just two goals in its first three matches, going 2-1-0 in that stretch.

Midfielder Shane Malcolm scored a hat trick in the club's first match of the season against LA Galaxy II, earning himself USL Championship Player of the Week honors.

Former Phoenix Rising player Mike Seth leads the team in assists with two.

A Little Bit About Phoenix Rising

Junior Flemmings and Solomon Asante come into the match with two goals each, tied for the team lead.

Rising FC comes into the match having scored six consecutive equalizing goals.

Over the past two seasons, Phonix Rising is 7-1-6 in matches following a draw.

The Series With Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two clubs with the all-time record being 4-4-0.

There has never been a draw in the all-time series.

Every match in the series has featured at least three goals scored between both teams.

In 2018, PRFC swept the season series, winning 4-0 at home and 2-1 in Colorado Springs.

Rising FC broke the single-season club record for wins and points following its 2-1 win over Colorado Springs on September 22, 2018.

Club debuts

Two more players made their club debut in the team's last match: defender A.J. Cochran and midfielder (and LAFC loanee) Javi Perez.

Magical Solo

Following the club's 3-3 draw against New Mexico United, Phoenix Rising midfielder Solomon Asante was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 2. In addition to his two goals, Asante was also a master in the midfield, completing 81.1 percent of his passes (27 of 33).

Chance creator

Midfielder Junior Flemmings is making the most of his time with his new club. After just two matches, Flemmings leads the club in assists (2) and is second on the team in key passes (4). This is in addition to his goal scored in the season opener against San Antonio. His season-opening performance (1 goal and 1 assist) earned him a USL Championship Team of the Week Honorable Mention.

International call ups

On March 18, the club announced that midfielders Junior Flemmings and Kevon Lambert had been called up by the Jamaican National Team. Lambert was last called up in September 2018 ahead of CONCACAF Nations League Qualification. Flemmings was last called up in June 2017 for the Caribbean Cup. The duo started in the Jamaican National Team's 1-0 loss to Costa Rica on March 26, 2019.

Things could get chippy

In seven of eight regular-season meetings, the clubs have combined for five or more cards. In the lone match that didn't feature that many cards, there was only one card given (straight red) after a COS player's boot cut the face of PRFC goalkeeper Zac Lubin. Five yellows were given in the clubs' lone U.S. Open Cup match.

Forward vs. Defender

Coming into the match, two Rising players are tied for most goals scored (2) against COS: forward Jason Johnson and defender Joey Farrell.

Down but not out

PRFC is currently on a strange scoring streak: six straight equalizing goals. What'sstranger? Jason Johnson's equalizer against New Mexico United broke the club's previous record of consecutive equalizers scored. In 2017, PRFC scored five consecutive equalizers. The five equalizers were scored by Didier Drogba, Drogba (again), Omar Bravo, Drogba, and Jason Johnson. The streak spanned five matches (one of the matches was a 0-0 draw) and was broken when Johnson scored a stoppage-time game-winner in a 2-1 win over...Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

Giving and taking

PRFC matches haven't been boring to start 2019 with the club scoring six goals while allowing six goals. But neither is a club record over a two-match stretch. The most goals allowed over a two-match stretch happened on July 31 and August 2 of 2015 when the club allowed nine goals in a 3-0 and 6-3 loss. The most goals scored over a two-match period (8) was set on May 9 and May 12 last season (3-0 and 5-1 wins) and on August 22 and 25 (back to back 4-0 victories).

Iron Man Watch

After two matches, only five players have played all 180 minutes of play: Solomon Asante, Amadou Dia, Adam Jahn, Kevon Lambert, and Carl Woszczynski.

Check out the Phoenix Rising FC Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 29, 2019


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