USL Phoenix Rising FC

Phoenix Rising to Host USL Newcomer Oakland Roots

Published on May 7, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release


Phoenix Rising FC looks to make it two straight after opening its new home at Wild Horse Pass with a resounding 4-1 win vs. San Diego Loyal SC last Friday.

"It felt like the old stadium a little bit," said Rising head coach Rick Schantz. "It was awesome. I felt that vibe. The red smoke when we scored goals. When I got that feeling. I was like, okay, we're home. You don't want to close a chapter on our history at all. From what we did at the old stadium, now it's kind of come here. It was fantastic. I was so happy and so proud of the boys."

Just as in Rising's 2020 postseason run, Santi Moar led the way with a goal and two assists. Jon Bakero, Kevon Lambert and Aodhan Quinn also picked up goals for Phoenix, which out-shot San Diego 25-3.

After a tough preseason and some outside concerns, Phoenix made a statement with its decisive victory over a division rival.

"I knew it was there," said Schantz. "It was just a matter of trusting our veterans, that they were going to turn it on. When you walk into that stadium and there are 5,000 fans, the lights are on, the music is playing... I watched our players walk through that tunnel and they looked like giants. Their shoulders were back. Their heads were held high. That was the time I knew we were fine."

Rising will look to build momentum when they take on Oakland Roots Saturday, a team who is playing its first season in the USL Championship.

"We've done our homework," Schantz said. "We know what their shape is, how they like to build out. They've got a 6-3 center forward. He is very strong and physical. They have three very technical midfielders. Akeem Ward is playing right back for them. He is very fast. They love to play possession football. We know their players and their shape. Now, the idea is to put a good game plan together like we did against San Diego."

PHXvOAK Series

This is the first meeting

Oakland Roots Preseason

Jeremy Bokila scored for Oakland in a 1-1 draw at Santa Clara University on May 1

Chuy Rodriguez scored the lone goal for Roots in a 2-1 loss to Las Vegas Lights on April 24

Johnny Rodriguez did the same for Oakland in a 5-1 loss to Sacramento on April 17

Oakland's last starting XI was a 4-2-3-1: GK Zeus de la Paz, D Tarn Weir, D Max Ornstil, D Tarek Morhad, D Akeem O'Connor-Ward, M Matias Fissore, M Wal Fall, M Jesus Enriquez, M Lindo Mfeka, M Tyler Backwood and F Jeremy Bokila

A Little Bit About Phoenix Rising

Kevon Lambert and Jon Bakero (HM) also earned Team of the Week honors

Bakero's goal was the first scored in Rising's new home at Wild Horse Pass

Local product Ryan Flood set up Bakero's goal with a first-touch missile from distance

With Zac Lubin out for most of the season, Rising brought in the defending USL goalkeeper of the year Ben Lundt, who arrived on Wednesday evening to train for the first time with Phoenix

HOT STARTS

Opening night has been good to Phoenix the last two seasons. Rising has outscored its opponents 10-2 the last two season openers.

A NEW ERA AT WILD HORSE PASS

Phoenix ushered in a new era at Wild Horse Pass with a victory vs. San Diego last Friday. Fans were allowed at 50% capacity and brought the energy Phoenix has come to expect from Rising supporters.

MORE MOAR

Santi Moar continued where he left off in 2020, notching a goal and two assists in the season opener. He is tied for first in the league in assists and chances created (6).

Moar finished the 2020 campaign second on the team in assists (8) behind Solomon Asante (9) despite playing only 897 minutes, compared to Asante's 1,537. Moar made a big impact in the playoffs, assisting on three of the club's four playoff goals and scoring the winning penalty kick in the Western Conference Final shootout against El Paso Locomotive FC.

RECORD WHEN STARTING RUFAT

Rising only lost once in 2020 when Rufat Dadashov was in the starting 11 -- a 2-3 loss to San Diego on Sept. 19. After getting the first win on the 2021 season, the club's all-time record with Dadashov in the starting lineup is now 13-1-4.

LIMITLESS LAMBERT

Midfielder Kevon Lambert led the team in interceptions (6), tackles won (4), and duels won (8) on April 30, while adding a goal on the offensive end for good measure.

LOCAL PRODUCT

Local product Ryan Flood got the start at left back and had an impressive debut in the team's victory against San Diego. The 22-year-old starred at Corona del Sol High School in nearby Tempe.

When asked about his reaction to finding out he would be starting, Flood said, "I couldn't speak. I was speechless in the moment, with all my teammates congratulating me. It was a pretty cool moment to have."

HELP IS ON THE WAY

With goalkeeper Zac Lubin out for several months after back surgery, and Andre Rawls day-to-day with a grain strain, Rising has signed 6-foot-6-inch German goalkeeper Ben Lundt on loan from FC Cincinnati. The reigning USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year led the league with nine clean sheets last season with Louisville City FC.

What You Need to Know

Phoenix Rising opened the 2021 season and new stadium at Wild Horse Pass with a 4-1 win vs. San Diego Loyal SC last Friday, April 30 on ESPN2

Santi Moar finished second in the Player of the Week voting for his one-goal-two-assist performance against San Diego

This is Oakland Roots' first match in USL Championship history

Rising is one of only two teams left standing in 2020, Rising won the Western Conference while Tampa Bay claimed the East, those two teams meet next weekend in Florida on ESPN2

THIS WEEK

Saturday, May 8 - vs. San Diego Loyal SC @ 7:30 p.m.

Stream: ESPN+ (U.S. viewers)

TV: CW 61

Radio: ArizonaSports.com & La Mejor 106.5 FM & 1400 AM (Spanish)

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 7, 2021


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