USL Phoenix Rising FC

Phoenix Rising vs. Orange County SC - Tune in to CW61 Arizona Tonight at 7 PM

July 25, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release


Phoenix Rising heads back to Irvine, California, tonight to take on Orange County SC (CW61 Arizona & ESPN+ at 7 PM). This is the second of three meetings between the clubs in the 2020 season presented by Equality Health. Rising will host Orange County SC at Casino Arizona Field on Saturday, Sept. 26.

In the first meeting with Orange County SC, played last Thursday, July 16, Rising forward Junior Flemmings continued his hot streak by scoring his third goal of the season in the 64th minute. The home side countered 10 minutes later when substitute Kevin Coleman found the back of the net, but the 1-1 draw put Phoenix Rising (2-0-1) atop the Group B standings.

Rising FC head coach Rick Schantz spoke to media this week about the team's disappointment with the point on the road.

"They're upset... today [Tuesday at training] the competition was unbelievable," said Schantz. "Anytime you are winning a game on the road and give up a goal to tie, it feels like you've dropped points. A result like that makes the guys that didn't dress or didn't play feel like they have a chance to play the next week. They're going after each other hard and work ethic is our key value. The guys that are putting in a shift every day - those will be the guys that play."

The goal was only the second allowed by Rising this season, but Orange County had several looks at goal that stemmed from long passes throughout the match.

"What we did learn is on all through balls, we have to see them through," said Schantz. They had three-or-four blind long balls that stayed in play. The balls will check up. They're not going to run out of bounds like they would here at Casino Arizona Field."

On offense, the three players that combined for Rising's goal against Orange County - Flemmings, Soloman Asante and Rufat Dadashov are all tied for second in the league with three goals apiece. The trio will continue to be the focal point of the attack in Saturday's rematch, but Schantz will need to go to his bench to replace Owusu-Ansah Kontoh, who picked up a red card for a tactical foul late in the match vs. Orange County last week.

"There is competition at every position at Phoenix Rising," said Schantz "I feel good about the player coming in to replace Kontoh."

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