Reno Hosts Phoenix Rising FC in Showdown with Two of USL's Top Offenses
August 27, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Reno 1868 FC News Release
Need to know
* Reno hosts one of the USL's top team, Phoenix Rising FC in a matchup with two clubs that each lead their respective group..
- The boys in blue enter the game after back-to-back wins, winning four of their last five.
- Last season, Phoenix won the USL Championship's Regular Season Title.
Preview
Saturday, August 29 - v Phoenix Rising FC
7:00 p.m. PT kickoff @ Greater Nevada Field
Broadcast: ESPN+ (national), Nevada Sports Net (local)
Radio: ESPN Radio 94.5
After back-to-back wins against Portland and San Diego, Reno is back at Greater Nevada Field to host one of the USL's top teams in Phoenix Rising FC. The two squads each lead their respective groups, and are each in the top three in the league in goals scored.
"I think when you look at how they play, you can't just say "hey they're just another team', because they're the best," said head coach Ian Russell. "We want to play against a top team to see where we are and to see what we need to do to get better, or to say we're better than them. The guys have no fear, I know that much."
Reno and Phoenix each enter with six wins, but Phoenix's two draws give Rising FC the slim point advantage, despite Reno playing one less game. Phoenix's 28 goals on the season (3.1 per game) lead the league, while Reno's 18 (2.25 per game) are tied for third.
Reno's offense has been finding its groove recently, with the club scoring five against Portland and three against San Diego in the last two games. The two offensive outbursts have produced a combined 52 shots, with 21 on goal. Reno's 29 shots against San Diego were a club record.
The Reno attack has come from a variety of sources, with 10 different players scoring on the season. For reference, only 21 different players have appeared in a game for Reno this season, not counting goalkeepers.
Midfielder Tucker Bone has been key to the attack as of late, with goals in each of the last two games. Bone added an assist as well against San Diego, resulting in USL Team of the Week honors. The appearance on the list was Bone's first of the season, making him the fourth-different player from Reno to make the list.
"I was frustrated because I know how good Tucker is, and I was starting to wonder "did I get it wrong,' is he not at the level I thought," said Russell. "He started training really well ... I told my assistant coach Chris [Malenab] he's going to start scoring goals, because he's been doing it in training. He's been dangerous."
Last season, Reno fell to Phoenix twice, including a 3-0 loss at Greater Nevada Field.
"To be honest I was happy with how we played for the most part," Russell said after the 2019 loss. "I was happy with how the guys created opportunities. Most nights those turn into goals, tonight they didn't ... In the second half they dropped and made it hard on us."
Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT from Greater Nevada Field. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, Nevada Sports Net and ESPN Radio 94.5.
Scouting report - Phoenix Rising FC
* Phoenix leads Group B with 20 points and a league-best +18 goal differential.
* Rising's 28 goals on the season are the most in thee USL.
* Phoenix has three players in the top five of the USL in goals, including Junior Flemmings' league-best 10.
* Phoenix is coming off a 3-3 draw at Las Vegas last week.
* Phoenix averages two goals per game on the road, compared to four at home. Away from Casino Arizona Field, Rising is just 1-1-2 on the season.
Inside 1868 FC
- Reno plays their third out-of-group game of the season, while in possession of first place in Group A with 18 points. The point total is tied with Sacramento Republic FC, but Reno's +10 goal differential gives them the tiebreaker. Phoenix currently leads Group B with 20 points and a league-best +18 goal differential.
- In the last two games, Reno has scored a total of eight goals, moving Reno into third in the league with 18 on the season.
- Reno's 18 goals on the season have come from 10 different players, and there's a three-way tie at the top for the club lead with three. Corey Hertzog, Foster Langsdorf and Christiano François each have three goals on the year, with François also leading in assists with four. Of the 21 different players (not counting keepers) to appear in a game for Reno, nearly half have scored on the season.
- After a slow start to the season, midfielder Tucker Bone has come alive as of late, starting the last six games. In those six games, Reno has gone 5-1 with Bone scoring twice and assisting once. Bone was rewarded with a spot on the USL's Team of the Week after his performance against San Diego Loyal last weekend.
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