Rising Downed on the Road

Sports stats

USL Phoenix Rising FC

Rising Downed on the Road

June 21, 2025 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release


Mount Pleasant, SC - Phoenix Rising falls 4-1 on the road, dropping points for the first time since April 12

Phoenix Rising conceded early but responded quickly, with defender Collin Smith setting up midfielder Hope Avayevu for the equalizer. Avayevu found space behind the defense thanks to a clever dummy run by Darius Johnson that pulled defenders out of position.

Trailing by one at halftime, Rising pressed forward in the second half, controlling 64 percent of possession and continuing to push in the attack. But Charleston struck again in the 77th minute, as midfielder Arturo Rodriguez scored his second goal of the night. Despite the effort, Rising couldn't close the gap and ultimately suffered a 4-1 defeat to the league's second-ranked side.

Moving Onward

Phoenix Rising hits the road next Saturday to face Texoma FC in the Jägermeister Cup, then returns home for its July 4 matchup against Lexington SC.

Avayevu Making It Happen

With his goal tonight, midfielder Hope Avayevu now leads the team with four goals on the season. He also tops the squad in assists, tallying five during USL Championship play. Against Charleston Battery, he led all players in shots.

Goal-Scoring Plays

CHS - MD Myers (Juan Torres), 8th minute: Midfielder Juan Torres controlled the ball in midfield, slipped past a defender with a quick move, and played a perfectly weighted through ball to forward MD Myers. Myers used his momentum to slot a right-footed shot into the back corner of the net.

PHX - Hope Avayevu (Collin Smith), 36th minute: Defender Collin Smith delivered a cross from the right side toward the top of the box. Forward Darius Johnson made a clever dummy run, allowing midfielder Hope Avayevu to step in and bury a right-footed shot into the far-right corner.

CHS - Arturo Rodríguez (Juan Torres), 44th minute: Juan Torres once again initiated the play, driving through midfield before slipping a pass to Arturo Rodríguez. Rodríguez created space with a quick feint and fired a right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner.

CHS - Arturo Rodríguez (MD Myers), 77th minute: Forward Cal Jennings advanced down the right wing and crossed into the middle for MD Myers, who settled the ball and laid it off for Rodríguez. The midfielder struck a clean right-footed shot into the center of the net for his second goal of the match.

CHS - Houssou Landry, 88th minute: Defender Houssou Landry made a run through midfield and launched a long-range right-footed shot that soared over goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky and into the back of the net.

Notes

Hope Avayevu scored his fourth goal of the USL Championship season-his first since May 11, 2025, against New Mexico United.

Avayevu now leads all Phoenix Rising players in goals scored this season.

Phoenix Rising has scored in 13 straight USL Championship matches.

The club has netted 11 first-half goals in 14 matches-third-most in the league behind Charleston Battery (19) and El Paso Locomotive (13).

Tonight marked Darius Johnson's first career start for Phoenix Rising.

Collin Smith recorded his second assist of the USL Championship season.

Phoenix Rising has scored in 13 of 14 matches this year-no team has scored in more games across the USL Championship.

Next Game

Phoenix Rising continues its road stretch with a trip to Sherman, Texas, for its third Jägermeister Cup match. Kickoff against Texoma FC is set for 5:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, June 28, at Sherman Bearcat Stadium. The match will air on AZFS and ESPN+, with radio coverage available via Rising Radio on the club's social channels.

Phoenix Rising (5-4-5, 20pts) at Charleston Battery (10-3-1, 31pts)

June 21, 2025 - Patriots Point Soccer Complex (Mount Pleasant, SC.)

Goals by Half 1 ‚ 2 FT ‚ ‚

Phoenix Rising 1 0 0

Charleston Battery 2 2 0

Scoring Summary: ‚

CHS: Myers (Torres), 8

PHX: Avayevu (Smith), 36

CHS: Rodríguez (Torres), 44

CHS: Rodríguez (Myers), 77

CHS: Landry, 88

Misconduct Summary: ‚

PHX: Okello (caution), 16 ‚

CHS: Conway (caution), 90+4

Lineups:

PHX: GK Rakovsky, D Flood (Cuello,58), D Montgomery (Kowall, 87), D Essengue, D Smith, M Scearce, M Formella (Dennis, 59), M Avayevu ©, M Okello (Emmers, 60), F Sacko, F Johnson

Substitutes Not Used: GK Henry, M Ping, M Rizzo

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Avayevu, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Avayevu, 3); FOULS: 14 (Sacko, 4); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 4

CHS: GK Zamudio, D Dossantos (Segbers, 82), D Smith (Archer, 45), D Akpunonu, D Blackstock, M Landry, M Allan, M Rodríguez, M Ycaza © (Jennings, 59), M Torres (Klein, 89), F Myers (Conway, 89)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Garner, M Molloy, M Ortiz, M Rodríguez

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Torres, 6) SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Torres, 3); FOULS: 14 (Landry, 3) OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3 ‚

Referee: Luis Diego Arroyo ‚

Assistant Referees: Matt Trotter, Hillis Waddell III

Fourth Official: Josiah Parke ‚

‚

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.

Check out the Phoenix Rising FC Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 21, 2025


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



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central