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USL Phoenix Rising FC

Rising Routs Rival New Mexico, 5-2

August 9, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release


Jon Bakero celebrates a Phoenix Rising FC goal against New Mexico United
Jon Bakero celebrates a Phoenix Rising FC goal against New Mexico United
(Phoenix Rising FC)

PHOENIX, Arizona - Junior Flemmings scored three goals to lead Phoenix Rising to a comprehensive, 5-2, win against New Mexico United tonight at Casino Arizona Field.

In a match that started off wide open, with numerous scoring chances at each end of the pitch, New Mexico struck first with a goal by Romeo Parks in just the fifth minute. Amando Moreno picked up an assist on the goal after sending in a long cross from near midfield. Parks chipped a header from outside the box over the head of goalkeeper Zac Lubin. The shot landed just inside the left post to give the visitors a 1-0 lead for the second week in a row.

Phoenix answered in the 17th minute, when Jon Bakero needed just a few inches to get off a first-touch pass to Flemmings, who was sprinting into space behind the New Mexico back line. Flemmings won the race to the pass, muscled off his marker, and finished cleanly to the left of United goalkeeper, Cody Mizell.

Rising went ahead 2-1, in the 22nd minute when Solomon Asante served in a hard cross from the right flank. Flemmings got great contact on a redirection, but it was knocked down by a New Mexico defender. The blocked shot skipped back out to Asante, who served in a pin-point cross to Rufat Dadashov. Phoenix's No. 9 poked a shot just inside the far post with a deft touch to give Rising the lead.

Flemmings won back a ball at midfield to start the second half. He played a long lead pass to the opposite flank for Asante, who had his shot blocked out for a corner. Asante stepped to take the corner and grabbed his second assist of the match when A.J. Cochran came up for the set piece, out-jumped his marker and nodded a shot past Mizell to make it 3-1 in the 52nd minute.

New Mexico United pulled within one goal in the 59th minute, when a corner taken by Saalih Muhammad was misplayed by a Rising defender. The failed clearance attempt fell to the feet of New Mexico's Andrew Tinari, who easily backheeled the ball into the net to make it 3-2.

Rising scored its fourth goal of the match on the counter, when New Mexico was pushing in search of an equalizer. Substitute Joey Calistri and Asante combined to win the ball back on the right flank. Asante kept the ball in bounds and switched the point of attack to Santi Moar in the middle of the pitch. Moar sent the ball back out wide to Bakero, who played a sharp pass in to the feet of Flemmings. The striker scored his sixth of the season with a redirect to the front post, beating Mizell to his left side.

Flemmings completed his hat-trick in the 86th minute. He was assisted on the play by Santi Moar, who took control of the ball near midfield, fought off a challenge and sped down the left flank. Moar drew four United defenders before dishing to Flemmings, who was waiting at the back of the six-yard box. The Jamaican took a touch to the outside before blasting a shot into the ceiling of the net for his third of the evening, league-leading seventh of the season to make it a 5-2 final.

Scoring Summary:

NMU - Romeo Parkes (Amando Moreno) 5

PHX - Junior Flemmings (Jon Bakero) 17

PHX - Rufat Dadashov (Solomon Asante) 22

PHX - A.J. Cochran (Solomon Asante) 52

NMU - Andrew Tinari (Saalih Muhammad) 59

PHX - Flemmings (Jon Bakero) 73

PHX - Flemmings (Santi Moar) 86

Lineups:

Phoenix - Zac Lubin, Owusu-Ansah Kontoh (Joey Calistri 68), Corey Whelan, AJ Cochran, Darnell King, Sam Stanton (Jordan Schweitzer 62), Kevon Lambert, Jon Bakero (Joey Farrell 87), Junior Flemmings, Rufat Dadashov (Santi Moar 69), Solomon Asante (Jack Barmby 87).

Substitutes not used: Eric Dick, Jose Aguinaga.

New Mexico United - Cody Mizell, Kalen Ryden, Austin Yearwood, Josh Suggs, Juan Guzman (Ryan Williams 62), Amando Moreno, Rashid Tetteh (Sam Hamilton 46), Saalih Muhammad (David Estrada 62), Andrew Tinari, Christopher Wehan (Joris Ahlinvi 82), Romeo Parkes (Sammy Sergi 81).

Substitutes not used: Philipp Beigl, Daniel Bruce.

Misconduct Summary:

NMU - Juan Guzman (caution) 45+1

PHX - Kevon Lambert (caution) 57

PHX - Joey Calistri (caution) 80

NMU - Armando Moreno (caution) 87

Referees:

REF: Lukasz Szpala

AR1: Noah Kenyawani

AR2: Melissa Beck

4TH: Alan Martinez

Weather: Clear, 105

Rising head coach Rick Schantz - Click for post-game press conference video

On New Mexico...

New Mexico is a very, very good team. They posed some difficult challenges for us. Their movement and rotation up front, we knew from the beginning how much they move off the ball, they would be very dangerous. We were asleep early on, again, but you see... I'm a little frustrated because once we get scored on the anger and the tenacity comes out. Our response was fantastic again and the second half was even better.

On Junior Flemmings...

His finishing is fantastic. His work rate is unbelievable. I wish you could've heard him at halftime. He said 'it's not about tactics...' The guys were trying to figure out who-marks-who and all their movement and Junior said 'it's not about tactics, you have to compete and fight.' If you didn't see a guy who wears his emotions on his sleeve tonight... He was unbelievable, unbelievable.

Forward Junior Flemmings - Click for post-game press conference video

On Jon Bakero's assist...

Great vision. He recognized that the fullback had to turn. What a ball he played in-behind. It was just about beating him and putting it away but great vision by Bakero.

On beating a rival by three goals...

We just keep going game-by-game. Three weeks ago we came off a defeat and we looked at each other and said 'this isn't good enough.' We had to put in a little extra. Step by step [we're getting there].

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Jon Bakero celebrates a Phoenix Rising FC goal against New Mexico United
Jon Bakero celebrates a Phoenix Rising FC goal against New Mexico United
   



United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 9, 2020


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