Rising Shuts out Louisville, Draws, 0-0

July 20, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Phoenix Rising FC News Release

Lamin Jawneh of the Phoenix Rising vs. Louisville
(Phoenix Rising FC)

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Phoenix Rising FC earned a point on the road in hostile Lynn Family Stadium tonight.

Phoenix goalkeeper Ben Lundt made six saves on the night to earn a clean sheet against the top team in the USL Championship. Rising returns to Wild Horse Pass this Saturday, July 23 (7:30 p.m.), where it will face Sacramento Republic in a key Western Conference match in the race for the 2022 postseason.

Tonight, Rising created an early chance when Greg Hurst and Richmond Antwi combined through the middle of the park before sending the ball to Lamin Jawneh, who was one-on-one against his defender on the left side of the area. Jawneh used an inside-out move to free up his left foot, but with the defender pressing from his right side, the best the forward could do was force a kick save out of Louisville goalkeeper Kyle Morton.

Rising picked off a pass and Aodhan Quinn quickly put Hurst in on goal with his left foot in the 29th minute. Hurst’s first touch set up his second, a left-footed volley that forced a diving save out of Morton.

Antwi forced a third save out of Morton in the 38th minute after Hurst switched the point of attack from the right side to the left. The forward didn’t have the best angle, but his shot was on target. The left-footed blast looked destined for the far post before Morton pushed it wide and out for a Rising corner kick.

Louisville nearly took a 1-0 lead in the 86th minute when Harris won a ball played over the top and went at goal himself. Harris looked to have slid a shot just inside the far post but a full-extension save from Phoenix goalkeeper Ben Lundt kept the ball out of the back of the net.

Lundt stood on his head again moments later, when Louisville’s Manny Perez got a free look from just outside the six-yard box. The forward tried to beat Lundt to his right side but the goalkeeper stood his ground and made a remarkable kick save to preserve the shutout against the top team in the USL’s Eastern Conference.

Marcus Epps took on three defenders by himself and got off a low shot that nearly beat Morton in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Fortunately for the home team, Morton was able to smother the ball on the goal line.

Scoring:

NONE

Discipline:

PHX – Kevon Lambert (caution) 6

PHX – Baboucarr Njie (caution) 37

Lineups:

Phoenix Rising FC – Ben Lundt, Baboucarr Njie,…