Phoenix Rising Falls Out Of Open Cup, 2-1, In New Mexico

April 26, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Phoenix Rising FC News Release

Albuquerque, NM – Phoenix Rising FC dropped a 2-1 decision to New Mexico United tonight at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park.

The win eliminates Phoenix from the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Rising is back in action in league play at 38th St/Washington this Saturday, April 29 (7:30 p.m.) vs. Loudoun United. Join Rising to celebrate Superhero Night, including a police vs. firefighter match pregame (5:55 p.m.). Tickets for that match are still available here or by calling 623-594-9606.

Tonight, Greg Hurst gave New Mexico a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute when Daniel Bruce ran and Phoenix’s back line and knocked a short pass wide to the former Phoenix Rising forward. Hurst put a hard shot on goal, but goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky parried it away. The loose ball rebounded through a crowd of players in front of goal, back to the feet of Hurst, who did not miss his second attempt, putting the home side up, 1-0.

Shortly after the goal, Rising was forced to play a man down for the remainder of the match after Baboucarr Njie was shown a red card in stoppage time of the first half.

Despite playing a man down, Rising created several scoring chances in the second half. One of the best came in the 71st minute when Jose Andres Hernandez found Manuel Arteaga in-behind the New Mexico defense. Arteaga tried to beat United’s Ford Parker to the near post, but the goalkeeper came off his line and knocked the attempt away from danger with his body.

The breakthrough came in the 77th minute when Arteaga cracked a free kick off the crossbar. Darnell King followed the shot and got a piece of the rebound, knocking it to Carlos Harvey, who finished off the chance with a sliding attempt through a crowd of people at the top of the six-yard box.

New Mexico made it 2-1 in the 87th minute after a clearance attempt from Renzo Zambrano was picked off and sent past Rakovsky from the top of the area.

Jose Andres Hernandez created a chance for Rising to equalize for a second time in the 90+4th minute. Hernandez took a shot that required the full attention of Parker, who dove to his right side and knocked the shot down into the path of Arteaga. The forward tried to power the loose ball past the goalkeeper but his attempt was well over the bar.

Scoring:

NM – Greg Hurst 42

PHX – Carlos Harvey 77

NM – Josh Dolling 87

Discipline:

PHX – Darnell King (caution) 45+1

NM – Josh Suggs (caution) 45+1

NM – Justin…