March 10, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Phoenix Rising FC News Release
Phoenix Rising FC’s Federico Varela in action
(Phoenix Rising FC)
PHOENIX, Arizona – Phoenix Rising FC fell, 1-0, in its 2024 season opener tonight to Birmingham Legion.
The defending USL Championship Title Winners drew the eighth largest crowd (8,187) in the eighth season of franchise history and nearly took a one-goal lead in the 34th minute when Fede Varela played a ball over the top of Birmingham’s defense to Edguardo Rito.
The right winger settled the pass and ripped a hard shot on goal, but Matt Van Oekel made a diving save high to his right side. The rebound sent the goalkeeper scrambling to get a hand to the ball that had popped high into the air. Dariusz Formella nearly put away a third chance from the rebound, but the goalkeeper got his right foot down in time to deny the forward.
Panos Armenakas played a beautiful through ball to Rito in the 40th minute. Similar to his last chance, Rito got every bit of a right-footed shot on Van Oekel, but once again the goalkeeper made an outstanding save, diving to his right side to push the shot wide of the post and out for a corner kick.
Just before the end of the half, Rising was fortunate to escape the first 45 minutes of play without surrendering a goal. Birmingham shouted for a handball on Rising defender Pape Mar Boye just before a shot attempt off a corner kick was cleared off the line at the last moment.
Rising controlled the match through the opening 20 minutes of the second half, but it was Birmingham that took a 1-0 lead in the 67th minute when Diba Nwegbo fired a shot towards the back post from just outside the top corner of the box. Phoenix goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo had it covered as it rocketed towards the back post, but the shot took a deflection on its way through the area and the ball dribbled past the goalkeeper at the near post to make it 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
Rising pressed for an equalizer late but Van Oekel owned this night, finishing the match with eight saves and two punches to secure the shutout on the road against the defending champions.
Rising is on the road next weekend before returning on March 23 to face Oakland Roots at 7 p.m.
Scoring:
BIR – (own goal) 67
Discipline:
BIR – Enzo Martinez (caution) 45
PHX – Dariusz Formella (caution) 53
PHX – Edguardo Rito (caution) 71
BIR – Alex Crognale (caution) 73
BIR – Diba Nwegro (caution) 76
Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Rios Novo, Laurence Wyke, Pape…