March 17, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Phoenix Rising FC News Release
MONTEREY BAY, California – Phoenix Rising FC dropped a narrow, 1-0, decision tonight at Cardinale Stadium.
Monterey Bay took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute when a turnover at the back gave Adrian Rebollar the ball on the edge of the area. Rebollar quicky found Rafael Baca in the center of the area and the Union’s No. 10 smacked a hard shot into the back of the net to give the home side the early lead.
The heavy pressure from Monterey Bay continued until the final 10 minutes of the first half, but Rising goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo kept Phoenix in the match, making three saves and punching away a fourth chance until his teammates could steady the ship.
Rising’s best chance of the first half came in stoppage time, when Renzo Zambrano crossed the ball to Gabi Torres on the left flank. Torres feinted to free up his left foot then curled a pass to the back post for Remi Cabral. The pass was spot on, but Monterey Bay goalkeeper Anthony Siaha charged off his line to pluck the ball out of the air and preserve the one-goal lead heading into the break.
Phoenix came out of halftime on the front foot and nearly evened the score in the 56th minute when Panos Armenakas collected a pass in acres of space. The midfielder ran at the defense before finding Fede Varela with a lateral pass. Rising’s No. 10 cracked a hard shot, low toward the post, but Siaha was there to make a diving save to his left side.
Monterey Bay settled down and held Phoenix without another quality chance to score for a large portion of the second half, but Rising was still just a goal away from tying the match in stoppage time of the second half. Unfortunately for the defending champs, the offense could not find its rhythm, even with the introduction of several offensive-minded substitutions.
Rising fell to 0-2-0 and will look to turn things around at home next Saturday, March 23 (7 p.m.) vs New Mexico United.
Scoring:
MB – Rafael Baca (Adrian Rebollar) 22
Discipline:
PHX – Jose Hernandez (caution) 70
PHX – Edgaurdo Rito (caution) 77
MB – Enríquez (caution) 84
MB – Fehr (caution) 86
MB – Anthony Siaha (caution) 90+3
PHX – Emil Cuello (caution) 90+4
Lineups:
Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Rios Novo, Laurence Wyke, Pape Mar Boye, Mo Traore (Ryan Flood 78), Edguardo Rito, Gabi Torres (JC Azocar 57), Jose Andres Hernandez (Erickson Gallardo 78), Renzo Zambrano, Fede Varela (Emil Cuello 67), Remi Cabral (Dariusz Formella 67), Panos…