Rising Draws Sacramento, 1-1 – OurSports Central

May 4, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release

PHOENIX, Arizona – Phoenix Rising FC (3-4-2) came from behind to draw, 1-1, with Sacramento Republic tonight at 38th St/Washington.

Rising thought it had taken a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute when Emil Cuello drew a penalty kick after being clipped in the box. Panos Armenakas stepped up to take the kick and beat Sacramento goalkeeper Daniel Vitiello to his left side, but referee Adam Kilpatrick ruled that another Phoenix player had entered the box prior to the kick and forced Armenakas to retake the attempt. On the second shot, Armenakas once again beat Vitiello to his left but sent the shot wide of the post.

Eight minutes later Sacramento took a 1-0 lead on a free kick attempt from the top of the box. Rising goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo set up his wall in the center of the field, expecting the Republic’s Rodrigo Lopez to shoot towards his left side, but the forward instead curled a shot to his right. The bending ball dipped just under the cross to give the visitors the first goal of the match.

Remi Cabral nearly tied the match in the 44th minute after Edguardo Rito send in a dangerous ball from the right flank. JC Azocar brought the ball down in the box, getting it to the feet of Cabral, but the striker’s first-touch shot was directly at the goalkeeper, who smothered the shot and did not allow a rebound.

Rising leveled the match in the 66th minute when substitute Gabi Torres intercepted a bad touch from a Sacramento defender and quickly slipped a pass in centrally to Cabral. Phoenix’s leading turned with the pass and rifled a shot that beat Vitiello, caught the bottom of the crossbar and settled into the goal for the forward’s sixth of the season.

Rising is on the road next week, traveling to face North Carolina FC on Wednesday, May 8 (4 p.m.), in U.S Open Cup action. The team then heads directly to Detroit for its league matchup against Detroit City FC, Saturday, May 11 at 4 p.m.

Scoring:

SAC – Rodrigo Lopez 33

PHX – Remi Cabral (Gabi Torres) 66

Discipline:

SAC – Remi Cabral (caution) 29

PHX – Dariusz Formella (caution) 51

PHX – Emil Cuello (caution) 53

SAC – Luis Felipe (caution) 62

Lineups:

Phoenix Rising FC – Rocco Rios Novo, Alejandro Fuenmayor (Laurence Wyke 79), John Stenberg, Mohamad Traore, JC Azocar (Gabi Torres 61), Edguardo Rito, Panos Armenakas (Dariusz Formella 79), Renzo Zambrano, Gulio Doratiotto (JP Scearce 86), Remi Cabral, Emil Cuello (Fede Varela 60).

Substitutes Not…