Rising Doubles up Miami FC, 2-0

May 18, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release

PHOENIX, Arizona – Phoenix Rising FC (4-4-3) scored a two-goal win in front of 8,081 fans tonight at 38th St./Washington.

Fede Varela scored a goal in the 36th minute and assisted on one by Edguardo Rito in the 43rd minute to lead Phoenix to its fourth win of the season and its third since April 27 across all competitions. Phoenix now heads to Seattle to face Sounders FC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play, Wednesday, May 22.

“We spoke before the match about pressing Miami high,” said Varela about his goal. “Remi [Cabral] made a very good move, pressing the goalkeeper to win the ball back and I just tried to keep my shot low, under the crossbar.”

Tonight, Miami FC was forced to make an unexpected substitution due to an injury to Rocco Genzano. Up a man for a few minutes until a replacement could warm up, Phoenix pressed Miami hard and nearly found a goal on three occasions before the 20-minute mark. The best of the three came in the 18th minute from Fede Varela, who cracked a hard shot on goal from 35-yards out. Despite the distance, the attempt required a diving save, high to his left side to keep the match scoreless.

Back to 11 vs. 11 with the insertion of Sam Biek, Miami FC opened up a chance for Luisinho to go one on one against Rising goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo in the 27th minute. Rios Novo was up for the challenge, holding his ground and absorbing the shot from close range before being fouled by Luisinho in an attempt to win the ball back.

Rising pressed and earned a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute when forward Remi Cabral reacted faster than Miami goalkeeper Khadim Ndiaye expected. Cabral slid and knocked the ball off the foot of the goalkeeper, getting it to Varela, who sent a lobbed shot up and over Ndiaye to give the home side a one goal advantage.

Phoenix made it 2-0 just before halftime when Varela sent a ball over the top of Miami’s back line to speedster Edguardo Rito. Rito calmy brought the ball down inside the box while being challenged by Ndiaye, then took two touches to set up his shot before slotting a low shot just inside the post.

Rising continued to control the ball in the second half of the match, nearing two-thirds possession of the ball by the 75th minute and limiting Miami to two shots on goal.

Phoenix ended the match with 638 completed passes to Miami’s 264.

Scoring:

PHX – Fede Varela (Remi Cabral) 36

PHX – Edguardo Rito (Fede Varela)…