Phoenix Rising FC opened the 2018 USL season with a 1-1 road draw against Orange County SC Saturday at Champions Soccer Stadium at OC Great Park in Irvine, Calif.

STARTING XI (4-3-3) (SUBS): GK-Carl Woszczynski; D- Amadou Dia (L), Doueuegi Mala (C), Mike da Fonte (C), Devante Dubose (R); MF- Gladson Awako (L) (Chris Cortez 80), Kevon Lambert (C), Colin Fernandez (R); F- Billy Forbes (L) (Alessandro Riggi, 74), Jason Johnson (C), Solomon Asante (R) (Kevaughn Frater, 60).

SUBSTITUTES NOT USED: GK-Zac Lubin; D- Kody Wakasa, Victor Vasquez; MF- Evan Waldrep.

GAME SUMMARY: Phoenix Rising came out in the first 15 minutes with a strong offensive effort. Phoenix Rising opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Billy Forbes hit a cross from the left side. Jason Johnson dummied through the middle, but Solomon Asante was on the back side there to drive the ball past Andrew Rawls for the 1-0 lead.  Orange County had two chances in the first half, one from Thomas Juel-Nielsen in the 17th minute and Michael Seaton in the 41st minute, both saved by Carl Woszczynski to keep it 1-0 Phoenix Rising at the halftime break.

In the second half, Forbes had a shot three minutes into the half that Rawls made a save on. Woszczynski came up with three big saves, in the 58th minute on Koji Hashimoto, in the 72nd minute on Seaton and Walker Hume in the 83rd minute. However, Orange County would find the equalizer just before the 90th minute when Alex Crognale would strike a ball from the middle of the box not marked by central defense and drilled it past Woszczynski for the 1-1 tie.

NEXT: Phoenix Rising opens up its home schedule Saturday, Mar. 24 against Oklahoma City Energy FC. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.