On March 24, Phoenix Rising thrashed Oklahoma Energy FC by a 4-1 score. Chris Cortez and Solomon Asante stole the headlines with fantastic goals. But how did everyone else play? This is the first installment of our weekly player ratings.

All players are rated on a 1-10 scale, with 6 being average.

GK Carl Woszczynski- 8.5  Carl was not busy in the first half, but he made several key saves in the final 45 minutes. OKC’s lone goal came off a rebound where Woszczynski did well to make the initial save. He also got the hockey assist on Asante’s goal, and distributed the ball nicely. Much better than his counterpart.

LB Amadou Dia- 7.5 Dia needed a bounce-back performance after losing several 1-v-1 battles against Orange County. He did not disappoint. Dia made the right passes in the back, got involved in the attack, and limited opportunities for OKC to attack down the right flank. Was one of many solid performers.

CB Doueugui Mala- 8 Mala also struggled at times last week. Fortunately, the Ivorian defender brought his A-game against OKC. Mala consistently headed balls away on corner kicks and set pieces. He was the main reason Phoenix Rising won over 62% of aerial duels in the match, and his deflection on Jose Barril’s 49th minute effort kept the shutout intact.

CB Mike da Fonte- 6 It would not be fair to say da Fonte played poorly. But OKC were able to generate several scoring opportunities because of his lapses. He was notably caught flat-footed in the 61st minute when Jose Barril played a ball through for Richard Dixon, and again when the Energy scored on a set piece. Solid distribution and better aerial clearances though.

RB Devante Dubose- 7 Most fans expected Kody Wakasa to start at RB on opening night. Instead Dubose won the job, and he rewarded Carteron’s faith with another strong performance. Dubose knocked crosses out for corners, passed the ball well, and generally has earned his starting role.

MF Kevon Lambert- 7.5 The Jamaican midfielder looked very composed in his first season opener for Phoenix Rising. He won a 50/50 header to assist Chris Cortez’s first goal, and looked strong on set pieces.

MF Solomon Asante- 9 Another game, another goal for the Ghana-born midfielder. His 28th minute strike earned him a spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 last night. But his all-around performance was nearly as impressive. Asante tracked back to clear the ball after OKC’s deflected shot hit the crossbar, and he earned multiple fouls. On any other night, he would be Man of the Match

MF Collin Fernandez- 8 This was easily Fernandez’s best performance with Phoenix Rising. Fernandez sliced past three OKC defenders before sliding a pass to Cortez for the third goal. He also won 50/50 balls, showed great passing ability, and generally marked his man nicely.

MF/F Jason Johnson- 7.5 Johnson had to play a right wing role last night, but he did the little things to help teammates prosper. Johnson got involved early with a headed shot, but his biggest contributions came from tracking back on defense and creating space for other attackers. A performance worthy of the captain’s armband.

MF/F Gladson Awako- 7.5 Like Johnson, Awako’s strong performance was easy to overlook. Yet he played a key role by building attacks, stringing passes together, making challenges when needed, and generally covering ground. Awako was the first player subbed off, but his effort in the first 74 minutes was fantastic.

F Chris Cortez- 10 This might be the only 10 rating I give all season. Cortez was just that good. The longtime Rising/Arizona United veteran found the perfect spaces all night, and made no mistake with his finishing. The goal just before halftime was my favorite, because he controlled a difficult pass and fired a dagger shot on target. He even assisted on Asante’s goal. We just witnessed the best professional match of Cortez’s life, and he only started because Didier Drogba was a last-minute scratch due to illness.

MF/F Luca Ricci- 7.5 The 20-year old from Quebec came on for Awako in the 74th minute, and notched his first Phoenix Rising assist minutes later. Ricci showed the ability to deliver quality long balls and crosses with the Montreal Impact academy squad. We saw our first glimpse of his potential in stoppage time when he delivered a perfect ball for Cortez to nod home. Let’s hope he gets more opportunities to shine for us.

MF/F Alessandro Riggi- INC Riggi played less than 60 seconds. His appearance was largely ceremonial.