On April 11, Phoenix Rising edged LA Galaxy II 1-0 thanks to a 64th minute Didier Drogba goal. But how did everyone play? Read our weekly player ratings to find out.
Note: All players are rated on a 1-10 scale, with 6 being average.
GK Carl Woszczynski- 8 Another week, another massive save by Carl to preserve the victory. This time, the Rising stalwart denied Geoffrey Achempong’s goal-bound curler in the 54th minute. He also did well in the 6th minute to come out and pressure Frank Lopez into sliding his effort wide. Woszczynski is enjoying his best season in the desert, and has been crucial to the team’s 3-1-1 start.
LB Amadou Dia- 7 This was a very workmanlike performance for Amadou Dia. The French-born left back has embraced his wing-back role, as evidenced by his touch-map. He got forward often, but was not seriously tested often on defense.
CB Doueugui Mala- 7 Mala was once again generally solid. The Ivorian defender headed balls away, drew fouls, and made numerous clearances throughout the match. He is a fixture in our back line.
CB Mike da Fonte- 6 Mike da Fonte could not live up to his excellent performance on Saturday. The center back lost Frank Lopez in the 6th minute, and it almost cost Phoenix dearly. He played better for most of the match, but set Los Dos up with a set piece after picking up a yellow card in stoppage time.
RB Devante Dubose- 6.5 After getting Saturday off, Dubose returned to the starting lineup with a positive performance. Dubose generally kept his men from getting close to goal, with the notable exception of Ariel Lassiter in the 34th minute. A major improvement over Wakasa on Saturday.
MF Kevon Lambert- 6.5 Kevon Lambert improved from Saturday’s match, but still had his shaky moments. Lambert’s missed tackle on Ethan Zubak allowed his to send a dangerous ball in for Lassiter. He also missed a golden chance to score in the 60th minute when his header from 6 yards went wide. Lambert did have an important defensive role though and stopped several LA Galaxy II attacks.
MF Solomon Asante- 8 This is the second consecutive match where Asante created excellent chances that teammates could not convert. This time, Billy Forbes missed a 35th minute short-range effort and Kevon Lambert missed a juicy 60th minute header. Solo still looks like the most consistent player on the Phoenix Rising roster.
MF Collin Fernandez- 6.5 There were times I forgot Collin Fernandez was in yesterday. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but his game is so locked down in the midfield that he rarely enters either box. Fernandez did win several free kicks and played the full 90 minutes.
MF/F Gladson Awako- 7.5 Awako played an important role in this Rising victory. He assisted Drogba’s goal, and was nearly perfect as a ball distributor. Awako made it 83 minutes before being subbed out. It was a composed, Michael Bradley-esque performance for the second-year Phoenix midfielder.
MF/F Billy Forbes- 6.5 Billy Forbes got the start yesterday, but he was largely held in check. Forbes’ best chance came in the 35th minute, when Asante’s ball found Forbes at the back left post. Under pressure, he could only fire into the side netting. To his credit, the speedy left wing made several interceptions to regain possession for the squad.
F Didier Drogba- 8 Drogba finally made his first start for Phoenix Rising, and it was one to cherish. His 64th minute winner was pure class, and easily the best moment from a choppy midweek match. The Ivorian legend looked good throughout the 90 minutes, and won several long balls to start attacking moves. He was not always involved on defense, but he made his contributions count. A true captain’s performance.
MF/F Jason Johnson- INC Johnson came on inside the last 10 minutes. He provided fresh legs in the waning moments and instantly pushed for goals. He’ll be happy with the three points.
MF Alessandro Riggi- INC Riggi also came on the field inside the final 10 minutes. He only touched the ball twice, and it’s fair to ask when he will have chances to start.
