MATCH DETAILS
Phoenix Rising FC (3-1-2, 11 pts., 4th in West) vs. Fresno FC (2-1-4, 10 pts., 9th in West)
7 p.m. Saturday, Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex, Scottsdale, Ariz.
TV: Cox 4 (SD) and 1004 (HD) in Phoenix, Cox 7 (SD) and 1007 (HD) in Tucson
Live Stream: ESPN+ (subscription required)
Radio: Fox Sports 910 AM (English), El Patron 97.3 FM (Spanish)
MatchCenter: PHXvFRS
Expansion side Fresno FC makes its appearance to the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex Saturday as Phoenix Rising plays its second match in a three-match homestand.
LAST WEEK: Phoenix Rising battled hard to draw 2-2 with Swope Park Rangers. After a scoreless first half, Billy Forbes got Phoenix Rising on the board first with his first goal of the season, only to have Swope Park’s Kharlton Belmar answer with two straight goals. Solomon Asante answered with seconds remaining before second half injury time to earn the draw. Phoenix Rising lost Kevon Lambert in injury time in the second half when he picked up a second yellow card for a dangerous tackle, earning him a red card, and missing Saturday’s match with Fresno.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PHOENIX RISING: With the suspension of Lambert, a change in formation could come because of it. The possibility of seeing the 4-1-4-1 formation could be coming with either James Musa or Colin Fernandez playing the single holding midfielder. Or we could still see the 4-2-3-1 with Fernandez and Musa being the holding mid pairing. Didier Drogba may still be out with injury, so relying on Jason Johnson, Chris Cortez and Kevaughn Frater up top will be key.
ASANTE, FORBES EARN LEAGUE HONORS: For the third time this season, Asante was named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 6 with his game-tying goal, his fourth of the season. Forbes was named to the honorable mention bench for the week, and becomes the fifth different player to earn league honors this season.
FRESNO REPORT: Fresno is coming off a 0-0 draw with San Antonio FC last week, its third straight draw after two straight wins. Rony Argueta, Jemel Johnson and Juan Pablo Coffa lead the team in scoring with two goals each on the season. Kyle Reynish has been in the net for all seven matches so far, allowing eight goals and has two clean sheets on the season. Fresno is third in the league in shots taken with 92, and is fifth in the league with 2,863 passes. But on the defensive end, Fresno has committed the most fouls in the league with 101, Fresno’s general manager is former Arizona United SC/Phoenix Rising FC coach Frank Yallop.
SEASON FORM:
Phoenix Rising FC: D-W-W-L-W-D
Fresno FC: L-D-W-W-D-D-D
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: This is the first meeting between the clubs.
POSSIBLE STARTING XI (4-1-4-1): GK- Carl Woszczynski; D- Amadou Dia (L), Doueuegi Mala (C), Mike da Fonte (C); Devonte Dubose (R); DM- James Musa; MF- Billy Forbes (L); Colin Fernandez (C), Gladson Awako (C); Solomon Asante (R); F- Jason Johnson.
POSSIBLE SUBSTITUTES: GK- Zac Lubin; D- Kody Wakasa, Victor Vasquez; MF- Devin Vega, Alessandro Riggi; F- Kevaughn Frater, Chris Cortez.
