MATCH SUMMARY
A record 7332 fans took in a wild match between conference basement dwellers, LA Galaxy II, and Phoenix Rising FC. Fans were excited to see the debut of the Rising FC alternate black jerseys, and celebrated by wearing their own black gear. Playing on ‘May the 4th,’ a play on Star Wars, The Red Fury supporters created a special homage to Solomon “Solo” Asante with a Han Solo-style tifo.
The Firebird displayed poise and conditioning, scoring 3 straight goals to recover from a shocking 1-3 deficit. Galaxy II goals were all scored by teenagers, 15 year-old Alvarez (’19), 16 year-old Llanez (’26), and 19 year-old Arellano (’40).
Phoenix Rising showed that wisdom and experience beats youth and enthusiasm as Jason Johnson notched a brace to open his account (’21, ’71), along with a second goal in as many games for Alessandro Riggi (’47), and a class penalty taken by Didier Drogba (’78) to cap off a wild victory.
STARTING XI (SUBS)
Goal – Woszczynski Defense – Vasquez, Da Fonte, Farrell, Dubose (Musa ’45) Midfield – Johnson, Ricci, Fernandez (Wakasa ’81), Riggi Forward – Drogba, Asante (Forbes ’65)
Subs not used: Lubin, Frater, Cortez, Awako
ROSTER NOTES
- Thanks to the red-card suspension of Amadou Dia and lower-body injury to Doueugui Mala, we see two defensemen with not just their first starts, but their first playing time of the year. Second year pro Victor Vasquez, and 2016 All-League second teamer Mike Farrell carry their load.
- Lucca Ricci earns his first start of the year. Didier Drogba has only started one other game this year, in LA against the same LA Galaxy II squad.
- Also absent, six-game starter Kevon Lambert. Lambert sat out recently against Fresno with a double-yellow-card suspension.
RECAP
Phoenix Rising FC played host to LA Galaxy II in 91 degree heat for the first time this season, and concern for that heat showed in the first ten minutes of the game. Runners weren’t pulling their runs, but it was clear that smart passing and build-up was the strategic priority.
The first half saw Drogba with room send a ball into deep outer space, as well as miss a beautiful feed from Allessandro Riggi just wide. Riggi, playing a key role on the right, found himself the recipient of a sweet feed from Asante after a defensive turnover which he tried to feed to Drogba but was unsuccessful.
Galaxy II midfielder Efrain Alvarez isn’t old enough to drive, at 15 years old, but had enough maturity to receive a beautiful nutmeg pass and put it into the top-left corner past Rising FC’s Wizard of Woz. Galaxy II’s joy didn’t last long. A fantastic rush by Drogba and Company found a ball at the foot of Jason Johnson, whose partially blocked ball ricocheted into the back of the net less than a minute later. This was Johnson’s first goal of the season.
Pace of play improved almost immediately as the field opened up. The teams traded runs back and forth until another member of the Galaxy’s youthful squad, Ulysses Llanez successfully claimed a rebound off the right post and placed it in the back of the net. Combined, the ages of Llanez and Alvarez is still likely lower than the number of years Didier Drogba has been playing soccer.
The offensive accumen of the Phoenix Rising front-line has been well proven, and the team has found strong support in a very consistent back-line starting lineup. Unfortunately, due to injury and suspension, two of the four defending roles were players in the first action of the season, and it showed, with Hugo Arellano able to put head-to-ball over the top of first-time starter Victor Vasquez and put Galaxy II’s third goal in the back of the of a corner in the 40th minute.
A reasonably officiated first half came to a close with three and a half minutes of extra time. Rising FC had two late chances, one from a hand ball just outside the Galaxy II box, and again from a corner, with no result. The first discipline of the game came ten minutes later, with Arellano picking up a yellow card. A few minutes later Asante found himself on the wrong end of the foul right at the top of the circle. Drogba’s shot was on target, but deflected for a corner. Johnson found a solid head on the end of the delivery, but the ball only found the post.
The final minutes of the first half featured a well conditioned Rising FC squad continuing to make deep runs into Galaxy II’s final third. The speed of Asante, Johnson and Riggi was enhanced by the intelligence and maturity of their captain’s play.
Allesandro Riggi got the second half rolling quickly with a smart score from a Collin Fernandez cross in the 46th minute. Fernandez lured two defenders on the left and Riggi was able to find an opening to cut the visitor’s lead in half.
Two young fans will never forget 71st minute. As Drogba prepared to take a corner, he paused and drank water from the tweenager’s water bottle. He then calmly turned around, and sent a beautiful near-post delivery off of Jason Johnson’s head into the back of the net. Phoenix Rising media later confirmed that Drogba called his shot, telling the young fans the team would score on the kick.
Defensive lapses were not all the ownership of Phoenix Rising FC. Arrellano, playing on a yellow, took a dangerous challenge against Solomon Asante in the box, earning a Rising Penalty. Drogba, showing that he is #Red4Ed, taught the keeper a lesson he’ll likely remember for a long time as he scored his second goal of the season, both against Galaxy II.
The visitors couldn’t muster another legitimate scoring chance. The home squad held strong, with the squad from Rising FC riding high with a 4-3 win.
Next Up: Phoenix Rising visits OKC Energy on Wednesday, May 9.
Discipline
Arrellano (Galaxy II) – ’56 – Yellow
