MATCH DETAILS

Phoenix Rising FC (6-2-3, 21 pts., 2nd in West) vs. Swope Park Rangers (4-2-4, 16 pts., 6th in West)

2 p.m. Saturday, Children’s Mercy Park, Overland Park, Kan.

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: SPRvPHX

Phoenix Rising opens a critical three-match road trip and looks to avenge an early season home draw against Swope Park Rangers Saturday in Kansas.

PHOENIX RISING LAST MATCH: Sacramento Republic FC took it to Phoenix Rising early and often, scoring twice in the first 25 minutes from Cameron Iwasa and Villyan Bijev. But Chris Cortez’s goal 20 minutes into the second half gave the home side some hope, only to see that hope shattered by a late goal from Sacramento’s Wilson Kneeshaw to give the visitors a 3-1 victory. The loss was Phoenix Rising’s second home loss of the season.

DRAW HISTORY CONTINUES WITH SWOPE: Phoenix Rising and Swope seem to have an infactuation with draws. Last year, the teams played to a pair of draws during the regular season, and the teams played to a 120-minute draw in the playoffs, only to have Swope Park win the playoff game in penalties. Then the first match the two teams played in 2018 also went to a draw.

LAST MEETING: The teams met Apr. 21 at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex. Phoenix Rising’s Billy Forbes opened the scoring in the 66th minute, only to have Kharlton Belmar score goals in the 70th and 88th minutes to take a 2-1 lead. Solomon Asante saved Phoenix Rising with a goal just 30 seconds from the 90-minute mark to preserve a 2-2 draw.

SWOPE PARK SCOUTING REPORT: All things begin and end with Belmar. Belmar leads the league in scoring with eight goals so far this season. Hadji Barry is second with three goals, but leads the team with four assists. … Swope also has two of the top 10 passers in the league, in Graham Smith (1st, 752) and Amir Didic (7th, 574). … While Phoenix leads the league in shots with 181, Swope finds itself 26th in the league with just 100. … All three goalkeepers have seen even time this season. Adrian Zendejas has played four matches, and Darrin MacLeod and Eric Dick have each played three matches.

RECENT FORM (Last five league matches):

Phoenix Rising FC: D-W-W-W-L

Swope Park Rangers: D-D-W-L-D

POSSIBLE STARTING XI (4-2-3-1): GK- Carl Woszczynski; D- Amadou Dia (L), Doueuegi Mala (C), Mike da Fonte (C), Devonte Dubose (R); DM- Colin Fernandez (L), Kevon Lambert (R); MF- Alessandro Riggi (L); Didier Drogba (C); Solomon Asante (R); F- Jason Johnson.

POSSIBLE SUBSTITUTES: GK-Zac Lubin; D- Kody Wakasa, Victor Vasquez; MF- Billy Forbes, Gladson Awako, Devin Vega; F- Chris Cortez.