MATCH DETAILS

Phoenix Rising FC (9-3-4, 31 pts., 2nd in West) at Rio Grande Valley FC (1-6-7, 10 pts., 16th in West)

5:30 p.m. Saturday, H-E-B Park, Edinburg, Texas

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: RGVvPHX

Phoenix Rising FC hits the midpoint of the season after Saturday night’s match on the road to near-bottom of the table Rio Grande Valley FC in coach Rick Schantz’s third match at the helm of Phoenix Rising FC.

PHOENIX RISING LAST MATCH: It was a highlight-reel goal from Jason Johnson leading Phoenix Rising to a 3-0 victory over Tulsa Roughnecks FC, giving Phoenix Rising a clean sweep of the week’s matches, and giving Schantz his second straight win as interim manager. Chris Cortez added his team-leading seventh goal of the season and Kevaughn Frater added his first in a Phoenix Rising uniform to give Phoenix Rising the season sweep over Tulsa. Carl Woszczynski also recorded his second straight clean sheet and fifth of the season in 12 appearances this season, tied for fifth in the league in clean sheets. Cortez’s goal moved him into a tie for fourth in the USL in goal scoring, just one behind USL league leaders Kharlton Belmar of Swope Park Rangers, Nico Brett of Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Thomas Envoldsen of Orange County SC.

JOHNSON NAMED USL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Johnson goal against Tulsa was his third of the week and earned him USL Player of the Week honors for Week 14, the second Phoenix Rising player to earn the award this season. Cortez earned Player of the Week honors in Week 2. It was the second time Johnson earned league honors this season, he was also named to the Team of the Week in Week 8.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY REPORT: Rio Grande comes in off the heels of a 3-1 loss last Saturday to Oklahoma City Energy FC. Rio Grande took the early 1-0 lead on a 15th minute Omar Ontiveros goal, his second of the season. But Oklahoma City tied it in the first half and added two more in the second half for the win. Aldo Quintanilla is the team’s goal scoring leader with four on the season. Ontiveros and Todd Wharton have two goals each bebind Quintanilla. Rio Grande sits tied for 25 in the league with 14 goals scored on the season. Quinatanilla, Wharton and Jesus Enriquez lead the team in assists with two each. Nicolas Corti is the No. 1 goalkeeper with 13 appearances on the season, and has conceded 17 goals, and has made 32 saves on the season.

RECENT FORM (Last five league matches):

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

Rio Grande Valley FC: D-D-L-L-L

POSSIBLE STARTING XI (4-3-3): GK- Carl Woszczynski; D- Amadou Dia (L), Mike da Fonte (C), Joe Farrell (C), Kody Wakasa (R); MF- Kevon Lambert (L), James Musa (C), Gladson Awako (R); F- Jason Johnson (L), Chris Cortez (C), Solomon Asante (R).

POSSIBLE SUBSTITUTES: GK- Zac Lubin; D- Doueuegi Mala, Devonte Dubose; MF- Evan Waldrep, Alessandro Riggi, Billy Forbes; F- Kevaughn Frater.