MATCH DETAILS
Phoenix Rising FC (10-3-5, 35 pts., 3rd in West) at Fresno FC (6-7-7, 25 pts., 9th in West)
7 p.m. Saturday, Chukchansi Park, Fresno, Calif.
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: FRSvPHX
After a two week layoff, Phoenix Rising FC returns to the pitch as they head to the road to face Fresno FC, a club hanging on near the playoff line in the USL Western Conference standings.
PHOENIX RISING LAST MATCH: Phoenix Rising got off on the front foot against Orange County SC with a Chris Cortez goal in the 13th minute, his team-leading eighth of the season. However, a red-card offense from defender Kody Wakasa in the 35th minute meant Phoenix Rising had to play a man down for almost 60 minutes. But Carl Woszcczynski made a number of key saves and the defensive unit held strong to preserve a 1-0 victory for the team’s fifth straight clean sheet and extended their unbeaten streak to six matches, and not allowing a goal for the entire month of June.
WOSZCZYNSKI NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Woszczynski made eight saves in the match against Orange County and earned USL Player of the Week honors for Week 16, the third player this season to earn that honor. Chris Cortez earned the honor in Week 2 and Jason Johnson earned the honor in Week 14.
SCHANTZ NAMED COACH OF THE MONTH: Interim coach Rick Schantz was named the USL Coach of the Month for June in a vote of media across the league. Schantz was 3-0-1 in his three matches since taking over for Patrice Carteron on June 11. “This is an honor that is shared with my entire staff and players,” Schantz said in a release from the club. “While I’m humbled by the distinction, I know that it takes many people to achieve the success PRFC has this past month. I asked that PRFC become a family and support one another – that’s what happened.”
MUSA A FINALIST FOR PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Midfielder James Musa was one of the five finalists for USL Player of the Month for June. Musa finished fourth in the voting, as FC Cincinnati’s Emmanuel Ledesma earned the monthly honor.
WOSZCZYNSKI, ASANTE ON MIDSEASON AWARDS LIST: Carl Woszczynski and Solomon Asante are up for midseason honors on the league’s website. Woszczynski is up for goalkeeper of the year and Asante for League MVP.
FRESNO REPORT: Fresno is coming into the match on a two-match winning streak. Last match out Fresno got a pair of goals from Juan Pablo Caffa in a 4-2 victory over Portland Timbers 2. Caffa has three goals in his last two matches and is second on the team with six goals on the season. Jemal Johnson leads the team in scoring with seven goals. Kyle Reynish is the No. 1 man in goal for Fresno, and has conceded 19 goals in 15 appearances this season.
LAST MEETING: The teams met for the first time Apr. 28 at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex. An early red card to defender Amadou Dia left Phoenix Rising down to 10 men. Jemal Johnson scored right out of the locker room in the second half in the 47th minute, but a late equalizer by Alessandro Riggi gave the teams a 1-1 draw.
CURRENT FORM (Last five league matches):
Phoenix Rising FC: D-W-W-D-W
Fresno FC: W-L-L-W-W
POSSIBLE STARTING XI (4-3-3): GK- Carl Woszczynski; D- Amadou Dia (L), Mike da Fonte (C), Joe Farrell (C), Doueuegi Mala (R); MF- Kevon Lambert (L), James Musa (C), Gladson Awako (R); F- Jason Johnson (L), Chris Cortez (C), Solomon Asante (R).
POSSIBLE SUBSTITUTES: GK- John Berner; D- Victor Vasquez, Devonte Dubose; MF- Billy Forbes, Evan Waldrep, Alessandro Riggi; F-Kevaughn Frater.
