MATCH DETAILS
Phoenix Rising FC (13-6-5, 44 pts., 3rd in West) vs. San Antonio FC (9-7-7, 36 pts., 8th in West)
7:00 p.m. Saturday, Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex, Scottsdale
TV: Cox YurView 4/1004, ESPN3
Live Stream: ESPN+ (subscription required)
Radio: Fox Sports 910 AM (English), El Patron 97.3 FM (Spanish)
MatchCenter: USL Soccer
PHOENIX RISING LAST MATCH: Just four days ago Phoenix and their fans took their first trip to Las Vegas and came back with 3 points in a 2-0 win. Solomon Asante opened the scoring in the 10th minute off a saved header. While they were unable to score again in the first half, the Rising had a stranglehold on the match and prevented the Lights from creating anything of substance. Kevaughn Frater clinched all three points in the 85th minute, converting a penalty won by Billy Forbes.
Team News: Gladson Awako and Doueugui Mala are both available for team selection after their 3-game and single-game suspensions ended respectively.
San Antonio FC Report: After a successful season last year, finishing 2nd in the conference and making an appearance in the conference semifinals, San Antonio has taken a slight step back this year. The team rides into Phoenix on a two-game losing streak to the Cascadia squads, including basement dwellers Sounders 2. The team is desperate to stay in contention for the playoffs, and has hovered around the dividing line the entire season.
Ever Guzman (#99) has been in top form as of late, with four goals in the last six matches for San Antonio. The Messi-sized Mexican forward has started sixteen games, and will likely see playing time in this pivotal game. Joining Guzman with five goals on the season is Jamaican midfielder Omar Gordon, who has placed two in the back of the net in the past six matches. He will join Rising countrymen Jason Jones, Kevaughn Frater, and Kevon Lambert as players likely to see time in the match.
For news from the San Antonio front, Aaron Marvel, writer for Red Black 90, collaborated with Firebird Soccer Managing Editor Aaron Blau in their “Six Pointer Preview.”
LAST MEETING: You have to go back 388 days since the last time these two teams met on the field. The match at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex ended in 1-0 victory for San Antonio FC on a penalty in the 85th minute by Rafael Castillo. Only 4 starters from that match still play for Phoenix while San Antonio still carries 3 of the players that played in Scottsdale last year. Billy Forbes did feature for San Antonio in that match while Devin Vega was outside the 18. Phoenix Rising is 1-3-1 against the team in their last five meetings.
THE NUMBERS
PREVIOUS FORM (Last five league matches played):
Phoenix Rising FC: W-L-W-L-W
San Antonio FC: W-W-W-L-L
POSSIBLE STARTING XI
