Despite a Chris Cortez brace, Phoenix Rising was unable to absorb pressure in the midfield and succumbed to San Antonio FC 3-2.
With four changes from Wednesday night’s match against RGV, Phoenix got off to a hot start, going well against the pressure San Antonio deployed high up the field. The hot start paid off with a goal when in the 15th minute, Solomon Asante found just enough space to send in a cross from the right sideline into the box where Cortez was waiting and headed it into the far post. The goal was Cortez’s 14th of the season, which tied the franchise record set back in 2015 by Long Tan.
No. 14 of the year for @c_cortez88 ties a club record for most goals in a season. #RisingAsOne pic.twitter.com/Iqa6Skp81j
— Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) September 9, 2018
San Antonio did not wait long to answer back in the form of a Cyprian Hedrick header in the 22nd minute. San Antonio took their first lead of the match 11 minutes later off a lazy pass from Colin Fernandez, allowing SAFC to break 3-v-2 from the midfield and Ever Guzman did not miss from close range for a 2-1 San Antonio lead. This was not the first time in the match that Phoenix had trouble connecting in the midfield, leaving the defense exposed against the San Antonio attack.
SAFC tacked on another goal five minutes into the second half off a penalty scored by Lance Laing. Coach Rick Schantz threw the kitchen sink at San Antonio, bringing attackers Kevaughn Frater and Devin Vega on and pushing the team up. Despite the added pressure, Phoenix was unable to present much of an attack with only a disallowed own goal notable until the 87th minute when Cortez added his second of the match and 15th of the season, making him the club leader for goals in a season. The goal, a low shot off a free kick just outside the box gave the Rising a fighting chance with only three minutes plus added time left. Billy Forbes, Frater, and Asante each had opportunities in the remaining time but were unable to convert.
Goals
15’- Cortez, PHX (Asante Assist)
22’- Hedrick, SAFC (Laing Assist)
33’- Guzman, SAFC (Seth Assist)
50’- Laing, SAFC (Penalty)
87’- Cortez, PHX (FK)
Starting Lineups
Phoenix Rising: Lubin, Dia, Blackmon, Farrell, Abdul-Salaam, Musa (Frater 55), Fernandez (Vega 65), Awako (Ricci 85), Forbes, Cortez, Asante.
San Antonio FC: Cardone, King, Cochrane, Hedrick, Hernandez, Pecka (Rodríguez 63), Seth (Murphy 78), Lopez, Presley, Laing (Ward 72), Guzman.
Next Up: Phoenix Rising travels up to Tacoma, WA to take on Seattle Sounders FC 2 Saturday, Sept. 15th. The match starts at 7 p.m. and can be seen on Cox 7 and 1007 in Phoenix and Cox 4 and 1004 in Tucson and ESPN+.
