Preview #32 – Phoenix Enters Last Season Stretch with Reno Matchup
MATCH DETAILS
Phoenix Rising FC (19-7-5, 62 pts., 2nd in West) vs. Reno 1868 FC (15-7-10, 55 pts., 5th in West)
7:30 PM (MST), Saturday, Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex, Scottsdale, AZ
TV: Cox 4 (SD) and 1004 (HD) in Phoenix, Cox 7 (SD) and 1007 (HD) in Tucson
Live Stream: ESPN+ (subscription required)
Radio: El Patron 97.3 FM (Spanish)
MatchCenter: PHXvRNO
Phoenix Rising Last Match: Phoenix left it late for themselves last Saturday night, but a goal from substitutes Billy Forbes and Chris Cortez secured the three points in the 2-0 win over Saint Louis FC. The win gave Phoenix the season sweep over Saint Louis and secured a top-three finish in the Western Conference.
Playoff Watch: Rising’s win last week means they stayed one point behind Orange County in the race for Western Conference Champions. With a magic number of 8, and three games remaining, Phoenix is still in control of their destiny. Winning out would crown them the 1st seed.
| Orange County (63) | Phoenix (62) | |
| Match #32 | Reno 1868 (5th) | |
| Match #33 | Sounders 2 (16th) | @Las Vegas (15th) |
| Match #34 | @ Reno 1868 (5th) | Timbers 2 (6th) |
Regardless of where Phoenix finishes, it looks like their first round opponent will be one of San Antonio FC, Portland Timbers 2, Saint Louis FC, or Swope Park Rangers. Phoenix is a combined 4-1-2 against those four teams, with Swope Park being the only team from which they did not secure a win.
Team News: Billy Forbes was named to the USL Team of the Week for his performance in Rising’s 2-0 win over Saint Louis FC last Saturday. Forbes entered the match in the 63rd minute and scored the game-winning goal in the 81st on a strike from just outside the box following a Saint Louis FC turnover. The honor was Forbes’ second of the season and the fourth straight week that Rising have placed a player on the Team of the Week.
Reno 1868 FC Report: Reno clinched their spot in the USL playoffs Wednesday night with a 2-0 win over Timbers 2 and moved up to 5th place with the result. Reno is led by the attacking duo of Bruce Brown, who recently became the club’s all-time scoring leader, and Antoine Hoppenot, who is tied for third in the USL with 13 assists.
LAST MEETING:
PREVIOUS FORM (Last five league matches played):
Phoenix Rising FC: W-L-W-W-W
Reno 1868 FC: W-D-W-W-W
POSSIBLE STARTING XI
