Phoenix Rising traveled to Irvine without team captain Solomon Asante, whose father passed away this week in Ghana. In his stead, former St. Louis starter Joey Calistri got the nod time on the right wing. Calistri has not seen much time on the field, but was able to get some solid minutes playing for League 1 FC Tucson in their match last Tuesday in Tucson.
Veteran Adam Jahn was able to return to the starting lineup after being hampered with back spasms, but the team looked lost without the field leadership of Asante and Jason Johnson. Orange County refused to cede space for midfielder Jose Agunaga to create opportunities, limiting the team’s ability to play a possession style that Head Coach Rick Schantz installed for the 2019 season. Instead, The stifling Orange County press forced the Rising back line to skip the midfield and play long balls forward on several occasions.
The well organized OC back line called back a solid 17th minute scoring opportunity for Amadeu Dia. Collin Fernandez played a beautiful ball up the middle which gave the team their first solid scoring opportunity, but the Assistant Referee called the wingback offside.
The commentator’s curse hit Phoenix in the 26th minute. Just Devon Kerr and Tyler Terens sung the praises of midfielder Kevon Lambert, the player got his feet caught up with those of OC attacker Harry Forrester in the box. The result was an immediate penalty call from Referee Michael Radchuck, and a well placed ball into the back of the net by Aodhan Quinn.
Junior Flemings set up a fine scoring chance in the 31st minute, switch the play from left to right with a ball played off the foot of Joey Callistri across the face of goal, but out of reach of a slow-to-react Adam Jahn. The forward had an opportunity for redemption in the 39th minute, as Junior Flemmings, now playing on the right side, served a ball into the box. Jahn played the ball into a volley and drilled a laser just over the corner of the goal.
The offside flag continued to stifle offensive production for Phoenix Rising. In the 54th minute, Junior Flemings was able to move up the right side and place a ball into the center of the field to the foot of Jose Aguinaga who laid off to a streaking Adam Jahn. Unfortunately the Spaniard was caught in an offside trap, and it was all for naught. Phoenix Rising saw a raised flag four times over the course of the match.
The run of bad luck continued in the 57th minute, as Harry Forrester placed a sloppy cross into the box. Darwin Jones and Michael Seaton split Goalkeeper Zach Lubin, and after ricocheting off of Lubin’s chest, a flat-on-his-back Michael Seaton poked the ball across the line to put OC up 2-0.
Junior Flemings gave the team a glimmer of hope by winning a foul just outside the 18 yard box. Essentially a short corner, the substitute Bakero (’58 for Fernandez) placed a ball off of the head of Adam Jahn at the back post for his third goal of the season.
Phoenix put together a few more chances, which included dangerous crosses by Mustpha Dumbuya and Jon Bakero, but not a one found connection. Dumbuya had one final chance when OC keeper McClain was caught off his line, but his attempt to cross was without accuracy.
The match ended at 1-2 after five minutes of stoppage time. The teams were statistically similar in most categories, though OC dominated on defensive interceptions (18-9)
Starting XI (Reserves)
Phoenix: Lubin (GK), Dia, Cochran, Farrell (’81), Dumbuya, Lambert, Fernandez (’58), Calistri, Aguinaga, Flemings, Jahn , Woz, Ledbetter, Mala, Musa, Bakero (’58), Spencer (’81)
Discipline
Lambert (’26 foul), Jahn (’47 simulation)
