With traditional media outlets finally coming to their senses in team coverage, and our lead writer Mark Murray unable to cover the team on Friday night, I thought I’d share more in-depth notes as I prepare to record the Rising As One Podcast with Kyle Maki (Dominic is currently focused on studying for the bar exam).

Junior Flemmings returned to the starting lineup this week, as we continue with our now-standard lineup. Though available, AJ Cochran reportedly is still suffering from an illness picked up before the match last week.

Phoenix struck first in the seventeenth minute. Solomon Asante, telepathically knowing that commentator Devin Kerr was inferring that he was better in 2018 than 2019, received the ball from Mustapha Dumbuya playing high on the right side. Asante, in the box, takes a quick first touch and a swipe at the ball, sending it to the far post and into the goal for #13 on the season and a ninth straight game with an assist or goal.

Austin looked to respond quickly, requiring work from the Phoenix Rising goalkeeper in the ninteenth and twenty-fourth minute. The latter found the ball in the box and both Aguinaga and Farrell sliding around on the ground, but the low shot eventually fell into the Golden Glove leader’s large gloves.

Austin had its best chance to score in the 31st minute, Mala found himself in the far corner of the field chasing down a loose ball. Not known for his ball handling skills in tight space and facing a 2v1 situation, the Ivorian attempted to clear the ball up the sideline, but the ball bounced off an Austin player into the box. Both Farrell and Lubin gave chase but Austin’s Andre Lima got there first, sending a shot off of the leg of a diving Joey Farrell. With the ball high in the air going over Lubin’s head, a streaking Xavi Baez had to beat Dumbuya for a tap-in, but the Phoenix defender is able to clear the ball. Mus is injured on the play would return to the match, only to leave a few minutes later.

With the assist, Mustapha Dumbuya continues a strong run of play. The game featured him in a flex-back position, serving the back line in defense, and as a midfielder and through-player with the ball moving forward. Unfortunate for “Mus,” Dumbuya picked up a knock in the 30th minute, requiring coach Rick Schantz to use an early substitution, bringing on FC Tucson’s Austin Ledbetter.

We lost Mus and that was hard because he has been such an anchor of our team, he’s been in every game. He made an incredible save, you know that goal-line scramble and he put his body on the line, and that’s the kind of effort I was talking about the beginning that gets us clean sheets. To sell out, put your body on the line, and make that save, and unfortunately, he got injured.

Zac Lubin

The game would progressively get more chippy, with the first half ending after Austin’s Taylor made a dangerous sliding challenge but caught the worst of it as Junior Flemmings dragged a cleat over his outstretched leg. Immediately after, a ball sent up for Adam Jahn caught him smashed between two Austin players. No fouls given, much to the dismay (evidenced by many F-bombs audible on the CW feed) of the supporters.

Bad behavior would continue into the second half, as Austin’s London Woodbury earned a yellow card when he two-handed body slammed Junior Flemmings to the turf without an attempt on the ball. Flemmings got his revenge soon after on a beautiful defense-splitting header pass to a streaking James Musa. Flemmings stood admiring as the defensive midfielder puts a left footed shot past Diego Restrepo into the net.

Flemmings then added insult to attempted-injury with his second assist in only four minutes of game time. Adam Jahn led Phoenix’s big-three up the field, chipping the ball over the half line to Flemmings who carried the ball to the top of the 18 yard line before finding Asante on the right. June’s player-of-the-month was able to move the ball to his left foot, put a strike in the upper corner far post for his second goal of the night and 14th on the season.

Not done yet, the team captain once again catches Austin on the counter in the 66th minute. Jose Aguinaga receives the ball in mid-field and feeds the ball to Asante on the right. Asante’s right-footed shot finds the hands of a diving Restrepo, but falls at the foot of Adam Jahn who pulls himself into third place (tied) for the USL Championship Golden Boot race. Soon after, Ben Spencer would replace Jahn, as would Joey Calistri for Jose Aguinaga.

Calistri, for his troubles, receives more than just playing time in this shift. Just three minutes after coming on, Calistri approached a free ball at the top of the 18, but does not see Austin’s Edson Braaftheid moving toward him. The Austin player placed his studs squarely into the ribs of Joey Calistri, earning himself a straight red card. His protestations will also likely earn him a multi-game suspension.

Calistri’s recovery was quick, as he was the first one to greet a sliding Jon Bakero who picked up his second goal of the season, the fifth of the game, after a cheeky set piece which saw Asante tap the ball over to him for a low roller to the right post. The goal capped a solid performance which included two close set piece chances earlier in the match.

The eighty-fourth minute brought a second-verse-same-as-the-first. Earlier in the match, Flemmings was able to strike back after a bad Austin foul. This time it was Calistri’s turn. Bruised and battered, the forward-playing-midfield found himself at the right post at the right time, as Amadou Dia places corner to the far side off of Joey Farrell’s head. Farrell picks up his first assist of the season on a high ball back into the fray which the substitute at the back to give him his third goal on the season and Phoenix Rising FC their final score of 6-0.

As happy as he was with the final result, Coach Schantz shared concerns in the post-game press conference. “I’m a little disappointed actually. Adam Jahn has a big gash on the back of his knee, Mustapha Dumbuya has a bruised foot, we had a couple of guys come at Joey Calistri, he has two cleat marks all the way across his chest on the red card.” He continued “…  the referees have to do a better job of protecting the players, that was ridiculous.”

Other notes:

Golden Boot: Solomon Asante is now alone at the top of the Golden Boot race, with a two goal lead over Nashville’s Rios and Rowdies’ Guenzatti, with two and three games in hand respectively. Jahn is tied for third with New Mexico’s Kevaughn Frater.

Consecutive Wins: Phoenix Rising now shares the league record for consecutive wins with FCC Cincinnati, a record set only one year ago.

Front Three Dominate: Adam Jahn (12), Solomon Asante (20), and Flemmings (12) have racked up 34 goals or assists over their past 11 matches.