• Phoenix Rising FC Preview

    PREVIEW: All the Trappings of a Record Setter

    Aaron Blau
    A standing room only crowd watched Phoenix Rising tie the USL Championship consecutive wins record against Austin Bold on July 19, 2019 (Aaron Blau)

    Phoenix Rising (12-2-5, 41pts, 1st in West) vs. Tulsa Roughnecks (4-10-6, 18pts, 17th in West)
    5:30pm, Oneok Field, Tulsa,OK
    TV: Your Phoenix CW (6 & 61.1)
    Stream: ESPN+
    Radio: ESPN Phoenix AZSports.com
    Matchcenter: #TULvPHX

    Phoenix Rising has the opportunity to to set a new mark upon the USL Championship, and fate seems to be cooperating. Phoenix, currently tied with FC Cincinnati for consecutive win streak (10), faces a flailing bottom-of-the-table opponent in Tulsa Roughnecks.

    Solomon Asante celebrates after he scores a penalty earlier in the season against Tulsa. (Aaron Blau)

    Last Meeting: Phoenix Rising already used Tulsa to set one record this season. In the home leg of the season, Phoenix Rising set a club record for goals scored in a 5-0 trouncing of the Roughnecks. Adam Jahn, Solomon Asante (Pen), and Junior Flemmings (2) all figured into the result, and recent FC Tucson call up Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu scored his first goal at the USLC level.

    Team News: Phoenix set numerous records in their last match. In addition to tying the consecutive wins record, it was the club’s 13th consecutive sellout, largest home regular-season attendance, and 12th consecutive $1 beer night win. Additionally, Asante has nine straight games with a goal or assist, and Jahn has 10 in 11.

    Junior Flemmings and Solomon Asante were named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for their performance. Asante had two goals and an assist, and Flemmings had two assists in the win over Austin.

    The Other Guys: After starting the season with four wins in their first eight matches, Tulsa has failed to pick up a fifth win. That means the squad is winless in the last three months (since April 24, 2019). Their home record (1-4-6) is worse than their away record (3-2-4).

    The poor performance in the past does not mean that Tulsa doesn’t have some dangerous elements. Brazilian Rodrigo Da Costa and Luca Lobo each have seven goals on the season. Lobo, a 19 year-old midfielder, will look to take advantage of the Phoenix Rising mid-field, who have not seen an attacking defender of his caliber this season. Da Costa also leads the team in assists.

    What they lack in scoring (-15 scoring differential), they make up in physicality, and not in a good way. Tulsa commits the most fouls of any squad in USL (329 USL/333 FBref). Midfielder Jeff Addai (41) and forward Janu Silva (34) are the most frequent foulers.

    What to Watch For

    • Have Jahn, Dumbuya and Calistri recovered from knocks picked up against Austin?
    • With minimal rotation, and three consecutive games in abnormal heat, how is the team’s stamina?
    • Will the weight of a historical win, as well as poor field conditions, hold down the firey Phoenix offense?
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