Like last week, Phoenix left it late but a Solomon Asante PK lifted was the difference in Rising’s 2-1 win over El Paso Locomotives FC.
Rick Schantz made two changes from the starting XI last week, swapping Doueugui Mala and Jon Bakero for James Musa and Joey Farrell. The team played much better in the opening 20 minutes but after being denied a penalty 7 minutes earlier, Phoenix, by way of Jose Aguinaga, got on the board first. Aguinaga was the first to a loose ball at the top of the 18 and slotted home a left-footed shot to the far post. The goal was Aguinaga’s first with Phoenix and his first since October 9th of last year.
The lead wouldn’t hold for long as EL Paso equalized just 5 minutes later. A bad pass from Amadou Dia along the backline gifted the Locomotives deep in their final third and two passes later, Zac Lubin was beaten near post. The equalizer did anything but calm the game down as ref Guido Gonzles Jr. handed up 5 cards in the last 15 minutes of the half. One of those 5 included a straight red card to El Paso’s James Kieffe after it appeared he elbowed Solomon Asante while trying to win a loose ball.
The red card looked to have actually harm Phoenix as the team came out flat in the second half against a team playing extremely deep and clogging the middle. Lambert, in a deeper than normal role, struggled to make much of an impact. Play improved when Musa came on to replace Aguinaga but Phoenix still struggled to find a second goal. Phoenix finally broke through in the 73rd minute, as Solomon Asante extended his league scoring lead with a penalty, earned by Adam Jahn.
El Paso did little to threaten after the goal, completing a single cross and no open play passes in the final third in the final 15 minutes.
So Phoenix does it again, winning their 13th straight match, as well as their 14th straight unbeaten streak at home. The out-of-town scoreboard also helped Phoenix in the long run, as Reno fell 4-1 to San Antonio to extend the Phoenix conference lead to 6 points, still with two games in hand. Tampa Bay also lost in the East, extending Phoenix’s Supporter’s Shield lead to 3 points.
The team returns this Friday for another Dollar Beer Night against the same Reno 1868 team. Kickoff, as always is at 7:30 pm.
Scoring Summary
21’- Aguinaga, PHX
26’- Partida, ELP (Fox Assist)
73’- Asante, PHX (Penalty)
Final Stats
Starting Lineups
Phoenix Rising FC
Lubin, Dia, Cochran, Mala, Dumbuya, Lambert, Aguinaga (Musa 58), Bakero (Bjornthun 90+), Asante, Jahn, Flemmings (Calistri, 66)
El Paso Locomotives FC
Ketterer, Kiffe, N’Toko, Beckie, Rebellon, Ryan, Velasquez, Yuma (Herrera 83), Contreras (Gebhard, 45+), Partida (Salgado, 73), Fox
