PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC will introduce its latest big signing on Sunday night, and also look for a second consecutive victory as it welcomes a Swope Park Rangers side that sits as the only remaining side with a perfect record this season when it visits the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT.
Matchcenter: http://bit.ly/2q1VTF0 | Tickets: http://bit.ly/2oKrlLD | Broadcast: YurView Arizona (PHX)
Phoenix Rising FC news and notes
Current record: 1-2-0, 3pts
Rising FC rallied to take a 2-1 victory against the LA Galaxy II in its last outing on August 8 as Luke Rooney scored both goals to earn the club’s first win of its new era in front of 6,330 fans on home turf.
Rooney converted a penalty kick for the first goal of the season for Phoenix, and then added a low finish to the right corner for what proved to be the winner against Los Dos.
Phoenix’s fans welcomed new signing Didier Drogba to his new home on Friday evening, and the Ivory Coast and Chelsea legend will be introduced officially before Sunday’s game.
Rising FC’s Omar Bravo and Shaun Wright-Phillips have both created six scoring chances this season, tied for the team lead.
Swope Park Rangers news and notes
Current record: 3-0-0, 9pts
The Rangers took their third successive win to start the season last Saturday when Mark Anthony Gonzalez’s first goal of the season lifted the side past Sacramento Republic FC at Children’s Mercy Victory Field.
Swope Park has now recorded seven consecutive regular-season victories, one short of the record set by Orlando City SC in the 2014 USL regular season.
The Rangers welcomed attacking midfielder Kevin Oliveira back to action against Sacramento, with the No. 2 player on the 2016 USL 20 Under 20 playing the second half in his comeback from a torn ACL.
2016 All-League center back Amer Didic also made his first appearance last weekend, and completed 93.4 percent of his passes, registered 13 clearances and five interceptions to earn USL Team of the Week honors.
Series Notes
Squads
Phoenix – GK: Carl Woszczynski, Josh Cohen; D: Victor Vasquez, Peter Ramage, Jordan Stewart, Kody Wasaka, A.J. Gray, Uchenna Uzo, Brock Granger, J.J. Greer; M: Romilio Hernandez, Matt Watson, Blair Gavin, Jason Johnson, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Luke Rooney, Miguel Timm; F: Omar Bravo, Alessandro Riggi, Mike Seth, Matt Hurlow, Chris Cortez
Swope Park – GK: David Greczek, Darrin MacLeod, Andrew Dykstra; D: Chase Bromstedt, Parker Maher, Oumar Ballo, Dakota Barnathan, Patrick Wilkinson, Liam Doyle, Amer Didic, Colton Storm, Erik Palmer-Brown, Tyler Pasher; M: Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal, Louis Bennett, Felipe Hernandez, Lebo Moloto, Max Rugova, Christian Duke, Robert Mirosavic, James Musa, Kevin Oliveira, Cameron Iwasa; F: Kharlton Belmar, Nansel Selbol, Will Little, Mark Anthony Gonzalez
Discipline
Phoenix – None
Swope Park – None
Officials
REF: LUIS GUARDIA
AR1: Alicia Messer
AR2: Anthony Bersano
4TH: Mario Coss
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Phoenix Rising FC – @PHXRisingFC
Swope Park Rangers – @SwopeRangers
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