skip navigation

Phoenix Brings Down the House

By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com, 05/14/17, 10:30AM EDT

Share

Stoppage-time thriller showcases resilient response


Photo courtesy of Michael Rincon / Phoenix Rising FC

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – In a matter of only a couple minutes, Phoenix Rising FC turned a potentially lackluster result into one of the most thrilling finishes of the season.

Shaun Wright-Phillips provided the final fireworks with a game-winner into the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, leading Rising FC to a 2-1 win against OKC Energy FC on Saturday in front of 6,251 fans at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex.

Just two minutes earlier, Energy FC’s Kyle Hyland converted a penalty kick that appeared to have lifted the road side to a split of the points.

“It says a lot about the character,” said Interim Head Coach Rick Schantz, who picked up his first win as the man in charge. “We talked about it last week, and I told you guys that I knew they would come out and it would be a different performance this week, because there’s a lot of pride in there. Some of these guys didn’t make it to the level that they played at without that kind of commitment and pride, and it really showed tonight. I’m very proud of the guys.”

It was also a strong response from the club’s previous match, a deflating 4-0 loss to expansion Reno 1868 FC on May 6, when Dane Kelly almost singlehandedly picked apart Rising FC with his hat trick.

Wright-Phillips said Saturday’s game and finish – capped off by his strike inside the far left post – was something the club needed to move forward.

“The last game, at times it might have looked like we threw the towel in, or our heads went down a little bit,” Wright-Phillips said. “We worked hard this week and we just came out and said no matter what – even if four goals against – we are just never going to give up. I think we showed that attitude today for the fans and of course the owners.”

“As soon as we got scored on in the penalty, I could see Matt Watson got the ball and just took off dribbling,” Schantz said. “We talked about it all week, about fighting and not giving up and playing until the very end. When Shaun gets the ball at that angle, I was so fortunate to be where I was sitting because I could see it perfectly, and I’ve seen him do that many times in training and many times in the [Premier League].”


Photo courtesy of Michael Rincon / Phoenix Rising FC

While the clean sheet eluded Rising FC goalkeeper Josh Cohen, the club’s work rate to the final whistle was a massive pick-me-up for a team that is now at .500 (3-3-0, 9 points), is still awaiting the debut of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, and is looking to make a run up the Western Conference standings.

“It feels good,” Cohen said of the comeback. “We corrected a lot of things that were wrong with last week, and that’s not always easy to do. It’s something where you can identify issues, but solving them when it comes to game time is tough.

“We dug in tonight, we worked harder, and we just made the difference. We stuck it out for 90 … 98 minutes including the stoppage, and we got three points out of it.”

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos