PHOENIX (June 23, 2017) – Phoenix Rising FC (5-5-1) face off against United Soccer League’s hottest team this Saturday, June 24, when they face Real Monarchs SLC (12-1-0) at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

Fans attending the match are encouraged to help the club “Melt the Monarchs” as the team looks to use Arizona’s unique weather to their advantage. Fans will be given complimentary waters and cooling bandanas by Phoenix Rising FC and Swire Coca-Cola as they enter the stadium and cooling stations will be located around the stadium complex.

Tickets for the match are still available and can be purchased at www.PHXRisingFC.com. Fans can also watch the match live locally on YurView Arizona Cox Channels 7 & 1007 (HD) or online at www.PHXRisingFC.com.

Both teams come into the game in good form, with Rising FC going unbeaten in their previous two while the Monarchs are riding a league-record nine-match winning streak. The Monarchs won the first matchup of this series earlier this year, defeating Rising FC 2-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah on April 1.

Since then Phoenix Rising FC has signed international soccer legend Didier Drogba and he’s already made his presence known. In his first two games for the club, the striker has scored or assisted on all four of the team’s goals (3 goals, 1 assist), while also filling the captain’s role in a 2-1 home win over Whitecaps 2 FC and a 2-2 road draw on the road against Swope Park Rangers.

Meanwhile, Real Monarchs have quickly become one of the most dynamic attacking forces in the league. Their 32 goals lead all USL teams, and are the only team with two players in the league’s top ten goal scorers (Chandler Hoffman with 8 and Sebastian Velasquez with 6).

On Monday night, Real Monarchs secured their ninth straight victory, defeating Reno 1868 FC at home behind goals from defender Taylor Peay and midfielder Andrew Brody.

Saturday will be the ninth all-time meeting between Phoenix Rising FC and Real Monarchs. The teams have split each of their first eight head to head matchups, going back to 2015. In the four games played on Arizona soil, Rising FC have won two, including a 3-2 win in the second-to-last game of 2016.

Previous meetings in this series have also seen plenty of goals; over the 8 games, 21 combined goals have been scored (an average of 2.6 per game), and there have been two 5-goal-games as well (a 3-2 Rising FC win in 2016, and a 3-2 Real Monarchs win in 2015).

Game 12 – Phoenix Rising FC vs. Real Monarchs SLC

Date: Saturday, June 24, 2017
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m.
Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex
All-time Series: Phoenix Rising is 4-4-0 all time against Real Monarchs

Social Media Information:

Twitter: @PHXRisingFC
Snapchat: PHXRisingFC
Facebook: Phoenix Rising FC
Instagram: @PHXRisingFC
Hashtags: #RisingAsOne, #PHXvSLC