PHOENIX (June 24, 2017) — Phoenix Rising FC stopped Real Monarchs SLC’s nine-match win streak but didn’t end the unbeaten streak in a 1-1 draw with the Western Conference’s No. 1 team. The draw also extends Phoenix’s unbeaten streak to three matches (1-0-2).

“We think it’s a good point today because we draw against a team that just beat a record with nine-straight wins, so I did appreciate the spirit,” said Phoenix Rising FC head coach Patrice Carteron. “Step by step we are progressing; it’s now the third game (under Carteron’s management), we are unbeaten and I think we are sure to progress in the next week.”

With Phoenix Rising (5-5-2) down a goal in the waning moments of the first half, forward Didier Drogba held up a ball long enough to lay off a pass for a charging Matt Watson. The midfielder sent a right-to-left pass across the box on his first touch and found forward Omar Bravo running toward the net. Bravo smashed the ball into the back of the net for the match equalizer.

“I think it’s always important to score,” Bravo said. “We leave with an OK feeling, because I think the team had some options to win. But well we keep trying to get better and win three points at a time.”

The Monarchs (12-1-1) scored early in the match to take the 1-0 lead. In the 12th minute, Demar Phillips received a pass out wide to the left side of the pitch. He quickly sent a long diagonal pass toward the near right post where his teammate Daniel Haber was able to deflect the ball past Phoenix goalkeeper Josh Cohen.

Phoenix Rising FC will go back on the road for back-to-back matches starting with a trip to Reno 1868 FC on Friday, June 30. The match will kickoff at 7:45 p.m. Fans can watch the match three different ways. They can head to the club’s official watch party at the Thirsty Lion in Tempe Marketplace (2000 East Rio Salado Parkway #1041, Tempe, AZ 85281), watch on television locally on YurView Arizona Cox Channels 7&1007 or watch online at www.PHXRisingFC.com.
 
 
Match: Phoenix Rising FC vs. Real Monarchs SLC
Date: June 24, 2017
Location: Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex | Scottsdale, AZ
Attendance: 6,365
 

PHOENIX RISING FC 1-1 REAL MONARCHS SLC
 
Scoring Summary:
SLC: 12', 46-Daniel Haber (17-Demar Phillips)
PHX: 45’, 9-Omar Bravo (8-Matt Watson)
 
Disciplinary Summary:
SLC: 14', 46-Daniel Haber (yellow)
PHX: 26', 9-Omar Bravo (yellow)
 
PRFC Starting XI: 18-Josh Cohen; 19-Amadou Dia, 33-Jordan Stewart, 5-Peter Ramage, 3-Kody Wakasa; 6-Miguel Timm, 25-Victor Vasquez (72', 24-A.J. Gray), 8-Matt Watson (82', 14-J.J. Johnson), 29-Shaun Wright-Phillips; 9-Omar Bravo, 11-Didier Drogba ©

Substitutions Not Used: 1-Carl Woszczynski, 34-J.J. Greer, , 13-Eder Arreola, 30-Eric Avila, 4-Blair Gavin