skip navigation

Phoenix Rising Plays Houston Tough In 1-0 Loss

By Phoenix Rising Communications, 02/21/18, 7:30PM MST

Share

TUCSON, Ariz. (February 21, 2018) — Phoenix Rising forced Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo on its back heels in the final moments of its match, but it wasn't enough as Rising FC lost 1-0 in its fourth preseason match of the season.

Rising FC's best chance came at the very end of the first half during a wild sequence of events just outside of the goal mouth.

Jason Johnson struck a penalty kick to his left and was denied by the Houston goalkeeper Chris Seitz. The save came back to Johnson, who struck the ball on a volley, only to be denied again by Seitz. The saved shot then bounced toward the right goal post, off of it and then back toward Seitz. In trying to punch it away, Seitz punched the ball into one of his defenders. The ball deflected off the defender, back toward Seitz and threw his legs, dangling tantalizingly on the line before finally being cleared away.

Phoenix Rising put pressure on at the end of the match as well. In the 85th minute, Soloman Asante got the ball near the top of the box. He outran his defender toward the right of the box and gave himself enough room to let off a quick shot on target. But Seitz was there to make the stop.

Moments later, in the 88th minute, Alessandro Riggi received a deflected ball at the top of the box with plenty of time and space to take a shot. He fired for the left half of the target, but Seitz dove to his right to make the save and preserve the 1-0 win.

Phoenix Rising will conclude the Mobile Mini Sun Cup in Tucson on Saturday at 2 p.m. Who Phoenix Rising will play is still to be determined. Fans can purchase tickets to Championship Day at the Mobile Mini Sun Cup (one ticket is good for all three matches) by heading to FCTucson.com.