Photo courtesy Michael Rincon / Phoenix Rising FC
PHOENIX – Solomon Asante electrified a crowd of 6,828 at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex with a 28th minute finish to compliment a Chris Cortez hat trick as Phoenix Rising FC opened its 2018 home slate with a 4-1 victory against OKC Energy FC on Saturday. It was Cortez who found Asante for the first goal of the game as the newcomer unleashed a right-footed strike from distance that scorched past a diving Matt Van Oekel in the Energy FC net. Cortez would do the rest himself, widening the margin with a skillful half-volley just before halftime and pushing the lead to three with a close-range finish following fancy footwork from Collin Fernandez in the area. Christian Ibeagha buried a loose ball off a set piece to put the visitors on the board two minutes later, but Cortez finished off his hat trick with a stoppage time header to punctuate Rising FC’s first win of the season.
Scoring:
28’ – PHX – Solomon Asante (Chris Cortez)
45’ – PHX – Chris Cortez (Kevon Lambert)
83’ – PHX – Chris Cortez
85’ – OKC – Christian Ibeagha
90+4’ – PHX – Chris Cortez (Luca Ricci)
Three Things That Matter:
USLSoccer.com Man of the Match
Chris Cortez, Phoenix Rising FC – After assisting on the opening strike, Phoenix’s target man put the result out of question with an impressive hat trick
Upcoming Games:
Phoenix Rising FC at Reno 1868 FC – March 31, 7:00 p.m. ET, Greater Nevada Field
OKC Energy FC vs. Orange County SC – March 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, Taft Stadium
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