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Rising as One, Fans Provided Boost for Phoenix

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 05/05/18, 8:44AM EDT

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Club-record crowd of 7,332 played role in seven-goal thriller vs. Los Dos


Phoenix Rising FC's Didier Drogba and Head Coach Patrice Carteron celebrate the club's 4-3 win against the LA Galaxy II before a club-record crowd of 7,332 on Friday night. | Photo courtesy Michael Rincon / Phoenix Rising FC

PHOENIX – With a club-record crowd of 7,332 fans packed into the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex on Friday night hoping to see Phoenix Rising FC claim its first home win since March 24, a first-half display that saw the LA Galaxy II strike three time was not the start the hosts were looking for.

But after regrouping over the halftime break, the crowd’s vociferous support certainly made a difference as Rising FC rallied for a 4-3 victory that moved the side back into the top four in the USL’s Western Conference.

“It’s awesome,” said Rising FC midfielder Alessandro Riggi. “This is why we play. The emotions we felt today was what we hope to have every single week and if they keep coming out we’ll keep winning the games.”

Riggi also made a difference, scoring just two minutes into the second half after a clever piece of buildup play saw Solomon Asante find Collin Fernandez with a backheel flick in the left side of the penalty area, allowing the former Chicago Fire midfielder to pick out Riggi with a low cross for a first-time finish by the Canadian.

The goal was Riggi’s second in as many games after last weekend’s late equalizer against Fresno FC as Fernandez notched his second assist, adding to a positive start to his first season in Phoenix.

“It was electric,” said Fernandez. “When I got the assist – oh my gosh. I was fired up, I felt it throughout my whole body. I’m hurting everywhere, and it was awesome. That’s all I have to say, it’s pretty much self-explanatory.”

Phoenix has made a habit of figuring out how to come out on top in high-scoring games at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex. The last time the side conceded three goals at home, it also saw the away side notch three goals in the first half when Tulsa Roughnecks FC visited on October 4, 2017. On that occasion Rising FC managed to get into the halftime break level before Jason Johnson scored a second-half winner in another 4-3 victory.

Los Dos, though, came out firing on Friday night as the side looked in with a chance to take its first win of the season. Goals by 15-year-old Efrain Alvarez, still 45 days from being able to earn his driver’s license, and 16-year-old Ulysses Llanez Jr. put the visitors in a strong position at the break as Rising FC’s defense had difficulties closing space.

“Once again, we had a difficult first half. We could say that this team we had many opportunities in the first half and we also gave them many opportunities to attack,” said Rising FC Head Coach Patrice Carteron. “I had just the feeling at times that the more important to better defensively because I know that offensively we had the opportunity and we could have had some more opportunities. And once again, when I see the stadium for tonight losing 3-1, we won 4-3, such an atmosphere is fantastic and happy for Phoenix.”

After Riggi’s early second-half goal began to tilt the game back in Rising FC’s favor, however, Johnson’s flicked header from Didier Drogba’s corner kick from the left with 19 minutes to go – a goal which saw Rising FC owner Berke Bakay join in on the celebration on the sideline – set up what felt like an inevitable ending that arrived seven minutes later. When Asante was felled in the penalty area, Drogba stepped up and fired low and true from the spot into the left corner to give Phoenix a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

The decisive goal might not have arrived quite as late as in Phoenix’s past two outings, but on a memorable night for the club coming away with victory was the thing that mattered most.

“The atmosphere was amazing, fantastic,” said Carteron. “They were loud at halftime and it helped us in the second half and it pushed us. Any minute – one goal, two goals, three goals – it was absolutely fantastic. I do say fantastic because I like this club, I like this team, and I’m really proud of my boys tonight.”

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