Johnson brace inspires Phoenix comeback
JAMAICAN INTERNATIONAL Jason Johnson struck a brace to notch his first goals of the new United Soccer League as Phoenix Rising produced a rousing second-half comeback to edge LA Galaxy II 43 over the weekend.
The 27-year-old scored on either side of half-time at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex, helping the hosts to claw back from 3-1 down and pull off their fourth win in eight matches and climb to third in the Western Conference on 15 points.
Galaxy opened the scoring in the 19th minute when 15-yearold Efrain Alvarez netted his first professional goal with a 25-yard, left-footed screamer following a lay-off from Alex Mendez.
However, Rising were on level terms just two minutes later courtesy of Johnson’s first goal of the evening. He collected a loose ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and lashed a left-footed volley that took a slight deflection past goalkeeper Wade Hamilton.
The visitors rode their luck and then went ahead in the 25th minute when Ariel Lassiter’s shot found the uprights and Ulysses Llanez Jr netted the rebound.
And the game seemed all but safe for Galaxy when Julian Buscher’s corner kick found Hugo Arellano, whose header beat Rising custodian Carl Woszczynski, five minutes before the break.
Rising’s comeback began two minutes following the resumption, however, when Alessandro Riggi slotted home Collin Fernandez’s low cross, and the hosts were back on level terms in the 71st minute courtesy of Johnson’s second of the evening as he headed in Didier Drogba’s corner.
The turnaround was complete seven minutes later when Solomon Asante was up-ended in the area and the former Chelsea star Drogba converted from the spot.