Rising expecting plenty of support

Team rents buses so fans can travel to West final

Following the Phoenix Rising FC’s two biggest wins in the first two rounds of the USL Cup Playoffs, the team is now facing one of its most difficult challenges ever.

The No. 3 seed Rising are traveling to play the top seed Orange County SC on Saturday in the Western Conference final. The winner advances to the league’s championship match on Thursday.

“It’s one of these games where if you’re not focused 100 percent then (Orange County) can catch you,” Phoenix Rising coach Rick Schantz said. “And even if you are focused they still have enough talent to break you down.”

The Rising and Orange County have faced off three times this year with neither showing an edge over the other.

In the first game of the season, the Rising were winning 1-0 all the way until the 90th minute when Alex Crognale scored the equalizing goal. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

In the second matchup, the Rising won 1-0 thanks to a Chris Cortez goal while also playing most of the game down one player because of a red card on Kody Wakassa.

In the final match, the Rising were getting blown out 4-0 nearly halfway through the second half but almost pulled off an incredible comeback. Phoenix scored three goals in the final 23 minutes of play and came up short of a draw.

“That was a big game for us because it showed the fight and the spirit our team had and that we weren’t willing to quit,” Schantz said. “It was also a big moment for me because I told the team that we weren’t going to stand for that.”

With a 1-1-1 head-to-head record this season and a zero goal difference, Saturday’s match will essentially be a tiebreaker.

“It’s kind of a grudge match and obviously it’s the biggest one of the year,” Phoenix goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski said.

“I think the guys will be up for it.” For its first two playoff games, Phoenix just had the support of more than 7,000 fans and broke home attendance records on back-to-back weeks. Now, the Rising are traveling, and they’ve rented buses for fans to travel to the game in Orange County.

“I think it’s so cool,” Schantz said. “I just had this vision in my head the other night of like this, rows and rows of buses and an overhead view of all these buses and Phoenix Rising flags waving. I told someone earlier it reminds me a lot of Europe where you see 20 (to) 30,000 fans traveling to an away game.”

While it won’t be 20,000, it’s still going to be an impressive contingent heading west. Phoenix Rising FC Vice President Sam Doerr tweeted that the

SATURDAY’S MATCH

Phoenix Rising FC (19-9-6) at Orange County SC (20-8-6)

7:00 p.m. team will have seven buses, each with 100 fans, heading to the match.

“Percentage-based, I think (Orange County) will have half their stadium filled with Phoenix Rising fans so that’s pretty cool,” Schantz said.

Schantz said the team understands that they are playing not only for themselves but also for the fans in the community.

“We cannot let them down,” Phoenix Rising midfielder Solomon Asante said.

Phoenix Rising FC’s Didier Drogba walks through fans before the team’s playoff game against the Swope Park Rangers on Oct. 26. Championship Soccer Stadium, Irvine, Calif.YurView Cox channel 4.Orange County finished the regular season with the second-most goals (75) in the USL. … Orange County’s Michael Seaton leads the USL in total playoff goals (three). … Orange County is tied for the leader in most clean sheets (two) in the playoffs so far. Orange County has yet to concede a goal in the postseason. … The Rising lead the league in total goals scored in the playoffs (seven). … The USL postseason is a 16-team, single-elimination bracket . ... The 2018 USL Cup final round game will be played on Thursday, hosted by the conference champion with the best regular-season record.