Phoenix Rising FC on cusp of a championship
The Phoenix Rising FC are one win away from their first championship.
On Thursday night, the Rising play for the USL Cup against the defending champions Louisville City FC.
The process to get to Thursday night started immediately after the Rising lost in penalty kicks to the Swope Park Rangers in last year’s playoffs.
Preparations set the stage
General manager Bobby Dulle sat in a Kansas City hotel room that night with other members of the Rising organization and they put together a plan.
Their 2018 preseason would include a trip to Ecuador to play L.D.U Quito, one of the country’s most historic clubs.
They would participate in the 2018 Mini Mobile Cup, where the Rising played against Major League Soccer teams.
“Everything was done for a reason. That was to build to this Thursday in a championship,” general manager Bobby Dulle said.
Dulle also constantly worked to improve the roster.
Solomon Asante, who was recently named to the USL’s All-League First-Team, came over in the offseason from TP Mazembe in Congo.
In September they brought in four MLS players on a loan. Tristan Blackmon, Shaft Brewer Jr. and Josh Perez from Los Angeles FC and Saad AbdulSalaam from New York City FC.
“It was all part of a well thought-out plan,” Dulle said. “We got a great group of coaches and a great group of ownership that is committed to the project of trying to put the best product out to win and put us in a great position.”
The biggest addition, of course, was getting Didier Drogba at mid-season.
Dulles said the franchise is very “fortunate” to have someone with his experience around.
“We have someone like Drogba that has had tremendous success around the
Thursday’s game
7:30 p.m. Lynn Stadium, Louisville ESPN2
Louisville City led the United Soccer League in goals this season (82), while the Rising lead the USL in shutouts . ... The Rising have only given up three goals in the 2018 playoffs, while Louisville has scored 11 times . ... this is the Rising’s first appearance in the USL championship . ... There will be an official watch party for fans at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex, with gates opening at 5 p.m. world and he knows in these moments, these pressure moments what is needed and what is required and to have a leader like him that can help us with our planning or decisions and also step onto the field and lead our team,” Dulle said.
Over the past two decades, the Ivory Coast native has scored more than 300 goals in more than 700 games in league and international play.
That includes seven goals in 11 games this season for the Rising, where he doubles as a co-owner.
Rick Schantz takes over
Patrice Carteron started the season as the Rising’s manager but left the team in June for a club in Egypt.
In stepped interim head coach Rick Schantz and the team didn’t miss a beat, breaking team records in wins (19) and points (63).
“We knew we had the talent but sometimes talent doesn’t do it all,” Schantz said.
“You have to have a group of players that are committed, willing to sacrifice, willing to suffer and that’s what they have done.”