Rising FC
The regular-season schedule has been shortened. Opponents are regionalized. All in the aim of avoiding the coronavirus as much as possible.
For now, there are still trophies to play for and after Rising FC’s historic 2019 campaign of a regular-season title and North American soccer record of most consecutive matches won (20) yet elimination in the Western Conference semifinals, the team is hungry for more in 2020.
Whether you are a soccer diehard, a casual fan or are oblivious to the game, here’s what to know about Rising FC’s return to play this weekend.
What’s changed?
Compared to the league’s pre-pandemic setup, the current regular season format looks unrecognizable.
The 34-game schedule clubs played in 2019 has been drastically reduced to 16 games, with any matches played prestoppage counting toward the total. That means that Phoenix’s lone match of the 2020 season, a 6-1 rout of Portland Timbers 2 on March 7, is shown in the standings.
Most games will be played in a regionalized group format, where clubs will battle paired teams a total of 12 times. The remaining matches will be conducted against non-group teams that are in close geographical proximity. There are eight groups in total across the league’s 35 teams, with four or five clubs in each. The two clubs with the most points in each group after 16 games will advance to the playoffs in October.
Phoenix, placed in Group B, is paired with Orange County SC, Los Angeles Galaxy II, San Diego Loyal SC and Las Vegas Lights FC for its group opponents. Its non-group foes are New Mexico United, El Paso Locomotive FC and Reno 1868 FC.
Teams will also be able to make up to five substitutes per match (more than the usual three) in line with Major League Soccer and European leagues that have restarted.
What does Rising FC return?
Rising FC matches were high-octane, fast-paced goalfests in 2019. Don’t expect that to change in 2020.
The club last year smashed the league record for most single-season goals with 90, six ahead of second-place Real Monarchs (84). Coach Rick Schantz doesn’t fear pushing the pace and making foes run out of gas early, and it helped propel Rising FC to a league-record 78 points and him to his first Coach of the Year award.
Rising FC scored at least three goals in a match 19 times last season, the most of any team in the division. Combined with the fact that organization and chemistry will likely be sub-standard league-wide as the regular season resumes, and Phoenix could very well run circles around foes during such an abridged schedule.
But don’t think that Rising FC can’t bunker down and defend: The club’s 36 goals allowed in 2019 tied for the best mark in the Western Conference. Its 15 shutouts tied for third-best in the league and were a major part in why Rising FC only lost four games in 2019, tied for fewest in the league.
Players to watch
Solomon Asante: There’s no one that the league’s back lines fear more than the 30 year-old Ghanaian. With perhaps the greatest individual season in league history (22 goals, 17 assists) in 2019, the defending MVP is the total package from his finishing to exquisite passing to deadly set pieces. Expect another fruitful campaign from the diminutive (5 feet, 2 inches) maestro.
Rufat Dadashov: The replacement for Adam Jahn (17 goals), now with Atlanta United of MLS, the Azerbaijani forward, 28, made his presence felt with a hat trick against Portland in March to earn the league’s Player of the Week award for his debut. With a decade in German soccer and 24 international caps for his country, big moments don’t faze who Schantz called his potential new “ironman.”
Santi Moar: With New Mexico United last year, the Spainard thrived in the club’s inaugural season with 11 goals and six assists in 31 starts, earning him an All-League Second Team nod. Now, the 26 year-old is yet another cog in the juggernaut of Rising FC’s attack. Should Asante or Dadashov go down, he’s more than capable of shouldering some of the scoring.
Zac Lubin: A journeyman goalkeeper before signing with Rising FC in 2018, Lubin seems to have found a home. His lengthy (6-5) frame is excellent at covering distance, and he commands the 18yard box with a confidence unlike any in his career.
Lubin finished 2019 with 14 clean sheets — tied for highest in the league — an earned himself a deserved spot on the All-League Second Team.
Tonight
Sat., July 11 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy II, 7 p.m., Casino Arizona Field (TV: ESPN Deportes/CW61 Arizona)
USL’s experiment to return to play will either succeed or fall flat starting with this game and its nationwide slate this weekend.
The soccer will probably be sloppy, but Rising FC should have enough skill and experience to dismantle a Galaxy II squad that doesn’t have a single player over the age of 25.
However, Phoenix will have four unknown players inactive: Three for a failure to clear COVID-19 protocol and one due to injury.