Rising FC ready for 1st match on road
There are already many logistical hurdles to clear to make an away trip under the USL’s new health and safety guidelines, but for Phoenix Rising FC’s first such instance of travel this week, more inconveniences were recently thrown its way.
Rising FC is currently prepping for their first match away from home of the USL Championship restart against Orange County SC in Irvine, California at 6 p.m. Thursday, a match that won’t allow fans but will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
USL requests that food made at hotels for players is to be made by workers in full personal protective equipment in order to minimize transmission risk of COVID-19. However, California announced Monday that due to a rise in virus cases, restaurants in counties statewide would need to close indoor operations.
No indoor restaurants means no hotel food, which means Phoenix will now need to find another way to eat safely. Fortunately, coach Rick Schantz already has a plan in mind.
“I think we’ll be doing a lot of takeout,” Schantz said in a virtual call with media Tuesday.
“There are three things a football player needs, you need a good field, you need good food and a good bed. If you take care of those three things, you can be OK. So food is a big issue right now, and our administration and health group and med group, they’re working with restaurants in the area. The guys do a great job.”
Virus-free meals aside, Orange County — who’ll play its first match of the restart this week — will likely be Phoenix’s closest foe for the top spot in Group B for the regular season.
Orange County placed a solid fifth in the Western Conference last year and was one of only four teams to beat Rising FC during the last regular season, winning 2-1 in Irvine on May 4, 2019. As the two MLS2 sides Phoenix has faced so far in 2020 were both young, inexperienced and raw-skilled, Orange County differs in that quality veterans litter the side.
“The biggest challenge we’ve always had with Orange County is that they’re more experienced,” Schantz said. “The way they play, it’s difficult because they play kind of a really condensed midfield and a 4-4-2 diamond (formation), which will make it hard for us. They do like to send their fullbacks forward and they like to attack when other teams are pressing. They’re good pros, and they’re extremely physical and tough.”
U.S. Men’s National Team fans may recognize Orange County defender Michael Orozco, as the 34 year-old made 29 appearances for his country from 2008-2016.
The club also has a fruitful relationship with Scottish giants Rangers FC, with five players in the squad loaned from or having played for the Glasgow club in the past.
However, the status of one player in particular, Thomas Enevoldsen, is what Schantz is especially focused on. The Danish striker scored 20 goals in 34 appearances for Orange County during his lone prior season there in 2018 before he left to pursue short spells at Indy Eleven and Sacramento Republic.
Enevoldsen resigned with Orange County in the offseason, but Schantz said he’s heard “rumors” that the Dane is stuck abroad in Europe and can’t get back into America due to COVID-19 restrictions, leaving his status up in the air for Thursday.
“Thomas is an extremely smart player.He finds spaces like no one else,” Schantz said. “He’s always kind of been a thorn in our side a little bit ... we have a tendency to, when we press, we leave a gap between our midfield and our back four at times, and Thomas is always able to find that space. I don’t want him to be stuck (abroad). But if he’s not available, I won’t be that upset.”
As for player availability on Phoenix’s end, it looks as if it will be at close to full strength for Thursday. Jack Barmby, Sam Stanton and A.J. Cochran, all of whom didn’t play during Rising FC’s 4-0 home rout of Los Angeles Galaxy II last Saturday, are all available to play this week.
Schantz said that all three were available for selection last weekend, but he did not play them out of concerns for fitness and the weather conditions (110 degrees at kickoff) leading up to the match.
Asante nabs USL Player of the Week honor
With his two-goal and one-assist performance in Phoenix Rising FC’s 4-0 home rout of Los Angeles Galaxy II on Saturday, Rising FC winger Solomon Asante was named the USL Championship’s Player of the Week on Tuesday.