Phoenix Rising FC looks to finish year with championship
Phoenix Rising FC will have the chance to close out its chaotic 2020 season with a title if it beats the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2020 USL Championship Final on Sunday.
This season has proven to be nothing close to normal for Phoenix. From the USL Championship season being delayed three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, to losing leagueleading scorer Junior Flemmings for the use of a homophobic insult, and head coach Rick Schantz being placed on a three-week administrative leave for insensitive comments related to the Flemmings incident.
Despite the many obstacles, Phoenix Rising FC is now one game away from being crowned champions of the USL. Schantz, who returned for the Western Conference Final win over El
Paso, believes the adversity team the motivation it needs.
“To be able to come back and be apart of it against El Paso with the support of the players and staff was quite an honor,” Schantz said. “This is about those players and what they can overcome when they come together and put their minds to it.”
Even on the pitch the path to the final wasn’t easy as the club played in three consecutive extra time matches, with the conference semifinal and championship ending in penalty kicks.
“This group is showing (that’s) what championship teams do,” Schantz said. “They do whatever it takes to win in big moments. They’ve done what it’s taken each match. It’s been very different, and this one will be even more different.”
Much of Phoenix’s postseason success lies with goalkeeper Zac Lubin, who blocked key penalty shots against Reno
gives
the and El Paso to ensure victories. Lubin, one of four returning players from the team that made an appearance in the 2018 Final, is positive his team will win if the match once again goes 120 minutes.
“It gives us a ton of confidence if it does go to that point,” Lubin said. “Knowing that we’ve done it three times, and we’ve won in extra time and have also won it in penalties. We’re ready and confident to win it in whatever way we can.”
Another returning member of the 2018 Final team, Joe Farrell, is stepping up in a big way on the defensive side and also has knocked in both of his penalty kick attempts. No Phoenix player has missed a penalty in either of the team’s playoff matches. But for Farrell, the work is far from over.
“There is that sense of urgency,” Farrell said. “Yes we’ve had a great year so far but the job’s not done. That’s going to serve as a great bit of energy and motivation in the last days of the season.”
Solomon Asante and Kevon Lambert join Lubin and Farrell as the other players who were part of the 2018 championship loss to Louisville City FC. The loss serves as a reminder for Lubin that there is still unfinished business.
“Unless you’ve lost a final you don’t know how bad that hurts,” Lubin said.
“We’re feeling really good, feeling invincible. But at the same time we convey that message to what it takes. We prepared and did everything we could in 2018 and still came up short. That’s a big thing the four of us have been able to echo. Letting the guys know that we have to do everything to prepare to win this game. The momentum we have is great but it’s not going to get us the win.”
Winning the cup would give Phoenix Rising FC the distinction of bringing Arizona its first major soccer title. For Schantz, a native of Tucson, having the chance to bring that recognition to his state is a dream.
“Something I’ve dreamed of as a little kid is winning the big game,” Schantz said. We’ve won now two Western Conference titles since I’ve been here. ... But we’re missing the big one here and everyone in the organization knows it. It would be something to be remembered by, and I would be extremely proud.”
Phoenix and Tampa will play at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla.