Rising regain winning form with home victory
Phoenix Rising FC defeated rival New Mexico United, 3-2 Saturday, overcoming an own goal with a brace from Joey Calistri and a last-minute screamer from Santo Moar.
The victory put Phoenix back in the win column after a loss to Oakland Wednesday and three consecutive draws before that.
The first half was full of hard contact from both teams, with Rising’s Arturo Rodriguez receiving a yellow card along with United’s Juan Guzman.
New Mexico scored in the 10th minute on a throw-in ball, which Sergio Rivas was able to convert to a goal.
Phoenix responded by creating opportunities, getting 10 shots off but only two on target. After 45 minutes the score remained 1-0.
Things changed for the Rising after halftime as the club’s game started to click.
The Rising’s first goal game in the 59th minute with a low cross from midfielder Aodhan Quinn to Calistri who put the ball past United’s goalkeeper Alex Tambakis for the first of his two goals.
Calistri scored again for his two-goal brace less than 10 minutes later in the 65th minute to put the Rising ahead 2-1.
Late in the 80th minute, United tied the game at 2-2 on an own goal when goal keeper Andre Rawls redirected a ball off defender James Musa that deflected into the net.
But Moar responded with a goal to seal the 3-2 win for the Rising.
“After the tough results we’ve had over the past three or four games, to battle back, it just shows the character of this team,” Calistri said.
Captain Solomon Asante was out after suffering a hamstring injury last Saturday, and could be out another week or two, according to head coach Rick Schantz.
Along with losing Asante to an injury, the team lost goalkeeper Ben Lundt on Friday when he was recalled to Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati.
Rawls saved the Rising from a loss in last week’s scoreless draw with nine saved shots.
Saturday he picked up his teammates after the own goal.
“It was just one of those unlucky goals, the stars aligned for us to get a bit unlucky on that,” Rawls said. “I told him we were going to get it back, don’t worry.”
Darren Mattocks made his debut in the 74th minute for the Rising, getting an opportunity to score with his first touch of the ball but the shot was just wide of the post.