Phoenix Rising captain Asante named USL Championship Player of the Week

Phoenix Rising FC captain and forward Solomon Asante was named USL Championship’s Week 3 Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday.

The 2019 MVP led by example in PRFC’s 4-0 win over LA Galaxy II on Saturday in what was the first professional sporting event in the state of Arizona since the COVID-19 pandemic put the sports world on pause in March.

Asante was able to get a brace and notch one assist, bringing his season totals to three goals and three assists in less than four halves of play on the 2020 campaign.

Last season, the captain had one of the greatest seasons in league history by winning the Golden Boot (22 goals) and breaking the single-season records for assists (17) and combined goals and assists (39).

But Asante wasn’t the only Phoenix Rising player to receive weekly honors from the league.

Left back Owusu-Ansah Kontoh also made the Team of the Week, while forward Junior Flemmings was named as honorable mention (bench).

Kontoh was able to get the job done on both ends of the pitch. The left back garnered five clearances, three interceptions and two key passes in the attacking third.

Meanwhile, Flemmings captured his second goal of the year thanks in part to an Asante assist.

A look at Junior Flemmings’ 2nd goal and Solomon Asante’s 3rd assist on the 2020 campaign.#PHXvLA | 1-0pic.twitter.com/uZyAkX1AXM

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) July 12, 2020

Phoenix Rising has now had two players named the Player of the Week (Rufat Dadashov Week 1) and has five total appearances on the Team of the Week in just two matches played this season.

PRFC returns to action away to Orange County SC on Thursday, the same pitch Rising won the 2018 Western Conference Final on.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and will be audio-streamed live on ArizonaSports.com.

Follow @jwa1994