Phoenix Rising wins 3rd consecutive match, shuts out San Diego

Phoenix Rising FC has found its form again.

After dropping five of six points to Orange County SC, Phoenix Rising has rattled off three consecutive victories including Saturday night’s 2-0 win over San Diego Loyal SC.

The three points also keep PRFC atop the Group B standings in USL Championship.

#USL Championship Group B standings (W-D-L):

1️⃣PHX: 16 points (5-1-1)

2️⃣OC: 11 points (3-2-0) +4 GD

3️⃣SD: 11 points (3-2-3) -2 GD

4️⃣LA: 9 points (3-0-1)

5️⃣LV: 1 point (0-1-3)

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) August 16, 2020

It was a classic attacking performance from manager Rick Schantz’s side despite the scoreline only being 2-0.

Phoenix was able to accumulate a total of 22 shots (seven on target) compared to San Diego’s 12 (five on target). PRFC also won the corner battle 12-8.

“We knew that we were at home and we had to go and press them and not let them kind of dictate the game and have the ball,” Schantz said after the game. “I’m so proud of our boys because they trusted the system, they trusted their ideas.”

Junior Flemmings opened the scoring once again, as the Jamaican international put in another immaculate performance on the night.

After receiving a pass from Jon Bakero, Flemmings turned and fired an absolute firecracker from distance right into the top corner to give PRFC a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute of the match.

A look at Flemmo’s 8th goal of the year to tie Indy Eleven’s Tyler Pasher for the Golden Boot.

1-0 | #PHXvSD pic.twitter.com/Is1xEmElp5

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) August 16, 2020

The Reggae Boy continues to keep pace with Indy Eleven’s Tyler Pasher for the Golden Boot, who has also scored eight goals on the 2020 campaign. However, Pasher has played nine games this season, two more than Flemmings.

The Jamaican could have taken the lead atop the scoring charts, but Flemmings was unable to convert following a masterful turn that really shows just how good of form he is in at the moment.

You expect Junior Flemmings to finish this. That’s the kind of form he’s in.

2-0 | #PHXvSD pic.twitter.com/QVLbPLKEGP

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) August 16, 2020

The positioning of Rising’s wingers were a little more tucked in than normal in Saturday night’s contest.

That was largely due to San Diego’s 5-4-1 formation that allowed for fullbacks Darnell King and Joey Calistri to get up the pitch more and into the attacking third to provide service.

“They’re very narrow in midfield, so you can’t play through the middle very much and you have to go around the outside,” Schantz said. “So we dropped our midfield back a little bit to open space and allow our fullbacks to go.”

That continuous attacking approach would eventually lead to Phoenix’s second goal of the match.

King was the beneficiary, as a poor clearance from San Diego fell to the feet of the fullback just outside the box, who was able to slot the first-time shot into the back of the net.

A look at Darnell King’s first goal in a #PRFC kit.

2-0 | #PHXvSD pic.twitter.com/yLgI2NAMpz

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) August 16, 2020

The 59th-minute goal to give Rising a 2-0 lead marks King’s first goal in a PRFC kit.

“We were pressing high, our guys reacted in the box,” King said of his goal. “I was in the right place at the right time for the follow-up and smacked it into the back of the net.”

Phoenix’s midfield also saw improvement in the attacking third.

Almost every time Rising had the ball on the attack, Sam Stanton would be seen making a darting run into San Diego’s penalty box, while Bakero would hover just outside the box. Stanton and Bakero are the two midfielders that traditionally play in front of pivot No. 6 Kevon Lambert in Schantz’s 4-3-3 system.

“It’s always been (the idea) because he’s a driving midfielder, he likes to drive forward and make runs and get in behind,” Schantz said. “I think we’re finally starting to see Sam get a little used to Arizona and we’ve been slowly trying to get his minutes up a little more.

“I told him how happy I was with how high up the pitch he was getting. He was pressing, causing turnovers. I’m more excited about that than just getting into the box.”

Defensively, goalkeeper Zac Lubin and Rising’s defense picked up the club’s second clean sheet of the year.

Lubin managed to keep the clean sheet thanks in part to a great save off a header that the goalkeeper actually blamed himself for not getting to the ball first.

“That’s totally on me,” Lubin said. “Second ball, I stepped the line up — I didn’t come out with them and that ball got lumped in. That’s definitely a ball I need to take.”

A look at Lubin’s save.

2-0 | #PHXvSD pic.twitter.com/peFTtQVUUh

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) August 16, 2020

“I think what you saw tonight is Phoenix Rising is getting better and better each week and we’re getting closer to what we’re capable of,” Schantz said.

STOPPAGE TIME

• Joey Calistri started at right back over Owusu-Ansah Kontoh, causing Darnell King to start at left back.
• Former Phoenix Rising forward Ben Spencer came on for San Diego in the 60th minute.
• PRFC doesn’t return to Casino Arizona Field until Sept. 11, as the club’s next four matches are all road contests.

UP NEXT

Phoenix Rising returns to action on Aug. 19 as the club travels to Los Angeles to take on LA Galaxy II.

Follow @jwa1994