Phoenix Rising seal first win of road trip against Oakland Roots

Oakland started the scoring, with Morey Doner getting the first goal of the match in the 27th minute. The match became physical, with two Phoenix players receiving yellow cards. Rising couldn’t get an equalizer in and ended the first half behind, 1-0.

Phoenix’s Ihsan Sacko scored a goal in the 60th minute to tie it up against Oakland. Rising took the lead nine minutes later when Charlie Dennis scored a goal in the 69th minute.

Hope Avayevu, who was one of the two players who received a yellow card in the first half, was given a red card in the 91st minute.

Down a player late in the match, Phoenix was able to keep the lead and take its sixth win of the USL Championship season.

Thoughts On The Win

Phoenix head coach Pa-Modou Kah spoke to the media after the match, noting that the team wasn’t aggressive in the beginning. However, they were to fix subtle mistakes and create opportunities in the second half.

“For me, the response was unbelievable,” he said. “That’s the team that we are. Playing with intensity, hunger and drive.”

Dennis, whose goal was the difference in the match, told the media that the win was a great response to last week’s loss.

“This moment was important,” said Dennis. “We didn’t win last week, so to turn it around and come win away from home was massive.”

Next Match

Rising will travel to Texas to face El Paso Locomotive FC in their fourth match of the USL Jägermeister Cup on Saturday, July 19.