Phoenix Rising welcomed San Antonio in a must win game for both teams.
San Antonio was coming off a 1-0 loss to Orange County, while Phoenix was coming off a 2-0 win over North Carolina.
While this was Phoenix’s final regular season home game, both teams were fighting for a spot in the playoffs.
“When you’re at the end of the season, games are always going to be demanding,” Rising head coach Pa-Modou Kah said. “It’s a very tight race in the Western Conference. Every point matter, every game matters, every 90 minutes matter. At the end of the day, we’re doing things that we know is best for us and the players.”
For San Antonio, it was simple.
A win would secure their spot in the playoffs.
As for Phoenix, slightly more complicated. A win would see them move in the table, but Rising also needed other fixtures to go their way to secure a spot.
With the playoffs within reach, it was crunch-time.
“I think it was a good game from our side,” Rising midfielder Noble Okello said. “It was like a playoff atmosphere today. I think everyone was ready from minute one to minute 96.”
Rising started hot, working on the wings to try and get an early goal.
In particular, defenders Daniel Flores and Collin Smith were moving up as wingers, then dropping back into defense when needed.
“What we have with those two is that they are vertical,” Kah said. “They’re direct, they’re good on the ball. It’s sad to lose them both, but it’s part of football, that’s why you have a team.”
Rising pressed high, trying to force an error by San Antonio.
After multiple chances, Rising broke the deadlock in the eleventh minute.
Phoenix forward Darius Johnson got the ball after some passes, before dribbling past defenders, and finding Rising forward Charlie Dennis, who chipped it over San Antonio goalkeeper Richard Sanchez to make it 1-0.
Rising had the lead, but were looking for more.
Soon after however, Flores went down with injury, and Ryan Flood was subbed on as his replacement.
“Sad to see Dani (Flores) go early in the game,” Okello said. “Obviously Collin towards the end and credit to them, having a great game, but credit to Flood and Rizzo, really stepping up and having a great game as well.”
“Ryan showed up,” Kah said. “It means a lot for him to be part of this club, and he showed up. We need a team; it’s not about the first 11 that start.”
Rising kept up with the pressure, and while they made chances, they weren’t able to find the second goal.
In the forty-first minute, Sanchez was off his line after an error by San Antonio, and while Dennis went for the chip again, he put a bit too much on it as it went over the net.
Heading into the half, Rising led 1-0, looking to preserve the lead.
San Antonio entered the second half with more possession and aggression.
In the fifty-first minute, Johnson went down in the penalty box after a counterattack, but no penalty was given.
Two minutes later, Rising made three chances in a short amount of time, but Sanchez denied all three.
Phoenix made their objective clear, get a second goal.
“Pushing for the playoffs,” Okello said. “Every point matters right now for us to try and make a push for a home stance here.”
In the fifty-ninth minute, Sanchez was way off his line, and while midfielder Hope Avayevu launched it over Sanchez as he tried to score from distance, the ball drifted to the left, keeping it a one-score game.
Phoenix was making chance after chance, and while San Antonio made their own chances, it was clear Rising were hungrier.
Entering the final 20 minutes, San Antonio became desperate. With only one goal separating the teams, San Antonio began chucking numbers up, while Rising switched to a more defensive shape and chewing clock.
Rising subbed on JP Scearce and Ihsan Sacko for Johnson and Noble Okello.
Not long after, Smith went down on a non-contact injury and didn’t get up.
Rising subbed on Pierce Rizzo after Smith was able to walk off the field.
“They’re being checked right now,” Kah said regarding Smith’s and Flores’ health. “I will probably receive an update tomorrow.”
With time winding down, San Antonio put even more pressure, while Rising was looking to close out the game.
Heading into stoppage time, six minutes were added. It was now or never for Phoenix.
After what felt like the longest six minutes in Rising’s season, eventually, the final whistle blew, and the fans, those particularly in the Red Sea, went wild.
In the end, Rising held on, winning 1-0.
“It’s amazing,” Kah said regarding the result and the fans.
Northeast Valley News asked one fan, Jeffrey Lange, about his favorite moment of the year so far.
“This year has been great for me personally. I’ve been performing with La Banda Bandidos at the south end of the stadium and these guys are just so passionate. They are such wonderful people, they are a family, they are a unit and boy every time we get together it’s a party, non-stop. The coach Pa comes up after every match and thanks us for the support which I really appreciate. It helps us feel connected.”
Despite the win, none of the outside fixtures went Rising’s way, meaning Phoenix did not clinch a playoff berth on their final home game.
“We’re not done yet, we still got one more game to go, hopefully it goes our way we get another game at home but the regular season; finishing off with the victory for our fans at home is fantastic because they’ve supported us the whole season. The support has been magnificent. Especially when you look at the Oakland game. They come in, 45 seconds in, 1-0 down, 20 minutes in, 3-0 down, but they kept hanging. They leave with us, and we are very proud to have fans like this.”
While Rising can mathematically drop to ninth and miss the playoffs, they can also grab the fourth seed and secure a home playoff game heading into the final game of the regular season.
“I cannot sit and think about what’s going to happen in other games,” Kah said. “That takes away my focus on my team. You control your own destiny, and when you control your own destiny, it’s the best. It is in our hands. We control it, and we’re going to keep controlling it.”
That final game will be against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium.