Rising welcomed Detroit City FC on Saturday in a must watch game. 

Rising was coming off a 2-1 win versus San Antonio, while Detroit was coming off a 2-0 loss to Louisville City FC. 

Pa-Modou Kah and Rising was looking for back-to-back wins, and their first home win of the season. 

Detroit had one loss through their first five games, while Rising had one win through five games. 

Both teams started early, trading chances on the counter, as both teams soaked up pressure before pushing upwards. 

“It’s one of the things we’ve worked on for sure,” Rising defender Collin Smith said. “We work on several things in order to be effective, and once the game time just comes it’s on us to really work on what we’ve worked on in training.” 

In the sixth minute, Detroit City had a chance as Rising goalie Triston Henry misjudged a cross, however, the shot would go sky high, and the game would remain scoreless. 

Rising would quickly switch to a possession-based game, holding the ball and looking for an open pass. 

The following minutes would see both teams trying to adjust, with few chances, with a lot of possession, mostly in the midfield or from the back. 

However, right before the half, Rising forward Jearl Margaritha would cross it in, and as it sailed over to the back post, C. Smith found the back of the net. 

“Marga, doing his thing,” C. Smith said regarding Margaritha’s performance. “1v1, that’s one of his strengths so, once we get him the ball, we know he’s going to beat his guy.” 

Heading into the half, it was 1-0 Phoenix. 

Both teams had played a defensive minded game, as there was a total of seven shots combined between both teams in the first half. 

“Everyone’s bonding,” said C. Smith. “We’re all just as tight as the next person, all that is there, it’s just now about once we get in the game that’s when we have to pick our moments and maybe have a go at each other or maybe be a little bit more serious with each other.” 

Detroit looked more eager and made more chances in the second half, and they did so quickly. 

In the 48th minute, a shot was taken, but was saved by Henry, and it landed in front of Detroit forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith. 

Just like earlier in the game, the ball would be struck too high, keeping the game 1-0. 

Detroit wasn’t going to lie down however, as they made multiple chances, with one hitting the posts. 

Rising hadn’t forgotten to add pressure however and were hoping to get a second. 

Phoenix would bring on Darius Johnson and Damian Rivera for Remi Cabral and Margaritha. 

Not even two minutes later, Johnson would capitalize off an error by Detroit but would hit the post. 

Johnson composed himself, regained possession of the ball, and found Hope Avayevu, who smashed it into the bottom left corner, given Rising a two-goal lead. 

Rising got overconfident, when in the 87th minute, Detroit would send in a cross, and Darren Smith got on the end of it. 

2-1, and the game was on.

Two minutes after, another cross was swung, and after a scuffle for it, D. Smith found himself 1-on-1 versus Henry.  

D. Smith would tie the game as he nutmegged Henry, and somehow, it wasn’t over. In the 91st minute, Jeciel Cedeno of Detroit cut in on his left foot from outside the box and took a shot. 

Just like that, Detroit scored again, giving them a 3-2 lead. 

Six minutes prior, Rising seemingly had the game done and dusted.  

Come full time though, Detroit had taken all three points from Rising. 

“Little bit of shock,” Kah said after the match. “We gave it away. I don’t think Detroit beat us, I think we beat ourselves- for me, football is not physical, football is in the head. Today, we didn’t play football with our heads.” 

“We weren’t too mature with how to maintain that lead,” C. Smith said. “Obviously that cost us. We’ve been in games where we started behind and luckily, we started ahead and so now, we just have to be smart enough to manage the game.” 

The fans were frustrated, and they didn’t hide it, as booing filled the stadium after the full-time whistle. 

“I respect that,” Kah said regarding the fans. “We got to take it. The fans want to see a team, we want to see a team…I know what the boys can do, and I want everyone to be behind the team because again, they’re voicing their frustration, which is great. They believe, and they want this team to do better.” 

Rising will face off against Tulsa in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup at Hurricane Soccer & Track Stadium on Wednesday evening.