Phoenix Rising faced Sacramento Republic on Saturday hoping for some crucial points.
Both teams were coming off a win from the U.S. Open Cup, with Phoenix beating Tulsa via penalty shootout.
Both teams played on Wednesday, giving them less than two days to rest.
“It’s very easy to look at results,” head coach Pa-Modou Kah said of the team’s abbreviated rest.
“To have a group that has bought into what we want to do, that comes to work every single day. The emotional toll that it takes to go down a man in Tulsa, come out with a victory with less than four hours of sleep, I’m super proud.”
In the league, both teams were coming off losses.
Phoenix, off a devastating 3-2 loss to Detroit City, while Sacramento lost to Orange County—led by former Rising head coach Danny Stone.
Both teams had an underwhelming start sitting near the bottom of group west.
Rising had yet to win a game at home and were looking to change that.
It was still early in the season, so a turnaround was possible, and both teams looked to carry the cup momentum into this game.
Rising began hot, while Sacramento played physical, with just six minutes in, Sacramento defender Frederik Kleeman was shown a yellow.
In the 13th minute, Phoenix midfielder Hope Avayevu would have his shot saved by goalie Daniel Vitiello.
More importantly though, Rising forward Remi Cabral had gone down in the box, and no penalty was given.
“I don’t like to talk about referees, but I think we got hard done,” Kah said. “He should have had a penalty today, I don’t see that is not a penalty- I’m sorry it’s just, those are moments that change games.”
In the 15th minute, Sacramento sent in a cross in what looked to be a sure-fire goal, but Rising goalie Peter Rakovsky would make a remarkable save.
Two minutes later, Sacramento would open the scoring through a goal from Juan Sebastian Herrera.
Almost immediately after, Phoenix forward Ihsan Sacko would score, but the goal would be deemed offside, keeping the score at 1-0.
Sacramento began adding pressure and in the 34th minute, the pressure would break Rising as a cross was swung into the box, and it would ultimately find the net, giving Sacramento a two-goal lead.
Rising struck back, two minutes later, forward Jearl Margaritha cut in on his left foot and as he sent two defenders the wrong way, he’d take a shot.
Margaritha placed it perfectly, and it was 2-1.
A much-needed lifeline for Phoenix.
“I’m very happy with his performance,” Kah said of Margaritha. “We demanded of him, and he demanded that of himself, taking his chances, be more lethal, be more efficient, and scoring that goal…he showed it.”
Heading into the half, it was clear Rising were looking for an equalizer.
Phoenix would substitute Sacko for Damien Rivera.
Rising made chance after chance, while Sacramento did the same—trying to put the game away.
Sacramento made it clear they were there to kill the game, as they began time wasting and playing much more defensively.
In the 70th minute, Margaritha would break free of his man, but defender Ryan Djedje would drag him down. The ref showed no hesitation and gave Djedje a yellow card.
Rising was still looking for the goal, in the end, they’d get it.
In the 78th minute, a great through ball was sent for Cabral, who’d cross it into Rivera, and after a few touches, Rivera would smash it into the top right corner, making the game 2-2.
“Think it was huge for us,” Rivera said. “Remi saw me, and I tried to finish it, and I did. Gave us momentum. We wanted that third goal, but we were unfortunate not to get it.”
The game had been flipped, and Rising were looking for a winning goal.
Sacramento didn’t waste time, and they got back on their feet, looking to win, but also looking to not concede.
In the end, it was a 2-2 draw for Phoenix Rising.
“It was a difficult game,” Cabral said post-game. “Playing 120 minutes and come back on Saturday, playing in the afternoon. We showed the character we have- could be better, but coming back from 2-0 down is never easy with players who have heavy legs.”
“Proud, super proud,” Kah said. “Three games in a week, one of them went to 120 minutes away, so two flights to come back home and 36 to 50 something hours to rest. Being down 2-0, 2-1, and then 2-2, super proud of those players.”
Rising remains winless at home this year.
Phoenix to host San Antonio FC for the USL Jägermeister Cup next Saturday evening.
