Phoenix Rising welcomed San Antonio FC on Saturday in the group stage of the USL Jägermeister Cup.  

Even though it was only a group stage game—it mattered. 

Both two teams had met in the regular season—Rising won 2-1. 

“If there was a difference…San Antonio scored a goal, and we didn’t,” Rising head coach Pa-Modou Kah said. 

Leading up to the game, Jearl Margaritha would be on the bench, and many changes would take place, as Rising played a 4-3-3. 

“Marga was sick that’s why he didn’t start,” Kah said regarding Margaritha’s status. 

Rising started off with heavy pressure, and it led to some chances. 

“I think we started the game very well,” Kah said. “I think we had most of the ball, but we didn’t create enough when we had the ball.” 

Rising would get a free kick in the 15th minute but would go wide after a deflected header. 

Rising kept up the pressure got another free kick but couldn’t get on the end of it. 

“Set plays is- chance play and we have two,” Kah said. “We did not hit the target. It’s part of football and the boys are working hard.” 

Rising’s pressure had pinned San Antonio heavily, as they were failing to make any chances. 

San Antonio had played very physical, with multiple fouls in Phoenix’s favor and an overall aggressive mindset defensively. 

“I don’t think the game was physical,” Kah said regarding the match. 

Heading into the half however, neither team had scored, keeping the game 0-0. 

Due to the rules of the up competition, if the game were to end in a tie after 90 minutes, the game would go to penalties. 

Rising kept up the pressure, while San Antonio tried to switch to a more possession style gamed. 

“I feel like we matched their energy,” Rising midfielder Carl-Fred Sainte said. “Against them, they are a physical team, and we matched their energy.” 

In the 56th minute, Rising would get a free kick, but Ihsan Sacko would send it over the bar. 

San Antonio would also miss a chance, as the ball was swung into the box in the 60th minute, but no one got on the end of it. 

It didn’t matter though, as three minutes later, after some clever passing, San Antonio scored the opener, making it 1-0. 

Margaritha and Damian Rivera would be subbed on for Phoenix, with Jamison Ping and Remi Cabral coming off. 

However, even with the substitutions, Phoenix looked hesitant to push forward. 

San Antonio held on to win 1-0, grabbing all three points to start their campaign. 

Phoenix ended the game with zero shots on target. 

“The only miss we kind of had- more people in the box,” Sainte said. “Like I say, we just have to…have more calm and more people in the box, and finish.” 

“I think we had decent moments,” Kah said. “But we didn’t have a shot on target which is a little bit disappointment. I think we lacked a little bit of intensity in the second half.” 

Rising will visit the Colorado Spring Switchbacks at Weidner Field on Saturday night.