Rising welcomed Orange County on Saturday night for a home match.
Former Rising head coach Danny Stone was also back.
Rising parted ways with Stone in 2024 after a disappointing run of form.
Heading into Saturday’s match Rising had clearly put last season behind them—they had won three league games in a row.
Both teams were separated by three points—a win could shake up the look for either side.
Rising entered without three forwards, Jearl Margaritha, Darius Johnson and Damian Rivera due to international callups.
Orange County had their own challenges as they had not kept a clean sheet in any game heading into Saturday.
It was also Rising’s only home game for the month of June.
“That was one of the messages,” Rising head coach Kah said. “Send the fans away with a smile but a smile on your face too because you’re going to be on the road. For us, obviously home, we didn’t start it well but we’re picking up the wins at home. We go away for a month which we’re going to embrace. We have the same mindset and the same goal.”
Both teams put a lot of pressure on the other, leading to many longballs and physical battles in the midfield.
Rising quickly switched to possession and passing, using their wingers and quick touches in hopes of getting a goal.
In the 14th minute, it looked as if an Orange County player had touched the ball with his hand, but the ref did not signal a penalty.
In the 18th minute, Orange County had a chance to score but Rising goalkeeper Peter Rakovsky kept it out.
Two minutes later, Rising scored the opener.
After a deflected chance, Rising made some passes, in which midfielder Noble Okello found Dariusz Formella, who’d strike the ball with his first touch. Orange County goalkeeper Colin Shutler would get a hand to it, but it wasn’t enough, as the ball ended up in the back of the net, giving Rising a 1-0 lead.
“Great day, good game,” Formella said. “Big step forward, and we’re working. Today I had a very good week of training, I was trying to focus on simple things, and it worked. Big game for me and I appreciate the moment.”
Rising received a free kick in the 29th minute looking for a cross but couldn’t get a second.
In the 41st minute, Rising got another chance, but Shutler kept it out after a deflection.
Rising’s possession-based game led to a lot of chances, but Shutler and the Orange County defensive prevented a two-goal lead with crucial blocks.
In the 43rd minute, Orange County forward Mouhamadou War would go down with injury, and was subbed off for Ousmane Sylla.
Nearing the end of the first half, Sylla went down in the box. The ref blew his whistle, but showed a yellow card to Sylla, for what he deemed simulation in hopes of getting a penalty.
Rising led 1-0 heading into the second half, and Orange County had let them play.
“Confidence comes from working hard on the training field,” Rising midfielder Charlie Dennis said. “Taking what you do there into the game, playing well, that’s the only way to build confidence in the team- you go out there, you know you’re going to win before you even step foot on the pitch and that’s the mentally we want to have.”
Entering the second half though, Orange County played with more aggression, especially with their wingers.
It was clear Orange County was looking for an equalizer.
In the 55th minute, Rising midfielder Hope Avayevu took a shot, but it would go off the post, preventing a two-goal lead for Phoenix.
After multiple crosses and what seemed like a goal-line scramble, Orange County defender Vuk Latinovich found the back of the net for Orange County, levelling the game at 1-1.
Rising made a substitution as forward Cyrus Kowall was brought off for Dennis in hopes of giving Rising the lead again.
“I think he was very good,” Kah said of Kowall. “Talking about a 16-year-old. If you’re old enough, you’re good enough, that’s the mentality we have. He’s been there, he almost got one with a header, but this is who we are as a club. We give opportunities when they deserve to play, but you got to earn that right to play, and he earned that right not only because he’s young but because he works every day.”
Rising made chances that couldn’t convert, but they made it clear they wanted to walk away with all three points.
In the 67th minute, Rising grabbed the lead back, after a cross and some touches, Rising defender Axel Essengue took a shot.
Shutler would get a hand to it once again, but the ball rolled into the back of the net, leaving Orange County players frustrated, while Rising players celebrated.
“Essengue from day one, he’s been a top professional,” Kah said. “Very good player, young player that is still learning and he deserved his goal. The way he plays he has a great future ahead, the sky’s the limit for a player like him.”
Phoenix led again, 2-1.
Orange County added pressure after being down another goal.
After a counterattack, Dennis found himself 1-on-1 with Shutler.
Dennis delivered the ball into the bottom right corner with no chance for Shutler to save it.
In a matter of minutes, the game went from being all level, to a 3-1 lead in favor of Rising.
“Just staying present in the moment,” Dennis said. “Doing what I need to do, really. I wanted to get the ball on my left foot and that’s what came down, just putting the ball into the corner.”
In the 76th minute, Rising substituted Ihsan Sacko off for Xian Emmers. This marked Emmers’ debut for Phoenix Rising, as he had just been signed following a spell in Romania.
“When you sign a player it’s always good for them to see it, feel it, be a part of it,” Kah said. “This will help him understand what this league is. Just like Essengue, when you are a good player and players see it, it’s easy for players to accept you. He fits the culture of the team, so the boys have accepted him.”
Orange County added even more pressure, looking to break Rising’s backline, and while they made multiple chances, they simply couldn’t convert.
Rising walked away with a 3-1 victory over Orange County, snagging all three points.
Rising to face Tulsa FC at ONEOK Field on June 14th.
