Rising faced Birmingham City Saturday for their first home game in nearly a month.
Rising was coming off a three-game road trip, with their most recent result—a 4-1 loss to Orange County, while Birmingham entered with a 2-1 win in the USL Jägermeister Cup against Madison.
Both teams faced difficult positions, with Birmingham sitting in ninth in Group East, with eighth place holding a game in hand while Rising sat sixth in Group West, but squeezed in a tight position, sitting only two points above ninth, and another two points below third.
“Every point matters,” said Rising head coach Pa-Modou Kah. “At home you don’t drop points and it’s not good enough.”
The games were not about finding chemistry anymore— but making a push for the playoffs.
While both teams created early chances, none led to a major threat as both backlines were in sync.
Rising attempted to add pressure, but Birmingham wasn’t fazed, as they were willing to let Phoenix tire out.
In the 16th minute, some very clever and quick passes left Rising defender Emil Cuello with a tight angle on the near post, but he smashed it into the top corner to break the deadlock, leaving Birmingham in disbelief.
It was 1-0 to Rising.
Rising switched to a more possession-based play style, and while Birmingham did the same, they added some aggression.
In the 25th minute, a long ball was sent for Rising forward Ihsan Sacko who controlled it and found midfielder Hope Avayevu. who struck it to the right side of the goal.
While Birmingham goalie Fernando Delgado dove for it, it wasn’t enough to stop the shot, and Rising went up and early at 2-0.
“We were invincible for the first 30 minutes,” Kah said. “We started the game very well with two goals.”
This sparked more pressure from Birmingham’s side, especially in the midfield.
Birmingham didn’t have any momentum as Phoenix began prioritizing the ball more, trying to exhaust Birmingham and possible third goal.
“I think at the beginning we controlled the game really well,” Avayevu said. “That was how we got the two goals out of it and a few minutes later- we were a little bit sloppy.”
In the 38th minute however, Birmingham found the net as while Rising goalie Peter Rakovsky made a solid save, Birmingham regained possession and found forward Tyler Pasher who slotted it into the bottom right.
It was 2-1 with the game far from over.
Neither team would create many chances after the goal, as Rising held the lead entering the second half.
Birmingham came out quickly in the second half, switching the ball from side to side while staying physical on the ball, and it would lead to a goal.
In the 53rd minute, a cross was swung in, and midfielder Sebastian Tregarthen sent a shot that hit the crossbar, but the ball dropped into the back of the net, levelling the game.
It was 2-2, and Birmingham had all the momentum—it only took them 11 more minutes to complete the comeback.
In the 64th minute, a low cross came in for Enzo Martinez who barely managed to squeak it by Rakovsky.
It was 3-2 in favor of Birmingham, and Rising had trouble responding.
“Very sloppy to allow them to come back into the game,” Kah said. “This game should have been done and dusted.”
Birmingham looked calm and confident, while Rising looked timid for an attack.
“I feel like it’s the whole team,” Avayevu said. “The whole team has to defend, you can blame the backline but- it starts from the frontline, so we have to come together and not concede goals.”
Following the goal however, Rising ramped up the pressure, making two great chances, which were saved by Delgado.
Rising brought on Jamison Ping and Damian Rivera in hopes of getting an equalizer with fresh legs.
Rising made chances, but the goal wasn’t coming.
In the 86th minute, Rising would get what they thought was the equalizer through Rivera, however, the ref deemed Rivera had fouled a defender before the goal—disallowing it.
This resulted in the stadium echoing with boos, and fans in the Red Sea section throwing smoke grenades behind the net.
“I’m not the referee,” Kah said about the call. “I don’t know. I can’t say something because I don’t even know why.”
Three minutes later, Rising got their equalizer, this time for real.
Rising midfielder Charlie Dennis whipped it into the box looking for a player, but even though nobody got on the end of it, Delgado completely misread the ball as it bounced into the back of the net.
The game was 3-3, and with stoppage time on the way, Rising went for all three points making it clear they were there to win.
Rising made chance after chance, pushing Birmingham to the brink.
In the end though, after an added 11 minutes of stoppage time, the points were shared as the match ended 3-3.
“Felt like a draw at home is a loss,” Avayevu said. “I feel like I can do more.”
Phoenix Rising will face Lexington at Lexington SC Stadium next Saturday.
