Rising hosted El Paso Locomotive in a game that would shake up the playoff picture for both teams. 

Rising was coming off a dominating 4-1 win over Colorado while El Paso grabbed a 1-0 over Sacramento. 

Nearing the end of the season, no game was too small or too easy, especially in a tight Group West where every point mattered. 

El Paso sat third while Rising sat sixth in the standings, but a win for either side would give them more of a safety cushion if they were to drop points. 

While Rising played many games away, the end of the season featured six games at home compared to three away. 

“We want our home ground to be somewhere no team wants to come,” Rising forward Darius Johnson said. “We also need to focus on our side of the game and stay in the game for 90 minutes.” 

It was the chance to take advantage of playing at home and build momentum. 

Kelvin Arase made his first starting appearance for Phoenix Rising. 

Rising had also brought in defender Rafael Czichos to add more depth. 

“This is a good addition,” Johnson said. “He can come in and teach us in these situations and share wisdom that he’s had at the highest levels.” 

Even though he was on the bench, he had experience of playing football in the United States, playing for MLS Side Chicago Fire. 

From the moment the game started, El Paso made chances. 

Rising responded by dropping back and switching to taking care of the ball. 

Just like they did against Colorado, Phoenix opened the scoring, and fast. 

In the 7th minute, a long ball was sent for Rising forward Ihsan Sacko, and he found himself 1-on-1 against goalie Jahmali Waite. 

Sacko would slot it past Waite to give Rising the lead. 

El Paso added pressure and quickly, knowing what was at stake if the result were to hold. 

Rising responded by dropping back and soaking up pressure, before attempting counter attacks. 

Both teams made chances but couldn’t finish any. They also started to prioritize dropping numbers when in a defensive shape. 

Rising had seemingly gotten a little bit too defensive, with many fouls going against them. 

In the 24th minute, El Paso crossed the ball after another Rising foul, and whilst an El Paso player got on the end of it, it would hit the post, keeping the game 1-0. 

Both teams traded chance after chance, but come the end of the first half, it was still 1-0 in favor of Phoenix. 

Even then, there were 45 minutes to go. 

Just like in the first half however, Sacko scored early into the half. 

In the 46th minute, Arase found Sacko, who shot it straight at Waite, but it went right between his legs, and into the back of the net. 

Phoenix had a two-goal lead, and six minutes later, Rising mad it three. 

Johnson got the ball after a switch, wiggled past El Paso’s defense with an impressive run, before rounding Waite, and slotting it away. 

It was 3-0 to Phoenix, and they weren’t letting off the gas. 

“We started decent in the first half,” Rising head coach Kah said. “We ride it out which was good to see, second half I think we came out on the front foot again.” 

Rising brought on Charlie Dennis for Arase. 

In the 63rd minute, Rising defender Axel Essengue went in for a challenge against Waite and fouled him in the process. 

“It could have been avoided,” Kah said regarding the red card. “Especially when you’re on a yellow, I don’t see a reason why you got to go slide tackle into the keeper.” 

Having already been on a yellow card, Essengue was sent off, dropping Rising to 10 men. 

In the 72nd minute, El Paso swung the ball into the box, forward Amando Moreno got it past Rising goalkeeper Peter Rakovsky. 

It was 3-1, but the comeback was on. 

“Sometimes you can get comfortable being 3-0 up,” Johnson said. “It was hard to keep pushing momentum when they have eleven players and we have ten, you kind of have to invite pressure and sit back. It wasn’t easy.” 

Rising brought off Sacko, Johnson, and Hope Avayevu for Czichos, Ryan Flood, and Pape Mar Boye. 

Rising made it clear that they were going to defend with everything they had. 

In the 81st minute, El Paso midfielder Gabriel Torres shot it straight at Rakovsky, who somehow let it slip through his hands, making it 3-2. 

“Mistakes happen,” Johnson said. “If I make a mistake, the whole team can make a mistake, we’re together. Keep your head up, we go again.” 

The game was on, and the comeback looked possible. 

Rising suddenly added pressure, not allowing El Paso to try and make more chances. 

With stoppage time approaching, the fans got louder and louder, hoping for a win. 

In the 98th minute, El Paso got the equalizer, breaking Phoenix in the process. 

A low ball was struck in for a cross, and Rakovsky let the ball go past him, leading to an easy goal for El Paso defender Ricky Ruiz. 

The lead was gone, and to make it worse, it happened at the death. 

“Critical errors that let them come back into the game,” Kah said. “That should not happen.” 

Rising won a free kick in the 101st minute but couldn’t convert. 

What seemed like a sure fired win turned into a heartbreaking draw as Rising drop crucial points. 

“It’s a tough one to take,” Johnson said. “Being 3-0 up and then drawing 3-3…it’s a hard one but, we’re creating opportunities. It’s bittersweet but, something to learn from. These things happen.” 

Phoenix Rising meet Las Vegas Lights Friday night.