What we learned in Phoenix Rising’s win over Miami FC

Phoenix Rising received its sixth straight in all competitions Saturday evening, coming from behind to prime Miami FC, 2-1. Listed below are 5 takeaways from the win:

Early season struggles behind Rising

A month in the past, Rising misplaced consecutive video games, dropping to 1-0-2 on the season and elevating questions concerning the course of their season. Six video games later, these questions appear silly.

Phoenix nonetheless hasn’t been the dominant attacking aspect it has been in years previous — it’s solely scored three targets as soon as for the reason that opener. However supervisor Rick Schantz has repeatedly highlighted a brand new give attention to pragmatism, with the thought being that Rising have sufficient attacking expertise to win video games as long as they concede one or fewer targets.

Saturday’s win vindicated that perception.

Rising had been by no means at their greatest. They solely had 49% possession and appeared disjointed for giant components of the sport, particularly within the first half. However, exterior of some first-half miscues, they had been stout defensively, opening the door for midfielder Luis Seijas to win the sport with an 88th minute rocket off the underside of the crossbar.

“We performed not the best way we did the previous few video games,” Seijas stated. “We struggled just a little bit. First, I half, I believe we ran unhealthy. We weren’t synchronized. And we suffered. However typically, you might want to have one thing else and I believe this crew has it.”

Consequently, Rising at the moment are fourth within the Western Convention, simply three factors off the highest spot, and once more wanting like a USL title contender.

Joey Calistri exhibits versatility

He didn’t rating a objective. He didn’t even help a objective. However, simply three days after going 93 minutes within the midfield in Rising’s U.S. Open Cup win over New Mexico United, Calistri could have been Phoenix’s man of the match on the appropriate wing Saturday evening.

On Phoenix’s first objective, Calistri picked up the ball close to midfield on the counter assault, reduce inside and compelled a save out of goalkeeper Connor Sparrow, creating the rebound that led to Kevon Lambert’s objective. Ten minutes later, on the opposite aspect of halftime, he made a perfectly-timed run into the field and positioned a strong header within the backside nook, forcing one other good save out of Sparrow. After which, within the 63rd minute, he had the most effective particular person second of the sport to that time, placing Stanley in a blender with a collection of shoulder fakes earlier than making Sparrow acrobatically save a shot that was destined for the highest nook.

“He is deceptively quick,” Schantz stated. “This child, you do not know it, he is received a contact after which he activates the jets. There is a couple occasions the place I believe that when you possibly can beat guys and you may get behind groups and you can also make issues occur on the dribble like he does, it provides the crew confidence. It provides them perception that we’re okay, we’re gonna get an opportunity, we’re gonna get a second.”

Within the sixty fifth minute, Schantz made a collection of substitutions, shifting Calistri to the midfield. Though he didn’t have the identical spotlight moments there, he helped Phoenix management the ultimate half hour, finally resulting in Seijas’ winner.

Lambert redeems defensive miscues

Since shifting to center-back six video games in the past, Lambert — a defensive midfielder by commerce — has been practically flawless. Within the first half, although, his inexperience on the place shone by.

First, he failed to trace the run of striker Romeo Parkes, resulting in a golden probability for Miami. Then, within the twenty seventh minute, he was culpable for the objective when he didn’t spot the run of Joshua Perez on his again shoulder, leaving the Miami winger with a wide-open header.

Though Schantz demurred after the sport, saying, “I imagine most targets come from three errors and it isn’t simply Kev,” he did admit that the Jamaican ought to’ve been tighter on Perez on the objective.

Simply 18 minutes later, although, Lambert confirmed the skillset that makes his presence at center-back so interesting. He received the ball in his personal half, carrying it ahead and beginning a counterattack that he ultimately completed off, rewarding a 60-yard dash into the penalty space.

“It is unbelievable what he is doing,” Schantz stated. “He is dominant within the air, he is good in one-v.-ones, he is nice on the ball, he is composed, he is prepared.”

Seijas rewards Schantz’s religion

Earlier than the season, Seijas wasn’t anticipated to be part of Schantz’s beginning 11. By means of seven USL video games, although, the 35-year previous has performed 69% of accessible minutes and, extremely, contributed on 27% of Rising’s targets.

“He is a man that, within the large moments, will not be gonna get scared,” Schantz stated. “He is performed in entrance of 60,000 followers in South America. I do know that and I do know that it doesn’t matter what the sport is like, Luis might be positive.”

That have finally led Schantz to go away Seijas within the recreation Saturday, although participant and supervisor alike admitted that he struggled for giant stretches of the sport. Seijas, as he has all season, rewarded the religion along with his unbelievable winner.

Ben Lundt comes up large once more

What every week for Ben Lundt.

Final Saturday, the Rising goalkeeper saved a penalty and made a good higher cease, resulting in Phoenix scoring on the counter assault when New Mexico United had numbers up. On Wednesday, in opposition to the identical opponent within the cup, he helped Rising to a 2-1 win. And, three days later, he got here up big in Phoenix’s third win of the week.

On Parkes’ aforementioned early probability, Lundt made a textbook kick save to disclaim the one-on-one alternative. Within the second half, he made the same save on Florian Valot, studying a clumsy ball within the field completely and shutting down Valot’s angle to forestall a backbreaking objective that may have given Miami the lead simply 5 minutes after Lambert’s equalizer.

Theo Mackie covers Arizona highschool sports activities and Phoenix Rising FC. He could be reached by e mail at theo.mackie@gannett.com and on Twitter @theo_mackie.