PRFC Looks For First Ever Win vs. Fresno FC Tonight

PRFC are 0-1-2 Against FFC all time in USL Championship play

Phoenix Rising FC (22-5-2, 71 PTS, 1st Place – USL West) prepares for one of their biggest tests of the remainder of the 2019 regular season with a visit to Fresno FC’s Chucksansi Park (15-8-5, 53 PTS, 3rd Place, USL West) tonight at 7:30 PM. This showdown battle features two Western Conference sides that tout impressive credentials heading into the USL Cup playoffs – PRFC, of course, with their 20 game winning streak – the longest in American pro soccer history – and Fresno, who are unbeaten in their last 10 matches at home. Earlier this year, the two teams drew 0-0 at Casino Arizona Field despite Fresno dropping to 10 men in the 40th minute on a Seth Moses straight red card and Rising outshooting Fresno 23-2.

What To Know About Fresno FC

Fresno sits in 3rd Place in the USL Championship’s Western Conference this season, and has been a quiet if not consistent top four team for most of the season. That performance has been spearheaded by two factors: an impressive home form (9-1-4 in Fresno this year) and a defense that is surpassed only by Phoenix in the West, allowing just 31 goals through 28 matches. On the offensive side of the ball, Fresno is lead in goal scoring by the three headed beast of Jamie Chavez (11 goals), Qudus Lawal (9 goals), and vet Jemal Johnson (7 goals). Johnson is a 34 year old former Premier League veteran who has spent time with Blackburn Rovers, Wolverhampton, and more recently, a stint with NASL’s New York Cosmos. His production has declined steeply with his age, but the cagey veteran should not be discounted in tonight’s match as Fresno looks to clinch their first playoff berth in team history.

Chavez (background) and Arun Basujevic in action for FFC

Fresno is 3-2-0 in their last 5 games, a decidly mixed bag that included a 3-1 loss at Las Vegas Lights and then a resounding 5-0 victory over Rio Grande Valley FC. They are on the verge of clinching their first playoff berth in franchise history, and for that reason alone, will be a dangerous opponent for the Rising to face on the road tonight. The Rising have won a USL Championship record 9 consectuive road matches and have a record of 10-2-2 away from the friendly confines of Casino Arizona Field this season.

What to Know about PRFC

Phoenix Rising FC comes into this match on pace to become the best regular season side in USL Championship history. A win in tonight’s match would tie them with FC Cincinatti for the most wins by a USL Championship side in a single season (23). PRFC already holds the all-time USLC record for goals scored in a season with 77, and during their record 20 game winning streak, has outscored opponents 62-15, and has a total goal differential of 77-26 (+51), giving them the best offense and the 2nd best defense in the USLC, with only Indy Eleven conceding less goals (21) on the year. The Rising’s form is unmatched in excellence, coming off an impressive road win at Las Vegas by a score of 1-0 on an Adam Jahn winner despite featuring many of the team’s backup players, and a dominant 4-1 home win over LA Galaxy II despite the game being abandoned with 6 minutes remaning. The win over Los Dos clinched the #1 spot in the Western Conference playoffs for the Rising, and they are a 99% favorite to win the USL Supporters Sheild, guarenteeing them home field advantage in a potential USL Cup Final matchup, one of the team’s main goals after a dissapointing 1-0 loss in the 2018 final away to Louisville City FC.

PRFC will be lead by the league’s top performing offensive unit, headlined by the league leader in goals and assists, Solomon Asante. His 22 goals are three off from breaking 2018 USL MVP Cameron Lancaster’s 25 goals for Louisville City FC last year, and his 15 assists combined with that have already clinched the all-time record for combined goals and assists by a single player in USLC history. Adam Jahn’s play as the target man will be essential tonight, as his recent form has him peaking as a clincical finisher, tallying 15 goals overall this season. Junior Flemmings fills out the forward spot with 13 goals on the year, and the Rising will have plenty of firepower off the bench with Jason Johnson coming back into form after a 6 month injury break, and the long-awaited return of dynamic playmaker Alessandro Riggi, who will backup Asante on the wing and has the ability to score and create chances in the mold of Solo – perhaps the one player that PRFC couldn’t replace with someone off of the depth filled bench. In only 14 matches before his injury last year, Riggi scored 2 goals and added 5 assists. The combined offensive firepower and finishing will be essential given the frustration PRFC had during the first meeting of the two teams this year, where the Rising laid on 23 shots to a Fresno side with a man down, only to walk out of Casino AZ Field with a 0-0 draw.

Canadian playmaker Alessandro Riggi will be avaliable for selection tonight per coach Rick Schantz.

Projected Lineups and Predictions

Phoenix’s Jon Bakero has been out due to injury, but I predict he’ll return for tonight’s match due to the significance of facing off against a tough West opponent looking to make a statement and clinch a playoff spot. Corey Whelan has been an extremely vital addition to the side and I expect he’ll retain his spot on the back-line and seems to play his best when paired with Mala due to Mala’s speed and ability to get back to cover. PLV has been impressive but occasionally jumpy since he joined the team on loan, but I expect he will get the start as Schantz looks to fully integrate him into the side going into the playoffs as his undeniable talent will be a huge asset to the Rising in the playoffs. Here’s how I see our usual 4-3-3 breaking down for tonight’s match:

Subs Used: Jason Johnson Alessandro Riggi Jose Aginuaga

Prediction: Phoenix Rising FC 2-1 Fresno FC. While this is a prime opportunity for the Foxes to end the Rising winning streak, I think PRFC will come out at the top of their game against Fresno, a potential Western Conference Final opponent and a team that really frustrated PRFC in an early season draw that should have been a Rising win. Good luck to the boys and go Rising!