PRFC Super-Sub Joey Calistri scored twice in the final 15 minutes to take the Rising from two goals down to 2-2 and salvage a key point in ABQ.

Goals: NMU: Sandoval 4′ / Schmidt 53′ PHX: Calistri 74′ & 90′

After a disappointing 2-1 loss to 2nd place Fresno FC earlier this week, no one expected to see Phoenix Rising Football Club trailing 2-0 after 53 minutes of play thanks to two goals from New Mexico United’s Devon Sandoval and Justin Schmidt, especially since they were featuring backup goalkeeper and debutante Ben Beaury between the sticks behind a shaky back line. Sandoval’s 4th minute goal started the game poorly – and the Schmidt goal only compounded it, with United controlling much of the possession in the middle and early stages of the game, and using tactics that were effective against the multi-pronged attack of PRFC. Joey Calistri, however, had a different idea.

Super Sub Joey Calistri scored his 5th and 6th goals of 2019 to tie the game at 2 late.

Super-sub Joey Calistri came on for midfielder Jose Aginuaga in the 62nd minute and combined with increased offensive pressure and a few miscues on both sides of the ball for the United side, he tallied goals in the 75th and 90th minute at the death to salvage a 2-2 draw in front of over 13,000 fans at Isotopes Park on Saturday night. Calistri’s goals were both stunners, especially the first one, coming off a next-to-impossible angle that may have been an attempted cross, but cut NMU’s lead to 1:

In the 90th minute, the Rising were desperately looking for the tying goal. After a header goes off the post from an Amadou Dia corner, another wild shot hits the cross bar before the Rising reset play. Musa’s service into the box is solid, but it’s kicked back out – and Calistri is in the right place, right time to fire a laser past Beaury to tie the game at 2-2:

2 posts, 1 goal@jcali10 puts the finishing touches on the most exciting goal sequence of the season. #UpRising pic.twitter.com/KFrYjmOI4V — z-Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) September 29, 2019

The Rising finish the season series with NMU at 0-0-2 in regular season play, with a loss in PK’s in the US Open Cup. Despite this only being a draw, the Rising had clinched their first ever USL Supporters Shield before the game, guaranteeing them the best record in the entire USL Championship and home field advantage all the way up until and through the 2019 USL Cup Final, if they make it that far. The Rising move to 22-6-3, good for 72 points, and have already clinched 1st in the USL West. New Mexico’s draw was a large hit for them, combined with other league results they dropped from 8th to 11th (and out of the playoff picture), at 10-11-9, which would leave them out of the play-in round by goal differential.

The Rising take the field next Saturday against 12th place Timbers 2, who they beat 4-2 at Casino Arizona Field in a thrilling match earlier this season when T2 was ranked #2 in the West. Congrats to PRFC on their first ever USL Supporters Shield!