The Oakland Roots’ defense kept them within striking distance, but Phoenix Rising’s first goal of the season was enough for them to earn their first win of the season on Saturday night.
The two clubs have established one of the strongest rivalries in the USL Championship, in part because former coach Juan Guerra left the Roots in midseason 2022 to take over the same position with Phoenix. Guerra ultimately guided Rising to the 2023 USL Championship.
Though Guerra has moved on to become an assistant with the MLS’s Houston Dynamo, Phoenix’s lineup featured four former Roots standouts: Darek Formella, Edgardo Rito, Juan Carlos Azocar, and José Hernández.
On Saturday night, Phoenix had a 6-0 advantage in shots on target, with Formella, Rito, and Azocar each playing a key role. But Oakland’s defense kept them in the match, even though three regulars in the Roots starting lineup were unavailable due to national team duty: Bryan Tamacas (El Salvador), Neveal Hackshaw (Trinidad & Tobago), and former Rising midfielder Irakoze Donasiyano (Burundi).
Oakland’s Defense Gives Them Hope in the First Half
The Phoenix offense began to warm up in the 13th minute, when Laurence Wyke sent in a low cross that goalkeeper Paul Blanchette could only push skyward. Formella’s shot off the rebound beat Blanchette, but Gagi Margvelashvili was able to head the ball off the line.
Rito had a chance to score against his former team in the 29th minute, thanks to a cross from Erickson Gallardo. But his header went straight into Blanchette’s arms.
Formella got another chance to add his name to the score sheet himself three minutes later, thanks to a clumsy back pass that was mishandled by Blanchette. Formella had an open net in front of him, but Blanchette scrambled back into position get a hand on the ball and swat his shot away.
Formella and Rito were also involved in a chain of passes that set up another Phoenix scoring opportunity in the 40th minute. It culminated in a shot from close range by Renzo Zambrano and another diving save from Blanchette.
Oakland’s best chance of the match was set up by former Phoenix defender Baboucarr Njie just before halftime, sending in a cross that Johnny Rodriguez headed over the crossbar.
Phoenix Breaks Through Just before Halftime
The Rising finally got in the scoreboard in the 49th minute. And once again, former Roots players were involved. Azocar marched methodically up the field, played a two-man game with Formella, then found a streaking Panos Armenakas for the tap-in at the far post.
While Oakland struggled to find the equalizer, Phoenix had more chances to put the match away.
In the 73rd minute, Azocar and Formella teamed up again, with Formella’s shot from distance requiring another diving stop from Blanchette.
Formella had another scoring chance 10 minutes later. His shot was on target, but headed off the line by Oakland forward Miche-Naider Chéry.
The Roots have a week to regroup, returning home to welcome another former Roots player, Emrah Klimenta, and the Las Vegas Lights next Saturday night.
