After scoring twice in three games, Phoenix Rising forward Dariusz Formella is looking to crack into the starting 11 for the Arizona club.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Against Detroit City FC on Sept. 16, Formella scored the last goal in the Rising’s 5-0 win.
Last week saw the Polish forward come on a substitute and played out-of-position as a striker and scored an equalizer in the last-minute to tie 1-1 with the El Paso Locomotive on Sept. 23.
Never underestimate the final minutes of the game! @DarekFormella10#RisingAsOne | All Angles Cam Presented by @raisingcanes pic.twitter.com/6RJH82YVVc
— Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) September 24, 2023
When speaking at the media availability yesterday, Formella said that being a striker is not his preferred position, but he will play anywhere Rising’s head coach Juan Guerra wants him to be.
“It’s not my best position,” Formella said. “My perfect position is left winger, but whatever the boss says, I’ll try to do my best.”
A little over two months ago, Formella came to Phoenix from the Oakland Roots, also in the USL, in exchange for defender Baboucarr Njie on July 25.
Since moving to Arizona, he has only started once in 11 games since switching squads as Formella has been on the bench, unless he comes on as a substitute.
As there is three games left in the regular season, Formella stated that he works hard every day and knows there’s challenges to start for the Rising.
“I compete every day in training and trying to do my best,” Formella said. “It’s not easy for a coach because we have a lot of good, quality players and everybody wants to play. It’s not easy to get a starting 11 spot, but I am trying to fight for my spot in this team.”
Fourth-placed Rising welcome fifth-ranked Orange County SC to the valley at Phoenix Rising Stadium on Sept. 30.
Rising coach Danny Stone: “Our only focus is the 90 minutes Saturday night.”
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Alec Cipollini is a journalist covering the Arizona Coyotes and Phoenix Rising for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his new X account @CipolliniBCS
