As kick-off is only a few hours away between the Phoenix Rising and Orange County SC, here is what you need to know before the referee’s whistle is blown to begin the match.
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Coming into tonights game, the Rising are seven-games unbeaten.
Their last result was a dramatic 1-1 draw with the El Paso Locomotive on Sept. 23.
Before the game concluded, Rising winger/striker Dariusz Formella came on the pitch as a substitute.
In the 90+1 minute, Formella, along with forward Carlos Harvey and forward Danny Trejo, linked up together with smooth passes to one-another before Formella was able to slot the ball past El Paso’s goalkeeper Benny Diaz to tie the game up 1-1 and secure a point for the Arizona soccer club.
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
That made it seven-straight games unbeaten for the Rising and picked up at least a point in each of them.
As for Orange County, they were on a winning streak of 8 games that stretched from Jul. 15 to Sept. 2.
The past three games, however, the Californian club have only managed to pick up one point out of a possible 9, including a 4-0 loss to San Antonio SC in their last game on Sept. 23.
Still, Orange County are level on points with the Rising and the San Diego Loyal with 47 points. Orange County and the Loyal have a game-in-hand on the Rising.
Importance of Match
There is a three-way tie for third place in the USL Western Conference and tonight, in Phoenix, is fourth versus fifth.
This very well could be a playoff appetizer as the Rising and Orange County would clash in the playoffs if they began today.
If the playoffs started 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄, here's how the bracket would look 👀 🍿 pic.twitter.com/vdJ1lCTbPU
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) September 30, 2023
The game tonight is even more important because the Colorado Springs Switchbacks made the standings even more congested Sept. 27 as they won 3-0 against Detroit City FC and are now only 1 point off of the third place spot as they now have 46 points.
With a Rising win, they will secure a playoff spot and go three points ahead of Orange County.
If San Diego tie or lose against Monterey Bay, which starts at 7 p.m. tonight, the Rising could possibly be third place by nights end with 50 points.
Keep in mind, San Diego and Orange County both have a game-in-hand. So, if those scenarios happen, third place will still be contested with a win for both sides in their extra games.
It could get even more wild tonight because if the Switchbacks beat Rio Grande Valley FC, Orange County and Rising tie, and the Loyal lose or tie, Colorado Springs can be up to third.
How to Watch
The Rising take on Orange County SC at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium at 7:30 p.m and the game will be on Arizona’s Family (Channel 3) and streamed on ESPN+.
Phoenix Rising’s Dariusz Formella: “I am trying to fight for my spot in this team”
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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
