It is playoff time in the USL as Phoenix Rising clash with San Diego Loyal SC in the 2023 Western Conference Quarterfinals at Torero Stadium in California tonight at 7 p.m.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!ICYMI: Phoenix Rising will face San Diego Loyal for the Western Conference Quarterfinals. #IgnitePhoenix | @Carvana
— Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) October 22, 2023
Losing in their previous two matches and having a record of 1-4-2 in their last seven games, the Rising will need to forget about the past and focus on the task at-hand tonight.
In their latest contest, Phoenix went to Colorado Springs to face the Switchbacks and couldn’t create many opportunities to score as the Rising lost 2-0 on Oct. 14.
As for San Diego, they are unbeaten in their last 6 games with a 4-2-0 record.
At the end of the regular season, the Loyal (16-9-9) finished third on 57 points while Phoenix (12-12-10) were the sixth seed with 48 points in the Western Conference.
Two goals in the second half rounded-off a 2-0 San Diego victory against the Las Vegas Lights last Saturday.
Game Implications
Being a single-elimination game, the stakes are very high for both teams as one of them can move on while the other’s season will come to an end.
Whoever comes out on-top will play in a semi-final matchup against Orange County SC after they won 1-0 against the El Paso Locomotive yesterday.
This will be the first time the Rising and San Diego will face each other in a playoff setting.
For Phoenix, they were 0-1-1 against the Loyal in two games this year.
On Mar 19, the Rising lost 3-0 in San Diego before drawing 2-2 at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium on April Fools’ Day, Apr. 1.
Where to Watch
To view the game here in the valley, Arizona Family’s Sports and Entertainment Network (channel 44 Over-The-Air) will carry tonight’s postseason battle.
As for streaming, ESPN+ will also broadcast the action.
Phoenix Rising end regular season with 2-0 defeat in Colorado Springs
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Alec Cipollini is a journalist covering the Arizona Coyotes, Cardinals and Phoenix Rising for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @AlecCipollini
