After besting defending champion San Antonio FC last weekend, Republic FC continues its playoff run at Heart Health Park. On Saturday, Phoenix Rising FC visits the River City for the Western Conference Final round with a ticket to the USL Championship final on the line. Ahead of the match, take a look at the Arizona side’s path to the final four.
How they Got Here
After missing the playoffs in 2022, Phoenix returned to form in its first full year under head coach Juan Guerra. The club hit its stride when it mattered most – when the Western Conference race was at its tightest, the club went unbeaten in eight games from August 26 to September 30 against a slew of opponents that all qualified for the postseason. All season, the club only lost consecutive matches twice.
Each of Phoenix’s playoff games to this point have reached extra time. In the Conference quarterfinal round at San Diego, a 119th-minute was the decider in a back-and-forth contest that had four lead changes. In Irvine against Orange County SC Saturday the club went up early before conceding later in the half. After a scoreless second half and first period of extra time, the club again found the net late in extra time with a 116th-minute winner.
Names to Watch
A slew of attacking talent litters the Arizona side’s roster. Former Quails Darek Formella and Emil Cuello netted their side’s extra time winners in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Accompanying them on Rising’s roster respected scorers Manuel Arteaga and Danny Trejo – who combined to net 32 goals on the season. Greek striker Panos Armenakas, who joined the club midseason from Loudoun United and tallied five assists on the year, provides an additional presence in the attacking third.
Against Sacramento this Season
Phoenix and Sacramento split their two meetings in the regular season, with each winning on its home ground. Republic FC bested Rising FC 4-0 at Heart Health Park on July 26 with scores from four different players in a mid-week contest. On August 30 in the desert, Phoenix won 2-1, netting two scores after the break. The two sides have faced off previously in the postseason; in 2020, Republic FC visited Rising FC in the first round, falling 1-0 after an extra time winner.
