Phoenix Rising FC had never mustered a win or even a draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, but thanks to a brace from forward Jason Johnson, the club walked away with a 2-1 win to extend its unbeaten streak to six matches.
The game-winning tally came off a corner in the 84th minute. Rather than standing tall in the box to receive the kick, forward Didier Drogba sent the corner toward the mass of players. He found Johnson, who outleapt the defense and hit the back of the net. Drogba thanked the fans after the team secured the 3 points.
The star forward said after the match,
“I think we have the desire to play with intensity so you need time for the players to understand that and for the body to get used to so I been here for like I think six weeks a little bit more and the team has improved. You know, before when we conceded that goal we would had lost the game and we have the spirit to come back. I have a great team, young guys full of energy like you saw today and the desire to win>”
It was Johnson’s second goal of the evening. His first goal came in the 66th minute of the match. Victor Vasquez attempted to send a cross into the box. The pass was deflected toward the opposing goalkeeper, who tried to corral the errant ball. But he couldn’t keep a hold of it and Johnson pounced, sending it into the net to equalize the match. Head coach Patrice Carteron after the match spoke about the teams growth under him the last six weeks, “today our reaction was fantastic, last week the ten last minutes in Orange County we were absolutely fantastic, but I would like my players to be more active from the start of the game. And luckily we did only concede one goal but that’s part of the thing we need to ameliorate in the future.”
Phoenix Rising FC is on the road next Saturday, July 22, to take on Tulsa Roughnecks FC. The match will kick off at 5:30 p.m. and fans can head to the clubs official watch party at the Thirsty Lion in Tempe Marketplace.
Match: Phoenix Rising FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Date: July 15, 2017
Location: Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex | Scottsdale, AZ
Attendance: 5,605
PHOENIX RISING FC 2-1 COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS FC
Scoring Summary:
COS: 12’, 11-Kevaughn Frater (2-Josh Phillips)
PHX: 66’, 14-Jason Johnson
PHX: 84’, 14-Jason Johnson (11-Didier Drogba)
Disciplinary Summary:
PHX: 28’, 6-Miguel Timm (yellow)
PHX: 90’, 8-Matt Watson (yellow)
PHX: 90+3’, 14-Jason Johnson (yellow)
PHX: 90+7’, 18-Josh Cohen (yellow)
PRFC Starting XI: 18-Josh Cohen; 25-Victor Vasquez, 19-Amadou Dia, 5-Peter Ramage, 3-Kody Wakasa; 6-Miguel Timm (78’, 13-Eder Arreola), 4-Blair Gavin (46’, 14-Jason Johnson), 8-Matt Watson, 30-Eric Avila; 9-Omar Bravo (78’, 24-A.J. Gray), 11-Didier Drogba ©
Substitutions Not Used: 1-Carl Woszczynski, 17-Alessandro Riggi, 25-Matthew Hurlow-Paonessa, 34-Jordan Stewart
Sports360AZ
Drogba Working Behind the Scenes at World Cup for Rising FC
