PHOENIX – An unbeaten streak of five and a recent USL Jägermeister Cup win on penalty kicks have Phoenix Rising FC feeling confident as it heads into Saturday night’s match against Orange County SC at Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium.
“I think we have the quality to beat everyone in this league,” said goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky, who stopped three straight penalty kicks Saturday in a 3-3 Cup battle with New Mexico United. “We would like to get it done in regular time, but if it takes penalties, then I need to be that guy.”
Games in the USL Jägermeister Cup, an in-season tournament competition, are played sporadically throughout the season and intertwined with Championship play. The Rising sit fifth in the Western Conference with four wins, three draws and four losses, but that goes out the window during the Cup.
“We’re happy with our unbeaten streak of five games now,” Rising coach Pa-Modou Kah said. “A ton of things to fix, but after losing the first game of the USL Cup, we will take the point.”
The Cup separates teams into six groups, based on geographical regions, with a combination of USL League One and the USL Championship.
“It’s a new season for us in a way,” forward Jearl Margaritha said. “The goal is to win the double, and with our current form, I certainly believe that is possible.”
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No bonus is given to the team that wins the tournament, but in March, a supermajority of club owners voted to implement a promotion and relegation system.
The Rising, after two matchdays, sit in fourth place in their group with two points and fifth in the league.
After a rocky start, they seem to be trending in the right direction, as they have gone four matches unbeaten. This contrasts with the slow start the squad experienced at the beginning of the campaign.
Saturday saw a complete scoring outburst with three goals, which is a rarity for the club. Only one other game this season saw them score more than three goals, which resulted in a 4-4 draw against El Paso.
Offensively, the Rising look to build on the hot streak that attacking midfielder Hope Avayevu has been on. Avayevu tallied an assist – his team-leading fourth – and has recorded three goals as well, tied for the most on the team.
“The midfield has been better recently for us,” Kah said. “It’s been a collaborative effort, and it starts with Hope being able to facilitate well and get the ball in threatening areas.”
Getting crucial points in a draw against New Mexico, a team that is not only in their group but also at the top of the West, will give them an important tiebreaker in Cup play. Only Colorado Springs Switchbacks and San Antonio FC sit ahead of them.
While a double is at the top of the list for the Rising, they have much more work to do in group stage play, as only the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage.
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