Phoenix Rising FC faced off against North Carolina FC in a thrilling Round of 32 US Open Cup match on May 8, 2024, at WakeMed Soccer Park. The match ended in a dramatic 2-1 victory for Phoenix Rising, after a late goal from Giulio Doratiotto in extra time, following a game filled with red cards and intense moments.
The match began with a bang as Juan Carlos Azocar opened the scoring for Phoenix Rising in the 9th minute. However, the first half took a dramatic turn when Laurence Wyke was shown a second yellow card in the 24th minute for a dangerous challenge, reducing Phoenix Rising to 10 men. Despite this setback, the first half ended with both teams having a player sent off, as Paco Craig with North Carolina FC was shown his second yellow in the 40th minute.
The second half was characterized by Phoenix Rising regaining control of the match, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances. However, the game took another unexpected turn when Justin Malou equalized for North Carolina FC in the 80th minute, forcing the match into extra time.
Extra time saw even more drama as Ezra Armstrong was shown a second yellow card in the 94th minute, leaving North Carolina FC with only 9 players on the pitch. As the game seemed destined for penalties, Giulio Doratiotto stepped up in the 112th minute to score the winning goal for Phoenix Rising, sending them through to the next round of the US Open Cup.
The match was a rollercoaster ride, with both teams showing resilience with the numerous red cards. Phoenix Rising will now face either the Seattle Sounders or Louisville in the next round, with their eyes set on progressing even further in the tournament.
As Phoenix Rising prepares for their next league match against Detroit on May 11 this victory will undoubtedly serve as a morale boost for the team as they look to continue their successful run in the US Open Cup.
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