Today Phoenix Rising kicked off the 2023 USL Championship Season, with a new Manager and almost a complete new roster but for the first 74 minutes they looked a lot like the Rising team that struggled all last season.
Phoenix was outplayed for much of the game, but they were able to earn a point on the road to start the season.
Rising struggled to play out of the back under a press from Charleston for most of the night. Charleston was putting good pressure on and getting the better of the play. The Battery got a few chanches starting in the 26th minute when Augustine Williams took a free kick but it was covered well by Rising keeper Rocco Rios Novo. Fred Varela got thru the Battery back line with a chip over the top that found Emil Cuello who tried to go around Trey Muse but the keeper got his hand out and was able to knock the pass away, Muse followed that up by getting his body in front of a shot from Manuel Arteaga. The first half ended with a 0-0 score.
The second half brought back more memories of the 22 season Phoenix looked lackluster and looked like they were just going thru the motions. Phoenix was giving the ball away more then they were completing passes.
In the 60th minute Charleston was able to break the scoreless tie and pull ahead 1-0. It looked like Rising would leave the East Coast with zero points and questions if they were any better then last year.
In the 67th minute Gabri Torres came off the bench and just seven minutes later he added the spark that Rising needed. Torres found Danny Trejo with a perfect pass across the top of the 6 yard box and Trejo finished it beautifully to give him his first goal of hopefully many this season!!
Phoenix seemed to come alive at that point and started to take over the play. 17 year old Barcelona Academy player Efetobo Aror who was signed on Friday came on to make his professional debut to close out the game. It was good to see young players getting the opportunity to take the field.
Rising continues on the road next week in San Diego it will be a good challenge this early in the season. They still have lots to work on and improve but it will be interesting to see what they have learned from tonight's match
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