This game kicks off a three game series of Rising facing east coast teams. Rising (1-1-4 7 points) welcomes east coast opponent Loudoun United (3-2-1 10 points). Loudoun is currently sitting in 4th place in the eastern conference while Rising is in 8th place in the western conference. In the last week Rising drew San Antonio 1-1 in league play and lost to New Mexico 2-1 in the open cup. While Loudoun defeated Oakland 2-0 in league play and defeated flower city 5-0 in the open cup.
Rising has seen red cards in both of their last two games. Showing signs of an undisciplined team, yet again, reminiscent of years past where they had multiple games in a row involving red cards. Statistically speaking, Rising was out played in every aspect of the San Antonio game. San Antonio had 9 shots on target while Rising had 2, San Antonio possessed the ball 57% of the time while Rising possessed it 43%. Things were a little more even in the open cup match where Rising and New Mexico had 4 shots on target. Rising possessed the ball 54% and San Antonio 46%. Rising looked extremely sloppy in the first half of the New Mexico game and left a lot to be desired as they looked like a team who couldn't attack and were slow on and off the ball. In the second half rising fought back and were able to score a man down and played better soccer but ultimately the efforts fell short as New Mexico scored late to advance. After the open cup game Juan had this to say:
It's a wake up call. And today I'm really bothered. We have to keep moving forward, we have an important game on Saturday and I'm going to push, challenge and demand of the guys cause tonight was not good enough.
Throughout the year we have heard the echos of Juan informing everyone that "This is a process". And these statements were also repeated by multiple people on social media. Until after the New Mexico game where frustration began to come out and it seems patience is wearing thin with the team yet again.
Juan again echoed the same statements on Friday at the press availability about this being a process. He said:
We all need to understand this is a process and is part of the building process... sometimes the team is going to look very good there's another week the team isn't going to look as good and that's part of the process until we find that consistency. Consistency comes from a lot of games playing together. Let's not forget guys we have a new team of 18 new players. It's going to come after a lot of games.
This is an interesting quote as on face value it seems Juan is saying the team will get to the point of playing that we all know and love of Phoenix, but he hides in there that it will take "a lot of games". What is "a lot of games"? Will these games come and the team start clicking after it's too late and we miss the playoffs again? I know, still early in the season to be asking these questions, but it's one of those things that makes you go hmmmm. Juan is leaving plausible deniability in his statements just in case his plan doesn't work and we miss the playoffs again.
Come out to watch the team again in Arizona! Kickoff is at 7:30PM.
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