For the second week in a row, Phoenix Rising came back from a 2-0 deficit at half-time to rescue a point.

Visitors Loudoun United took the lead early through a Florian Valot goal, before Ben Mines doubled their advantage in the ninth minute of first half stoppage time. However, a late own goal coupled with a Carl Sainté header gave Rising their share of the spoils come the end of the night.

“We allowed ourselves to get punched in the face”

After a poor first half showing in Sacramento last week, Phoenix Rising would have hoped to look better before the break on their return home to face Loudoun.

They did not.

“Very poor first half,” Rising coach Pa-Modou Kah said. “We got punched in the face, and we allowed ourselves to get punched in the face.”

Within ten minutes, Florian Valot had made Rising pay off a cross from Ben Mines.

From there, the hosts possessed their fair share of the ball, but did very little with it. Phoenix took six shots in the first half, but failed to make Loudoun keeper Hugo Faroux make a single save.

“We looked like we were a little bit out of sync, that we were very much out of sync,” Kah said. “We were not sharp.”

In the end, Loudoun doubled their advantage in the ninth minute of stoppage time, after referee Rodrigo Albuquerque had previously indicated only three minutes would be added to the period. Mines found the back of the net with nearly the last kick of the half.

“I don’t think that is the reason that we conceded,” Kah said. “We conceded because we didn’t take a good set piece. That’s it. That was on us.”

Phoenix Rising comes back… again

In a scene similar to last week, Phoenix Rising once again found a way to come back and rescue a point.

Both Collin Smith and Rafael Czichos were replaced at the break due to minutes restrictions, while Noble Okello made way for Xian Emmers just minutes into the second half.

“We needed somebody more dynamic, somebody that was good at dribbling, and somebody that could take spaces,” Rising coach Pa-Modou Kah said. “Xian does that very well, so that was one of the reasons behind it.”

Charlie Dennis and Emil Cuello would also make second half appearances, but it was an own goal from Yanis Leerman that gave the hosts their breakthrough.

Shortly after the clock hit 100, Carl Sainté’s header found the back of the net with a header to claim Phoenix’s share of the spoils.

“It takes strength [to come back],” Kah said. “It takes mentality. It takes belief. They show it, but I know that there’s so much more in this group.”

Dropped points around the league

Despite dropping points at home, Phoenix Rising remained in seventh position in the Western Conference standings.

A 2-0 victory for Sacramento Republic ensured that Colorado Springs remained in the final playoff place, while San Antonio’s victory over Orange County kept the ninth-placed side from gaining any ground.

Elsewhere, El Paso Locomotive fell 2-0 at home against Charleston Battery, while Oakland let a 1-0 lead slip in a home draw against conference-leading FC Tulsa. New Mexico United came back to rescue a point in their match against Monterey Bay.

The results overall mean that Rising now sits three points above the playoff line, while also sitting three points behind the top four and a potential home playoff match.

Owain’s Take

Phoenix Rising’s coach summed it up after the match.

“This is a point that you take because you did not lose,” Kah said. “You fought. You did not lose.

“But we can’t be satisfied. I’m not satisfied. I know the club is not satisfied. The coaching staff isn’t satisfied. The players are not satisfied. We have to do better, and be better.”

The unbeaten run may well be extended. The club ultimately avoided losing. But there’s still an air of frustration coming off of that match because… well, this club didn’t need to dig itself a hole in the first place, did it?

The thing that frustrates more than anything is that we do see the moments of quality from this squad. Save for once or twice this season, we just don’t see them turn that into a complete match performance.

I’m not sure if Phoenix Rising entirely deserved a point out of this match, but realistically, it doesn’t matter. They got one, and as the season draws to its conclusion, that’s all that matters. Come playoff time, we’ll care more about actual victories than moral ones, and things aren’t that different right now.

Anyway, if there was a game on this three-week home stretch to drop points, it was this one. Dropping points to Oakland could open the door to them sneaking back into the playoff race themselves. Dropping points to New Mexico would further open the gulf between Phoenix and the top of the table. Loudoun? Well, points gained for an Eastern Conference side don’t really hurt as much.

Still, it’s frustrating to fail once again to put together a 90 minute performance, and when you look around the league at results elsewhere, it’s especially so. Phoenix Rising could have moved five points clear of the playoff line and comfortably into contention for the top four with a win against Loudoun.

But they didn’t. They’re still not out of contention by any stretch, but they can’t quite seem to pull into that next gear that’s needed. In fairness, that also applies to quite a few other clubs at this point, too.

Will they work it out? Well, it’s hard to tell. But the time is ticking on this club’s chance to secure a home playoff match for the first time since 2021.

And performances like this one against Loudoun? They’ll get you into the playoffs, but you’d better prepare for it to be on the road.

Top image: Phoenix Rising FC