Phoenix Rising extended its winning streak to three on Wednesday night at Cashman Field, defeating Las Vegas Lights 1-0. Noble Okello’s first half header proved the only goal of the match, while Patrick Rakovsky made a stoppage time penalty save to secure all three points for Rising.

Set piece success for Noble Okello

Noble Okello may be six-foot-five, but for most of the season, the midfielder hasn’t quite been the threat from set-pieces that some may have hoped for.

At Cashman Field, though, his flicked header off Hope Avayevu‘s free kick delivery was the difference maker. It marked a first goal for the midfielder since the second match of the season, which also came from a header on a set piece.

Ultimately, Okello’s goal would be the only shot on target for Phoenix Rising, as well as the difference maker in the match.

Weathering the storm, plus a patrick rakovsky spot-kick stop

Las Vegas Lights may not be a team known for playing possession football this season, but they did enjoy the bulk of it against Phoenix Rising in Cashman Field.

Throughout the second half, Lights attempted 14 shots, compared to just two for the visitors.

That being said, only five of Lights’ 14 shots took place from inside the penalty area, and just four of them forced a save out of Rising goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky.

The hosts may have thought their efforts had eventually paid off in stoppage time, as Nighte Pickering was adjudged to have been fouled in the Phoenix penalty area, and referee Matt Thompson pointed to the spot.

But, 2 minutes and 10 seconds after it had been awarded, Valentin Nöel’s effort from 12 yards out proved too tame to get past Rakovsky, whose penalty save helped Rising hang on for the full three points.

“(Rakovsky) has been in amazing form ever since we started the season,” midfielder Noble Okello said after the match. “He deserved it again and we thank him for saving us once again. We appreciate what he does for this team.”

Fitness still an issue

One day, Phoenix Rising may have a full squad available for selection. A Wednesday night in Cashman Field was not that day.

Heading into the clash with Las Vegas Lights, Rising had added Carl Sainté and Damian Rivera to its list of unavailable players, while Harvey Neville remained nowhere to be seen despite an empty place available on the substitute’s bench.

As the game approached half-time, Rising found a way to add to their fitness worries. Forward Rémi Cabral went down after some contact, and after receiving treatment, looked to struggle as he tried to put weight on the affected leg. Cabral would be replaced by Darius Johnson, and it remains uncertain the extent to which this injury could rule him out in future weeks.

Owain’s take

“Sometimes, it’s good to win ugly.”

Those were the words of Pa-Modou Kah after his side pulled off a 1-0 win away from home in Vegas, and frankly… it’s hard to disagree.

Phoenix Rising’s 1-0 victory over Las Vegas Lights was not a match that was easy on the eye. The fact that much of the second half felt as though only one team was going to score, even if Rising mostly prevented them from creating too many difficult chances.

But ugly wins on the road are a critical part of stringing together a successful season, and Kah’s side looks to finally be putting their early slump behind them.

Notably, Rising has also been unbeaten in the league since Patrick Rakovsky re-took over the reins as first choice goalkeeper, and it was his late penalty save that saved the victory for the visitors. Finally, given a run of consecutive games, we’re starting to see the German keeper get back to the form that he’s shown in the best moments of his spell in USL Championship.

That unbeaten stretch now has reached five matches in the league, and the club has won three regular season games in a row for the first time since September 2023.

Facing 20 shots, the most that Vegas has taken all season, and a stoppage time penalty kick, the odds felt as though they were firmly against Rising coming away with the full share of the spoils.

Still, with a dogged performance, a bit of luck along the way, and a moment of magic from their man between the posts, Phoenix walked into Cashman Field on Wednesday night and proved that the house doesn’t always win.

Top image: Phoenix Rising FC