For Phoenix Fans, Playoffs Are One More Step Towards Greatness

Surely this must be a dream. Just one year after Arizona United SC finished a third campaign outside the playoff picture, in front of a smallish crowd of die-hards in distant Peoria, the local boys – now aptly named Phoenix Rising FC – enter the USL Cup Playoffs in fifth position in the Western Conference, […]

Drogba Drops Galaxy II; Orange County SC Grab Draw At The Death

USL is now in the business end of the season, with teams fighting to get into the playoff reckoning or jockeying for position in the Top 8. LA Galaxy II were on a four-game unbeaten streak heading into Saturday’s game at home against Phoenix Rising FC. Then Didier Drogba happened. The 39-year-old legend torched Galaxy […]

Tough Call: San Antonio FC 1, Phoenix Rising FC 0

No one expected a shootout in the desert tonight, so you can’t call it a disappointment from that respect. However, a controversial call went the way of the visitors, and Phoenix Rising FC was dealt a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to San Antonio FC. SAFC midfielder Rafa Castillo buried an 85th-minute penalty to seal the result. […]

Rising in the Rain: Phoenix 2, Colorado Springs 1

With the monsoon rains falling and the lightning threatening in the distance, Phoenix Rising FC pulled a Rocky Mountain-sized monkey off its back, recording a 2-1 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. The win was the first ever for Phoenix against its Colorado rival. Halftime substitute Jason Johnson was the hero for the Firebirds, recording […]

LA Galaxy II Win, Orange County SC Settle For Draw in USL Play

Bouncing back from a 9-0 loss, the largest in your league’s history, is never an easy task, but LA Galaxy II had a good bounce-back opponent on Sunday in the Portland Timbers 2. T2, the only team with a worse record than LA in the USL Western Conference, proved to be just what the doctor […]

Orange County SC Train With Superstar Honda As Drogba Comes To Town

Orange County SC have the limelight this week in a way they haven’t for a very long time, as two international superstars are in town. First, news broke on Monday that Japanese international Keisuke Honda trained with the USL side this week. Honda, currently out of contract after his deal with AC Milan ended, was […]

Phoenix Rising FC earns first clean sheet, draws Reno 0-0

In a match hotly anticipated by both sides, Phoenix Rising FC and Reno 1868 FC played to an exciting 0-0 draw in front of a good crowd at Greater Nevada Field. Phoenix was surely interested in some revenge for a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Reno in April, and fans of 1868 were out […]

Bravo gets his first, Phoenix Rising FC and Real Monarchs draw 1-1

Despite oppressive heat in Scottsdale, Ariz. Saturday night, both Real Monarchs SLC and Phoenix Rising FC put on an impressive and fast-paced performance, drawing 1-1 in front of 6,365.  The Monarchs saw their league-best nine-game winning streak come to an end, as Phoenix has now been unbeaten in three matches since the debut of Didier […]

3 Things: Tony DiCicco Passes, Drogba And Marta Make An Impact

It’s been another busy weekend in American soccer, and it’s impossible to catch everything. What are the big things to know? We’ve got three things for you. Legendary coach DiCicco dies Sad news to start things off, as legendary soccer coach Tony DiCicco passed away, as announced by his son Anthony on Twitter Tuesday morning: […]

Drawn Together: Phoenix and Swope Park share the spoils in frustrating affair

Looking to string together consecutive wins for only the second time this season, Phoenix Rising FC had to settle for a draw, finishing 2-2 with Swope Park Rangers at Children’s Mercy Victory Field in Kansas City. In Didier Drogba’s second match for Phoenix, and first on the road, Rising FC had rare opportunities to score, […]

Phoenix Downs Vancouver 2-1, in Strong Drogba Debut

The stars were out in Scottsdale, AZ on Saturday night, as goals from Didier Drogba and Shaun Wright-Phillips propelled Phoenix Rising FC to a 2-1 victory over visiting Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2. It was the debut for Drogba and new head coach Patrice Carteron. With the anticipation of Drogba’s debut growing to a fever pitch […]

A Tall Task: Phoenix Rising visits Undefeated San Antonio FC

Fresh off a convincing US Open Cup Second-Round victory at PDL side Fresno Fuego, Phoenix Rising FC travels now to undefeated, USL-leading San Antonio FC. The task waiting in the Alamo City was already as tall as Texas cotton, but with the recent loss of integral starters Luke Rooney and Alessandro Riggi to injury, Phoenix […]

Phoenix Rising vs OKC Energy preview: A Rivalry Renewed

This should be fun. One of the few organic rivalries to develop in the modern USL will write a new chapter on Saturday night, when OKC Energy FC visits Phoenix Rising FC. The clubs have a unique history that dates back to then-Arizona United’s inaugural match in 2014, both teams’ first USL season. OKC left […]

Wrong Side of History: Phoenix falls 4-0 in Reno’s first-ever win

As expected, there was no sign of Didier Drogba in the Phoenix Rising FC lineup, and unfortunately for the hosts, the game’s biggest star wore the uniform of Reno 1868 FC, as Phoenix fell to the visitors 4-0. Reno’s win was the first in club history. The home side got off to a disastrous start, […]

Phoenix Rising aims to defend winning streak against hungry Reno side

As Phoenix Rising FC (2-2-0) look ahead to Saturday night’s visit from Reno 1868 FC (0-3-2), two main plots stick out. First (and foremost, if we’re honest): Will Didier Drogba play? According to Phoenix interim Head Coach Rick Schantz in an interview with Firebird Rising’s Jeff Wendt, “Most likely he won’t see the team this […]