LA Galaxy II (10-9-9, 39 points) were defeated 4-1 by Phoenix Rising FC (22-3-5, 71 points) on Saturday night at Casino Arizona Field in Scottsdale.
Late in the game, the match was abandoned due to player safety. After Phoenix Rising FC’s final goal in the 77th minute, an object was thrown onto the field by a fan. The referees decided to suspend the match and asked both teams to exit the field.
As both clubs were walking back to the locker rooms, another fan threw an object onto the field, hitting an LA Galaxy II player. After reviewing the situation, the referees elected to abandon the match. Per USL rules, a team that has a three or more goal lead after 70 minutes of play is determined the winner, should the match be suspended for any reason.
The 4-1 scoreline was good for Phoenix Rising FC’s 20th straight win of the season.
As for the match, Phoenix Rising FC’s first 15 minutes were the perfect start to the match for the home side. In the 8th minute, Carlos Harvey was whistled for bringing down a Phoenix player in the box on an attempted free kick. Eric Lopez guessed right on the penalty attempt, but Solomon Asante snuck it past Lopez for the opening goal. Five minutes after Asante’s goal, Junior Flemmings added another for the home team, on a shot from outside the box.
Phoenix would add another just before the end of the half, as Junior Flemmings tallied a second. The goal secured the regular-season USL Championship goal scoring record for Phoenix Rising FC at 76.
Phoenix maintained control of the match following their 3-0 halftime lead. Kai Koreniuk was able to pull one back for Los Dos in the 76th minute, but Phoenix regained their three-goal advantage just a minute later on a tally from Ben Spencer.
Scoring Summary:
PHX – Solomon Asante 10’ (penalty)
PHX – Junior Flemmings 15’ (Assisted by Peter-Lee Vassell)
PHX – Junior Flemmings 45’ (Assisted by Solomon Asante)
LA – Kai Koreniuk 76’
PHX – Ben Spencer 77’
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Carlos Harvey 8’
PHX – Kevon Lambert 18’
PHX – A.J. Cochran 27’
LA – Kai Koreniuk 51’
LA – Jose Hernandez 62’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy II: Eric Lopez; Nate Shultz, Justin Fiddes, Tomas Hilliard-Arce, Nick DePuy; Carlos Harvey, Geoffrey Acheampong (Jorge Hernandez HT), Jose Hernandez; Augustine Williams, Don Tchilao (Ethan Zubak HT), Kai Koreniuk.
Substitutions not used: Abraham Romero, John Requejo, Abdallah Shaibu, Ivan Gutierrez.
Head Coach: Junior Gonzalez
TOTAL SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: ; OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 2.
Phoenix Rising FC: Zach Lubin; Mustapha Dumbuya (Joseph Farrell 67’), Amadou Dia, Corey Whelan, A.J. Cochran; James Musa, Kevon Lambert, Peter-Lee Vassell; Adam Jahn (Ben Spencer 77’), Solomon Asante, Junior Flemmings
Substitutions not used: Carl Woszczynski; Kyle Bjornethun, Jose Aguinaga, Joey Calistri, Jason Johson.
Head Coach: Rick Schantz
TOTAL SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 15; OFFSIDE: 5; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 1.
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
Attendance: 6,647
NOTES:
- LA Galaxy II (10-9-9, 39 points) were defeated 4-1 by the best team in the USL Championship, Phoenix Rising FC (22-3-5, 71 points), on Saturday night at Casino Arizona Field in Scottsdale.
- Kai Koreniuk scored his 8th goal of the season.
- LA Galaxy II are 5-5-4 on the road in 2019.
- LA Galaxy II finished the 2018 USL season with a 7-6-4 home record and a 3-11-3 away record.
- Next up, LA Galaxy II are back home to take on San Antonio FC at 7:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Sept. 20 at Dignity Health Sports Park Track & Field Stadium.
- For more information, visit www.lagalaxy.com/2.
