SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Playing their final match of the 2017 USL regular season, T2 fell 4-1 on the road to Phoenix Rising FC in front of 6,711 fans at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex Saturday night.
Phoenix Rising FC (17-8-7, 58pts) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Kevon Lambert’s low drive from 35 yards out beat T2 goalkeeper Wade Hamilton in the fourth minute, before Chris Cortez volleyed Didier’s Drogba’s cross into the top-left corner of the net in the 13th minute.
T2 (3-23-6, 15pts) scored their lone goal of the match in the 60th minute when defender Harold Hanson out-dueled his defender along the touchline before delivering a low cross into the six-yard box for Augustine Williams to tap in from close range. The goal marked Williams’ third of 2017, while Hanson registered an assist for the second straight match.
Phoenix added a third goal in the 56th minute when Drogba made a mazy run inside the box, placing his right-footed attempt into the lower corner of the net. Matthew Watson made it a 4-1 score line when his low effort from the center of the box was placed past Hamilton in the 74th minute.
Searching for a goal in the first half, T2 midfielder Max Ornstil’s long-range effort was fired wide of the target in the eighth minute. Joining in on the attack, defender Rennico Clarke struck a shot from distance in the 29th minute, missing to the left of the post. Later in the half, midfielder Omar Mohamed’s free-kick delivery picked out midfielder Russell Cicerone, whose strong header was directed just wide past the near post in the 42nd minute.
After midfielder Renzo Zambrano’s cross into the center of the box found Clarke, his strong header forced Phoenix goalkeeper Josh Cohen into a save in the 77th minute. In stoppage time, Hanson’s left-footed strike from the top of the 18-yard was caught by Cohen.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 head coach Andrew Gregor
On tonight’s result…
“It’s a disappointing result, considering the road trip that we were on. We didn’t start well and we gave the ball away in bad areas. A very experienced team caused us problems. When you go down 2-0, that quickly early in the game, it’s really difficult to get back into it, especially against an experienced team.”
On the performance from defender Harold Hanson…
“With Harold, we always know he has the ability going forward. He’s comfortable in the attack and he’s comfortable joining on and running at players. He’s still growing as a defender, and learning the position and learning how to manage situations. That’s going to be a continuation of his development. You saw tonight his drive, his technical ability, his desire to get the ball in a dangerous area on the goal and it was very well done by him.”
T2 (3-23-6, 15pts) vs. Phoenix Rising FC (17-8-7, 58pts)
Oct. 14, 2017 – Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex (Scottsdale, AZ)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 0 1 1
Phoenix Rising FC 2 2 4
Scoring Summary
PHX: Lambert (Riggi), 4
PHX: Cortez (Drogba), 13
PHX: Drogba (Cortez), 56
POR: Williams (Hanson), 60
PHX: Watson, 75
Misconduct Summary
POR: Zambrano (Caution), 63
PHX: Lambert (Caution), 72
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Hamilton, D Hanson, D Tuiloma ©, D Clarke, D Farfan (Bjornethun, 75), M Ornstil, M Zambrano, M Cicerone, M Calixtro (Lowe, 80), M Mohamed (Jimenez 78), F Williams
Substitutes Not Used: GK Herrera, D Amick
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Williams, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 12 (Farfan, 4); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3
PHX: GK Cohen, D Wakasa, D Mala, D Stewart, M Lambert, M Hamilton (Watson, 61), M Dia, M Riggi (Gray, 46), F Johnson, F Cortez (Awako, 65), F Drogba
Substitutes Not Used: GK Woszczynski, D Ramage, D Vasquez, M Avila
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Drogba, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Drogba, 4); FOULS: 17 (Dia, Lambert, 4); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2
Referee: Robi Hullner
Assistant Referees: Mario Cross, Todd Woodhull
4th Official: Bennett Savage
Attendance: 6,711
Weather: Clear, 76 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
