Phoenix Rising FC secured its third victory of the season, while Memphis 901 FC edged past Hartford Athletic and Austin Bold FC rallied to a big home win against Energy FC to kick off the weekend’s Championship action.

PHOENIX – Adam Jahn scored a pair of first-half goals to lead Rising FC to victory against the Toros before a sellout crowd of 6,715 at Casino Arizona Field. Chances were limited early, but Phoenix took the lead in the 16th minute when Junior Flemmings’ cross from the right was met on the volley by Jahn for a perfectly-placed finish into the left corner of the net. Jahn then produced a second from the penalty spot after being brought down after breaking in behind the defense with a Panenka that left Toros goalkeeper Michael Nelson grasping. The Toros came out more brightly to start the second half and almost pulled a goal back as shots by Jesus Enriquez and Wilmer Cabrera Jr. forced back-to-back saves by Phoenix goalkeeper Zac Lubin before Michael Salazar sent the third chance wide from close range, but in the 69th minute James Musa added a third for the hosts with a long-range strike after a corner kick that picked out the bottom-right corner. RGVFC responded immediately as Maalique Foster put home the rebound after Enriquez’s initial shot was deflected and bobbled in the penalty area, but Rising FC saw out the victory comfortably to move into the Western Conference playoff positions.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Adam Jahn, Phoenix Rising FC – Jahn produced two high-quality finishes, including a cheeky Panenka from the penalty spot, to send Rising FC to victory.

AUSTIN, Texas – Bold FC rallied from a halftime deficit to claim victory against Energy FC at Bold Stadium. Energy FC had the first good look on goal when Mekeil Williams’ strike from 25 yards was tipped over the crossbar by Bold FC goalkeeper Juan David Ramirez, and the visitors went close again when Atiba Harris headed just wide off a corner kick. OKC’s Cordell Cato almost stole in for a chance in the 18th minute only for Ramirez to make a good one-on-one stop, but 10 minutes later Energy FC took the lead as Omar Gordon eluded a defender on the right and delivered a low cross that Deshorn Brown tucked home for his sixth goal of the season. Austin’s best chance of the first half came in stoppage time when a long-range strike by Sonny Guadarrama was pushed over the bar by Energy FC goalkeeper Cody Laurendi, but the introduction of Kris Tyrpak as a second-half substitute had an immediate impact as he set up Valerii Saramutin for the equalizer in the 61st minute. Energy FC almost responded five minutes later but Cato was unable to slide a finish past Ramirez after a good through-ball by Rafael Garcia, and Austin narrowly missed out on a second goal on a chipped effort by Andre Lima that came off the crossbar but didn’t cross the line before Energy FC was able to clear. The hosts went ahead with 10 minutes to go, however, as Energy FC was whistled for a handball in the penalty area and Kleber’s low shot to the right corner converted the opportunity from the spot as Laurendi went the wrong way. Energy FC pushed late to earn a point, and Austin needed a crucial clearance from defender Amobi Okugo to keep out a chance for Atiba Harris. Brown also lifted a turning shot over the crossbar a minute later, but the hosts held firm defensively to close out the victory to secure their first comeback win of the season.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Kris Tyrpak, Austin Bold FC – Tyrpak produced an assist a minute after coming on as a substitute and swung the game Austin’s way as they rallied for all three points.

HARTFORD, Conn. – Memphis earned victory on the road at Rentschler Field as Elliot Collier’s second-half goal downed Hartford at Rentschler Field. Memphis almost took the lead in the 22nd minute when Jochen Graf’s initial shot to the bottom-left corner was saved by Hartford goalkeeper Jacob Lissek before Adam Najem rang the rebound off the outside the post, but two minutes later the visitors struck as Duane Muckette tucked home a near-post finish off a cross from the left by Abdi Mohamed. The Athletic hit back in the 31st minute, however, as a good give-and-go with Alex Dixon opened up a chance for Raymond Lee, who fired into the top-right corner for his first professional goal. Memphis twice threatened to regain the lead late in the first half as Tristan Hodge and Collier were both denied by Lissek, and early in the second half Hartford’s Sebastian Dalgaard hit a curling shot just off-target as he took aim for the top-left corner, but with 20 minutes to go 901 FC went back on top as Collier’s initial header was denied by Lissek, only for the New Zealand international to stay with the play and poke home the rebound. The hosts almost equalized again late, a shot by Sem de Wit flashing just over the crossbar, but Memphis withstood the late pressure to come away with all three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Elliot Collier, Memphis 901 FC – Collier put in a solid shift leading the Memphis line and was rewarded with his second goal of the season that earned the visitors all three points.