RENO, Nev. – Corey Hertzog scored the winner with 11 minutes to go as Reno 1868 FC took a 2-1 victory against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday night at Greater Nevada Field. The win moved Group A leader Reno ahead on points of Group B leader Phoenix in the overall Western Conference picture.

Following the opening minutes of the contest, between 7:00 and 8:46 of the match, players from both sides came together at the center circle, united against racism, and in support of equality, diversity and compassion.

In the game, Phoenix had the first good look at goal in the 11th minute as a free kick by Solomon Asante 20 yards from goal was punched clear by Reno goalkeeper Ben Beaury before it could find the left corner of the net. The visitors also got a big chance seven minutes later when Reno’s Brent Richards misplayed a pass that gave Santi Moar space on the left, but after turning for a good look on goal his left-footed shot went well wide of the far post.

Jamaican international Kevon Lambert was the next to go close for the visitors in the 31st minute as his header off a corner from the right by Asante went off the crossbar, but that would be as close as either side came to breaking the deadlock before the halftime break.

Phoenix had another good chance early in the second half as a quick counterattack by Joey Calistri, which began when he was released into space on the right by goalkeeper Zac Lubin, resulted in a near-post finish from the right side of the penalty area that was turned wide by Beaury.

Reno took the lead in the 62nd minute, however, as Sergio Rivas sent Hertzog into space on the right side of the penalty area, and Hertzog’s low cross to the near post was met by a first-time finish by Foster Langsdorf that gave 1868 FC the edge. The two tried to connect again four minutes later, but this time Langsdorf’s header from Hertzog’s lifted cross from the right went well wide of the left post.

Having absorbed the opener, Phoenix got back on the front foot in search of an equalizer. It arrived in the 77th minute as Lambert seized on a loose pass into the middle of the field and quickly fed Rufat Dadashov, who controlled with his first touch and then fired home a finish to the left corner of the net to level the score.

The teams weren’t even for long, though, as two minutes later Hertzog charged down a pass from a Phoenix defender and broke forward on the right. The lone man forward, Hertzog feinted to shoot and cut inside onto his left foot, leaving the covering defender behind, and found the top-left corner of the net to put Reno back in front.

The hosts almost added a third in second-half stoppage time that would have put the game away for sure as Jesus Enriquez slid his finish wide of the left post after good work by Aidan Apodaca to set up the chance, but after Beaury made one final save on a shot by Jack Barmby from the top of the penalty area, Reno held on for a notable intergroup victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Corey Hertzog, Reno 1868 FC – Hertzog had a goal and assist, and recorded four shots and three key passes overall while completing 28 of 36 passes throughout the contest overall.