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Matchday Report: Asante, Rising FC Pull Away from Los Dos

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 07/18/21, 12:33AM EDT

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Playmaker records one goal, three assists in 5-0 victory against Galaxy II

PHOENIX – Solomon Asante recorded one goal and three assists as Phoenix Rising FC pulled away after a slow start to a 5-0 victory against the LA Galaxy II on Saturday night at Wild Horse Pass, with David Egbo also notching a pair of goals after coming on as a second-half substitute.

Looking to extend its lead atop the Pacific Division, Phoenix came out firing early but didn’t quite have its bearings. Both Aodhan Quinn and Kevon Lambert had chances in the opening 10 minutes that didn’t find the target, while Solomon Asante rang the crossbar with a beautifully-struck free kick from just outside the penalty area in the 18th minute that the Galaxy II were able to hustle away to safety.

The first official shot on target, in fact, came from the Galaxy II as Carlos Harvey fired a long-range effort that was saved by Rising FC’s Ben Lundt in the 28th minute, but just past the half-hour mark the hosts took the lead. Quinn lined up a corner kick from the right that went to the back post where Joe Farrell headed back across goal for James Musa to head home into the right corner of the net.

Los Dos put the ball in the net seven minutes before halftime, but Preston Judd was ruled offside, and quickly after Rising FC took control of the game. Its second of the night came in the 40th minute as Phoenix turned over possession as the Galaxy II tried to play out of its own end, resulting in Rufat Dadashov gaining possession and moving into the left side of the penalty area to deliver a low cross to the back post where Asante was on hand to tap home.

The Galaxy II almost responded immediately as Judd got in behind the back line onside and drew Lundt off his line before circling back to deliver a cross for Remi Cabral that was blocked and cleared off the line by Farrell. Asante and Dadashov then switched roles for Phoenix’s third as a botched clearance attempt by a Galaxy II defender fell straight to the Ghanaian, who centered for Dadashov to put home a first-time finish.

Dadashov almost created another chance for the hosts 11 minutes into the second half as he dug out a cross from the left that gave Galaxy II goalkeeper Eric Lopez trouble before his defense cleared. Judd then tried to create for the Galaxy II as he wove into the right side of the penalty area but couldn’t keep his cross far enough from Lundt, who gathered at the near post.

Asante picked up his second assist of the night with 12 minutes to go as he was played into the right side in space and delivered a pin-point cross to the top of the six-yard area where David Egbo was on hand to add his name to the scoresheet, and in the 90th minute the duo put away the game as Asante produced a brilliant flick near the halfway line to send Egbo in alone on goal onside, and after he rounded the goalkeeper, Egbo finished into  the empty net to wrap up the victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Solomon Asante, Phoenix Rising FC – Asante became the third player this season to record at least one goal and three assists in a single game in the Championship with another stellar attacking display.

Scoring Summary
PHX
– James Musa (Joe Farrell) 33’
PHX – Solomon Asante (Rufat Dadashov) 40’
PHX – Rufat Dadashov (Solomon Asante) 45’
PHX – David Egbo (Solomon Asante) 78’
PHX – David Egbo (Solomon Asante) 90’

Full Box Score

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