PHOENIX – Arturo Rodriguez scored a second-half equalizer as Phoenix Rising FC played to a 1-1 draw against Tacoma Defiance at Wild Horse Pass on Saturday night to clinch the best record in the Western Conference ahead of the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs, presented by TwinSpires and eliminate the Defiance from postseason.

Needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Defiance opened the more aggressive of the two sides and in the 20th minute then went close to opening the scoring when Danny Leyva struck a first-time shot from the top of the penalty area just over the top-right corner of the net. A minute later, Leyva delivered a header from 10 yards out off a cross from the left by Carlos Anguiano that was saved by Andre Rawls, but on the half-hour mark the visitors took the lead when Samuel Adeniran was played in on the left side and saw his low cross deflect back toward him into the six-yard area, where he reacted quickly and tucked home a close-range finish.

Phoenix had a chance to respond five minutes later after Tacoma goalkeeper Christian Herrera tried to punch clear off a corner kick as Tate Schmitt delivered a low shot from 25 yards that took a deflection off a defender before Herrera kept it out. Early in the second half, Herrera was called on again to make a good low save to deny Phoenix’s Joey Farrell as he sent a strong downward header off a free kick by Jon Bakero.

A minute later Darren Mattocks was also kept out with a first-time shot after Rising FC turned possession over in Tacoma’s defensive third before Adeniran threatened to add a second for the visitors with a close-range shot off a cross from the left by Ray Serrano that Rawls clawed to safety.

The equalizer arrived for Rising FC with 20 minutes to go, however, as Rodriguez was deftly played in behind the Tacoma back line as he broke up the left channel and after moving into the penalty area the Mexican playmaker slipped his finish in at the near post.

Tacoma tried to regain the lead quickly, and five minutes later Juan Alvarez was denied by an outstanding one-on-one save by Rawls after he arrived unmarked in the penalty area to receive a cross by Serrano from the left, only for his shot to be smothered. Obed Vargas also had a big chance with four minutes remaining as his close-range shot off a cutback pass from the right by Issa Rayyan was also brilliantly denied. After one final chance for Adeniran was saved in second-half stoppage time, however, Phoenix had done enough to earn a draw as the side prepares now for its fifth consecutive postseason.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Arturo Rodriguez, Phoenix Rising FC – Coming on as a second-half substitute, Rodriguez provided the equalizer for the hosts and had two key passes while also completing 15 of 17 passes overall.

Scoring Summary
TAC – Samuel Adeniran 30’
PHX – Arturo Rodriguez (Jon Bakero) 70’

Full Box Score