PHOENIX – Santi Moar and Arturo Rodriguez each found the net as Phoenix Rising FC rallied to take a 2-1 victory against Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City on Saturday evening at Wild Horse Pass.

Both teams had early chances, with Rising FC goalkeeper Ben Lundt making an outstanding, point-blank save on SKC’s Khiry Shelton at one end of the pitch before newly acquired Phoenix forward Claudio Repetto set up Luis Seijas for a shot that went high at the near post. SKC took the lead in the 12th minute, however, when Daniel Salloi latched onto a good through-ball by Logan Ndenbe in the left channel and finished clinically into the bottom-right corner.

Rising FC responded just before the half-hour mark when Repetto unlocked the Sporting defense with a lifted header into space that found Darnell King breaking in behind the defensive line. King controlled the pass in stride and was in on goal before slotting a pass to the back post for Moar to finish with a sliding effort.

Rising FC newcomer Channing Chasten nearly gave Rising FC a 2-1 lead in the 72nd minute as he broke onto a ball played in behind Kansas City’s backline. Chasten timed his run perfectly, brought the ball down with a defender on his back but his shot to the near post was denied but a good save from Sporting goalkeeper John Pulskamp. The former Ohio State standout produced the chance that led to Rising FC’s winner seven minutes later, however, as he again found space on the right and delivered a cross that was blocked by the arm of an SKC defender. The referee pointed to the spot and Rodriguez stepped up to send Pulskamp the wrong direction, shooting to the right corner to put Phoenix ahead.

Sporting’s Jayvin Van Deventer nearly tied the match moments later with a long-range effort but Lalo Delgado make an outstanding save, diving backwards to slap the chance over the bar and preserve the lead as Rising FC claimed a solid preseason victory.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 1, SAN DIEGO LOYAL SC 0: Giovanni Aguilar’s goal with six minutes remaining spoiled SD Loyal’s return to Torero Stadium on Saturday night as Major League Soccer’s Whitecaps took a late victory in a preseason exhibition.   

Both teams sent out strong starting lineups to open the game, and the contest proved tightly fought over the opening hour until both sides shifted lineups around the hour-mark. The game was decided in the 84th minute, however, as Vancouver’s Aguilar – a former Sacramento Republic FC Academy standout selected by Whitecaps FC in the 2022 Major League Soccer SuperDraft – found the net for the only goal.

FC DALLAS 6, SAN ANTONIO FC 0: United States Men’s National Team forward Jesus Ferreira notched a hat trick as Dallas took the lead early and never looked back at Toyota Stadium against San Antonio.

Jáder Obrian opened the scoring for Dallas in the fourth minute after Ferreira latched on to Paul Arriola’s through-ball down the wing. The USMNT forward sent a low cross for Obrian to tap home. Dallas doubled the lead in similar fashion two minutes later when Arriola broke free behind San Antonio’s backline and found Obrian’s back-post run with a cross that the Colombian tucked home

Paxton Pomykal earned a penalty in the 17th minute, allowing Ferreira, to convert from the spot before adding his second of the match in the 29th minute from close range. Four minutes later, Ferreira completed his first-half hat trick with a volley from the edge of the box after Pomykal’s cross flicked up off the defender.

Dallas added its sixth and final goal in the 68th minute when Obrian’s shot was parried into the path of United States international Paul Arriola, who finished comfortably. It was Arriola's first taste of action as an FC Dallas player and the former D.C. United man recorded an assist, a hockey assist and a goal.