SAN ANTONIO – A pair of second-half goals by Claudio Repetto and Marcus Epps sent Phoenix Rising FC to a 2-0 victory against San Antonio on Saturday night, ending the perfect start to the season for the hosts while earning Rising FC its first victory at Toyota Field in its sixth visit.

Phoenix got out on the front foot early and almost took the lead in the fifth minute when a free kick by Arturo Rodriguez found Joe Farrell for a header to the right corner that was well saved by San Antonio’s Jordan Farr. The two sides then exchanged half-chances, but Farr was called on again to produce another excellent save to keep out a free kick by Rising FC’s Aodhan Quinn from 25 yards that was pegged for the top-right corner before the goalkeeper’s diving stop.

Rising FC’s pressure continued into the second half as the visitors held a substantial advantage in shots, and in the 56th minute the breakthrough arrived. Luis Seijas controlled and shot from just outside the top-left edge of the penalty area toward the bottom-left corner, and while Farr was able to get down and save, Repetto reacted fastest and roofed home the rebound to put his side ahead.

Farrell went close again off a set piece with 20 minutes to go as he got on the end of a free kick by Quinn from the left channel, while Rodriguez was denied at the last minute by Carter Manley as he drove into the penalty area and got the ball past Farr, only to for the defender to clear inside the six-yard area. As the game ticked into stoppage time, however, Phoenix ensured its victory as former SAFC player Epps kept a play alive on the right, drove into the penalty area and shot home at the near post.  

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Darnell King, Phoenix Rising FC – Facing one of his former clubs, King put in a stellar two-way performance with two shots and one key pass while also winning 10 of 14 duels and 3 of 3 tackles defensively.

Scoring Summary
PHX – Claudio Repetto 56’
PHX – Marcus Epps 90+1’

Full Box Score