Whenever anyone scores a goal quite as preposterous as Mohamed Traore’s first in Phoenix Rising FC’s colors, a thunderbolt from inside the center circle that flew into the top-left corner of the net past El Paso Locomotive goalkeeper Jahmali Waite, someone’s bound to ask a simple question.

“Did you mean it?”

“To be honest, I kind of see [him off his line] a little bit, but it was more like a clearance,” Traore told PHNX Sports’ Owain Evans. “But I will take the goal.”

Too right, you will.

Too right, you will.

Traore’s sensational strike immediately resonated and vaulted itself to the top of the early contenders list for the USL Championship’s Goal of the Year, of which in just two weeks we’ve already seen a handful of candidates.

But it also represented the capper on a remarkable comeback for Rising, which stared down a three-goal deficit with less than 30 minutes to play and came back to earn a 4-4 draw in an enthralling encounter at Southwest University Park.

• LOCOS ON TOP: Before Rising’s rally, the game looked set to be a statement for Locomotive and forward Amando Moreno. The hosts capitalized on an early set piece to take the lead before the El Salvador international bagged his first of the night after a good build-up sequence. After Gabriel Torres added a third – restoring El Paso’s two-goal lead – two minutes into the second half, Moreno produced what would have been the goal of the night with an outstanding bicycle kick to make it 4-1 in the 53rd minute.

• PHOENIX FROM THE FLAMES: And then, Phoenix gathered itself and roared back. There was an element of fortune about Remi Cabral’s goal to start the comeback in the 69th minute as an ambitious long-range effort by Collin Smith came straight to him in the penalty area to finish, but Ihsan Sacko’s finish off Hope Avayevu’s lead pass with 10 minutes to go was beautifully taken. It set the stage for Traore’s finish, which you’d think would be hard to repeat, so unique as it was.

• HE SAID IT: “It’s not easy going down 2-0, 2-1, then 3-1 right off the bat. I think character is what these boys have shown. For me, I'm very happy because you could have easily given up, but they didn't. I'm very happy and pleased with what we showed. We're moving in the right direction.” – Phoenix Rising Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah.

Appointed this offseason, Kah has been tasked with restoring Phoenix as one of the powers in the Western Conference. After a home defeat against FC Tulsa to start the campaign, it was clear there’s a lot of work to be done to get there.

Securing a first point of the season in such dramatic fashion, though, can’t be underestimated. The joy of Traore as he jumped into Kah’s arms on the sideline after his goal was a beautiful image, and one Rising’s fans will be hoping to see much more this year.

At its peak, Phoenix was known for its never-say-die spirit. When it won the Players’ Shield in 2019 with a league-record 78 points, 19 of those were earned from losing positions, the most in a season in club history.

It’s only one game – and one goal – but Traore’s wonder-strike could be the start of a climb back up the standings and a bid for the club’s first home playoff game since 2021.

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This is an excerpt from The Rondo, the USL Championship's free twice weekly newsletter. To get more delivered straight to your inbox, sign up at www.uslchampionship.com/newsletter.