Phoenix Rising FC rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday afternoon at Phoenix Rising Stadium at 38th St. and Washington as goals by Curacao international Jearl Margaritha and Damian Rivera earned the hosts a point after Sebastian Herrera and Dominick Wanner had put Sacramento on top.

Here are three things we took away from the contest.

1. Republic FC’s Quality, Ability to Create Remains Evident

Sacramento Republic FC hasn’t been a particularly fast starter so far this season – the side has yet to score in the opening 15 minutes of a contest in the USL Championship – the purpose the visitors showed in setting the tone was a major positive in Phoenix. Republic FC took nine of the first 10 shots in the game, and was only denied an early lead by a tremendous save by Phoenix goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky to deny Cristian Parano’s snap header to the bottom-right corner.

The opening goal by Sebastian Herrera arrived soon after as he turned in a low cross-shot by Russell Cicerone at the top of the six-yard area, but the quality Republic FC was producing was best illustrated by its second goal as Dominick Wanner notched his first goal in the Championship. The 15-pass sequence that pulled Phoenix’s defense from one side to the other before Jack Gurr’s cross set up the German’s volley was beautifully created, and an illustration of the high standard Sacramento is capable of.

2. Inability to Close Games Remains Republic FC’s Fixable Flaw

Republic FC has held leads in four of its six league contests so far this season. That it has only come away with one win so far means the side is off the pace in the Western Conference, with the side now on a five-game winless streak in league play since its season-opening victory against New Mexico United.

At the center of that has been Sacramento’s propensity for giving up goals in the closing stages of games. On Saturday it took a superb piece of individual skill by Damian Rivera to cost Republic FC points – the nifty move the 22-year-old produced to create space before curling a shot beyond the reach of Sacramento goalkeeper Danny Vitiello was superb – but it marked the fifth goal Republic FC has conceded in the final 15 minutes and stoppage time this season. That’s the most in the league, and a key reason why the side has now dropped six points from winning positions, tied for second-most in the league.

“I think we started well,” said Republic FC’s Jack Gurr. “We got the two goals. We did exactly what we wanted to do with the game plan of switching the ball quickly, and scored two good goals from it. But when we’re turning up, we can’t concede the goals like we did today. We're coming away with a point, but it feels like we lost.”

3. Phoenix Rising Finds a Way to Battle Back

It remains less than ideal that Phoenix Rising has only scored the opening goal in its seven league contests twice so far this season, but a week after its late collapse at home to Detroit City FC the fortitude to fight back returned for the hosts to secure a point. Coming off an arduous midweek trip to face FC Tulsa in the U.S. Open Cup – which saw the side advance in a penalty shootout after 120 minutes of action – Rising didn’t produce the consistent level of quality Republic FC did, but they did enough through Jearl Margaritha and Rivera’s precise finishes to end all square.

For Rivera in particular, who said postgame he’s been nursing a knock in his thigh in recent games, the goal added another to his highlight reel, while Margaritha added a goal contribution for a third consecutive game to the satisfaction of Rising Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah.

“I’m very happy with his performance,” said Kah on Margaritha. “Once again, we demanded a lot of him, and he demanded a lot of himself. He’s progressing in the right way and taking his chances. That’s what we’re asking him to be. More lethal, more efficient. He showed it.”