IRVINE, Calif. – With a large contingent of travelling support on hand, Phoenix Rising FC claimed its first silverware in club history on Saturday night as it raised the Western Conference Championship in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 victory against hosts Orange County SC, which welcomed a sellout crowd of 5,189 fans to Champions Soccer Stadium.
The vocal support of both sets of fans provided an intense atmosphere for the two sides, both of which had never previously reached this stage of the postseason. Goals by Chris Cortez – whose tally after 66 seconds ranked as the fastest in USL Cup Playoffs history – and Didier Drogba sent the side on to face Louisville City FC for the 2018 USL Cup.
Here are some of the sights and sounds from the Western Conference Final in Southern California.
Phoenix Rising FC earned its first silverware in club history as a large group of travelling support provided a memorable backdrop to the club's 2-1 victory against Orange County SC before a sellout crowd of 5,189 fans at Champions Soccer Stadium in Irvine, Calif.
Calm before the storm... @PHXRisingFC is ready to do this! #UpRising #RisingAsOne pic.twitter.com/TJFlBG8Dmd
— Andrew Southwick (@RedBeardedRed) November 3, 2018
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships. Let’s get this win boys #MyOCSC #orangecountysc @orangecountysc @ocscesports pic.twitter.com/ltbuqy80Uu
— Sebastian (@_Sebastian_G__) November 3, 2018
The @USL @orangecountysc vs @Phoen match is about to kick off! pic.twitter.com/cr0MLaVIBI
— SoccerToday (@_Goal_Nation) November 4, 2018
Packed house here at @ThirstyLion_AZ for the @PHXRisingFC game! #RisingAsOne pic.twitter.com/BQUehreC48
— Angel Rodriguez (@ARodriguezz23) November 4, 2018
The atmosphere it’s on point @USL @orangecountysc pic.twitter.com/E2cPN2fZgP
— Alkotero (@Akotero) November 4, 2018
We took over their stadium, now we take over their pitch! #KingsOfTheWest #Uprising #Risingasone pic.twitter.com/xWWDQIG63u
— Vanderplas (@Vanislegend4L) November 4, 2018
THIS IS OUR KING #UpRising pic.twitter.com/meWMhukZX3
— (x)-Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) November 4, 2018
The #USL's @kelsijsteele caught up with @PhxRisingFC's @c_cortez88 moments after the final whistle sounded.
— USL (@USL) November 4, 2018
Hear what the forward had to say about the historic night: pic.twitter.com/E0KZzyFaEr
I’m so proud of our @PHXRisingFC players, coaches, staff and my co-Owners!!! The 2018 @USL Western Conference Champions!!!! pic.twitter.com/sa4zfuOZnc
— Tim Riester (@TimRiester) November 4, 2018
Congrats to @orangecountysc on hosting an incredible Western Coast Final. Worthy Champions in my eyes, from management staff to players, they were a joy to watch this season. And to my old mate @Rchap04... geez it’s been an honour to share a pitch with u!!
— Peter Ramage (@peterramage83) November 4, 2018
This what I’m talking about go @PHXRisingFC @didierdrogba @c_cortez88 big up! #usl #soccer #makinghistoryagain!! #uprising
— Shaun W-Phillips (@swp29) November 4, 2018
My first tweet of the night. These supporters. @RedFuryPHX @BandidosPHX and the rest of the @PHXRisingFC fans. AMAZING. Playing a home game on the road in a @USL Western Conference Final is beautiful. One more to go!!!! https://t.co/18y29Dadxt
— Carl Woszczynski (@cwoz1) November 4, 2018
Here we go @PHXRisingFC @orangecountysc pic.twitter.com/pTWRY2Rgys
— Andrew Waller (@AndrewW87475141) November 3, 2018
Not only @PHXRisingFC has super fans. Say to the Gist family, here for #OCvPHX. They are @orangecountysc season ticket holders. Ledger, who is seven years old, trains six days a week and wants to play in the 2026 World Cup. "There is no reason not to come here," they said. pic.twitter.com/rZcuaYuYxh
— Ricardo Ávila (@TheRicardoAvila) November 4, 2018
LETS GET THIS WIN!! @PHXRisingFC #CodeRed #UpRising pic.twitter.com/eMBYn4biaz
— MariBoo (@Mari_C_23) November 4, 2018
Let’s Goooo @orangecountysc we at @ocscesports are watching and cheering you guys on! Bring it HOME! Orange Army!! @OCSC_SoccerCast
— Sarkozy123 (@sarkozy398) November 4, 2018
Game Time!
— Brian Lopez (@mcfly1885) November 4, 2018
Lets Go @orangecountysc!#USL | #MyOCSC | #OCvPHX pic.twitter.com/aBQlcLrhXs
Love seeing the massive traveling support for @PHXRisingFC tonight in Orange County! #MLS2PHX pic.twitter.com/zq0UIkQ3Vf
— Jordan Gardner (@mrjordangardner) November 4, 2018
.@orangecountysc make a late push but can't put out the .#OCvPHX | #USLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/cNf1aeW8ek
— USL (@USL) November 4, 2018
Full Time! @PHXRisingFC are @USL Western Conference champions! pic.twitter.com/d07duuQbV1
— Daniel Prokosch (@ajax_az) November 4, 2018
@orangecountysc I am so proud of this team and the fantastic season you put together this year! Especially happy for #3, Joe Amico. He produced and showed great leadership game after game. Can’t wait to see what the future brings. #ProudMom
— Detra Mills (@IndyMills) November 4, 2018
@orangecountysc comes up a goal short in USL Western Conference final. But if took a goal from Didier Drogba to beat them. @FCBayern can relate https://t.co/8GwuDeoDXt
— Kevin Baxter (@kbaxter11) November 4, 2018
1 more. @PHXRisingFC #RisingAsOne #12Sports pic.twitter.com/J1JDwBJjyl
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) November 4, 2018
This is all yours My People @PHXRisingFC https://t.co/LBgmP4FLpA
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) November 4, 2018
Western Conference Champions pic.twitter.com/0DAMEeG3Hk
— Billy Forbes (@bforbes7) November 4, 2018
My handsome travel companions... and me! Watch out, we’re ready and we’re coming for you @orangecountysc. The @PHXRisingFC family is hyped up and the busses are packed! #CodeRed #USLPlayoffs #UpRising pic.twitter.com/9z4HesNDga
— Meghan Bingle Molloy (@meghanbingle) November 3, 2018
Mickey and I are in our red for @PHXRisingFC here in phx. Let’s go boys! pic.twitter.com/VJIddeZQXG
— Amanda McCarthy (@Mrs_McCarthy32) November 4, 2018
Let’s get the win boys!!positivity and teamwork @orangecountysc @ocscesports pic.twitter.com/TKTZmXhsRo
— Sebastian (@_Sebastian_G__) November 4, 2018
Living in SoCal affords us some wonderful things. Tonight as I cheer on @orangecountysc , I am privileged to see Drogba in my home stadium. Let’s hope tonight is his last match.pic.twitter.com/6bJifGRe45
— flyingsoccerdad (@flyingsoccerdad) November 4, 2018
76 seconds.
— USL (@USL) November 4, 2018
Welcome to the Western Conference Final! #OCvPHX | #USLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/7Stvy0CEkG
watching the @PHXRisingFC game from Boston right now - lets go pic.twitter.com/JYop9tpgGg
— pw (@petewentz) November 4, 2018
What a good run @orangecountysc You did this Swope Rangers supporter proud!!! I was hoping to see @cmduke20 in another final but there is another chance next year!
— Angela H (@anghowe80) November 4, 2018
Thanks for a great season @orangecountysc! Can’t wait for next season to come. #MyOCSC #ForCounty #USL #USLPlayoffs @mikeeyseaton_ pic.twitter.com/T6oz7KHl0n
— Tim Louie (@napobiggun) November 4, 2018
Chris Cortez from Mission Viejo has a very emotional celebration after winning with @PHXRisingFC the #USL Western Conference championship against @orangecountysc pic.twitter.com/eewauPoy9f
— Eduard Cauich (@ecauich) November 4, 2018
So happy for everyone in this club @PHXRisingFC Players and supporters out of this world tonight. pic.twitter.com/bVPrwpvea8
— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) November 4, 2018
@PHXRisingFC Best fans ever! Thank you all for coming out. 12th man was ours tonight... we never had a doubt because of the fans.
— Rick Schantz (@RickSchantz1) November 4, 2018
Thanks be to God , with you everything is #POSSIBLE and to everyone who believe in this family @PHXRisingFC , players, technical team(@RickSchantz1 ) , management and board of directors, supporters, sympathizers and former coach. @guerrierblanc of @AlAhly @AlAhlyEnglish pic.twitter.com/8xpHqRWcjY
— solomon (@Asante208) November 4, 2018