Phoenix Rising took on Colorado Springs in the USL Group Stage on 20 August and came from behind to win 3:1. The match finished at Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium with the home side finishing with three goals against one for the visitors.
I. Sacko opened the scoring in the 35th minute and that led to a period of pressure from the hosts. Colorado responded before the break with A. Perez finding the net in the 45th minute plus two. By then the game had opened up rather than staying tight.
M. Mahoney turned the ball into his own net in the 72nd minute and that gave Phoenix the lead they needed. G. Studenhofft added a third goal in the 91st minute to end the scoring. There were a handful of changes around the hour mark, with three substitutions coming together in the 62nd minute.
Phoenix had 44 per cent possession and hit the target five times, while Colorado controlled 56 per cent but only managed two shots on target. The visitors created one big chance compared with four for the hosts, and their shot accuracy sat at 13 per cent. That meant they had plenty of ball and not much to show for it.
The result keeps Phoenix in 10th place on 29 points from 22 games, while Colorado remain sixth with 34 points after 23 matches. The gap between them stays at five points and neither side moves into a different tier of the table.