Conneh Scores First Goal in Club History; Rebollar Scores in Professional Debut
CHANDLER, Arizona (Saturday, March 12, 2022) – Monterey Bay F.C. (0-1-0, 0 points) fell 4-2 to Phoenix Rising FC at Wild Horse Pass Stadium in the club’s inaugural season opener on Saturday night.
Seku Conneh scores the first goal in Monterey Bay F.C. history and Adrian Rebollar scores in his professional debut, but four first-half goals for Phoenix were enough to give the hosts the full three points.
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Phoenix Rising FC got things started early with a goal in the second minute of the match. Following a foul in a dangerous area by the Union that led to a free kick for the home side, the ball was headed in by Manuel Quezada to give Rising FC the 1-0 lead. Monterey Bay F.C. came close to equalizing in the 14th minute when Morey Doner finished an electric run down the right-side of the pitch with a low cross towards Chase Boone in the box, but his shot missed inches to the left on the visitor’s first chance of the match.
In the 27th minute, Rising FC doubled its lead with a goal by Greg Hurst. Seven minutes later, following a turnover on a bad pass back to the goalkeeper, Phoenix collected the ball and Arturo Rodriguez capitalized for the 3-0 lead. Just before the end of the half, the home side extended its lead once again with a chip over the goalkeeper by Aodhan Quinn to bring the score to 4-0 at the halftime break.
The Union did not back down in the second half of the match. In the 77th minute, Doner beat his defender near the right corner flag before crossing a ball into the box. Conneh leaped up into the air and flicked the ball on into the far post to record the first goal in Monterey Bay F.C. history. Six minutes later, the visitors pinned Rising FC back with a long spell of possession. James Murphy and Mobi Fehr combined to find Arun Basuljevic open in space above the right corner of the box. Basuljevic made a defender miss with a step to his right before firing on goal, but his shot skipped off the top of the crossbar and the match remained 4-1.
The Union pulled another one back in the 87th minute when Conneh headed a cross down in the box, regained possession and sent the ball back across the face of goal. Basuljevic’s ensuing shot was blocked, leaving the ball in play. With the ball still bouncing around the box, Rebollar picked his spot and buried the ball in the roof of the net to bring the match to its final scoreline of 4-2.
NOTES:
– With a headed goal in the 77th minute of the match, Seku Conneh entered the Monterey Bay F.C. history books as the club’s first-ever goalscorer.
– 19-year-old Jesse Maldonado made his professional debut as a second half substitute in the match.
– Watsonville local Adrian Rebollar made his professional debut as a substitute in the 58th minute and then scored his first professional goal 29 minutes later in the 87th minute of the match.
– Missing the match due to injury were midfielder Jiro Barriga Toyama and forward Christian Volesky.
Match: Phoenix Rising FC vs Monterey Bay F.C.
Date: March 12, 2022
Venue: Wild Horse Pass Stadium; Chandler, Arizona
Weather: Clear and 68 degrees
Attendance: 8,409
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Phoenix Rising FC 4 0 4
Monterey Bay F.C. 0 2 2
PHX: Manuel Quezada, 2’
PHX: Greg Hurst (Aodhan Quinn), 27’
PHX: Arturo Rodriguez (Greg Hurst), 34’
PHX: Aodhan Quinn (Joseph Farrell), 40’
MB: Seku Conneh (Morey Doner), 77’
MB: Adrian Rebollar, 87’
LINEUPS:
Phoenix Rising FC (4-3-3): Benjamin Lundt; Baboucarr Njie, Manuel Quezada, Joseph Farrell, Darnell King (Channing Chasten 85’); Kevon Lambert, Aodhan Quinn, Arturo Rodriguez (Luis Seijas 75’); Santi Moar (Ryan Flood 84’), Greg Hurst (Claudio Repetto 62’), Marcus Epps (Joey Calistri 62’)
Subs not used: Edward Delgado, Jose Carlos Anguiano
Monterey Bay F.C. (4-2-3-1): Rafael Díaz; Grant Robinson, Hugh Roberts, Kai Greene, Morey Doner; James Murphy, Mobi Fehr (Jesse Maldonado 85’); Chase Boone (Walmer Martínez 71’), Arun Basuljevic, Sam Gleadle (Adrian Rebollar 58’); Chris Cortez (Seku Conneh 59’)
Subs not used: Dallas Jaye, Sam Strong
STATS SUMMARY: PHX / MB
Possession: 47.6% / 52.4%
Shots: 13 / 15
Shots on Goal: 7 / 5
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 5 / 7
Fouls: 14 / 13
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
MB: James Murphy (caution) 51’
PHX: Darnell King (caution) 60’
PHX: Kevon Lambert (caution) 90+1’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Calin Radosav
Assistant Referees: Cameron Siler, Noah Kenyawani
4th Official: Mark Novosel
