Monterey Bay F.C. Drops Match at Home to Phoenix Rising FC
SEASIDE, California (Saturday, July 29, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. (7-9-6, 27 points) fell 2-0 to Western Conference foe Phoenix Rising FC (7-6-8, 29 points) at Cardinale Stadium after conceding two first half goals. Alex Dixon won a penalty kick in the second-half, but the attempt by Sam Gleadle was saved by the goalkeeper to keep the Union out of the nets for the second-consecutive match.
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Monterey Bay came out into the match on the front foot, owning the majority of the possession in the first few minutes. In the 8th minute of the match, Mobi Fehr saw two shots from the top of the box blocked before Chase Boone managed to whip the ball into a dangerous area inside the six-yard box, but Christian Volesky’s header aimed just under the crossbar was caught by the goalkeeper with a leaping effort to deny the hosts. The Union came close again in the 11th minute when the ball fell to Simon Dawkins feet at 20 yards out, but his shot hardly moved the goalkeeper and was covered up. A mistake in the back by Monterey Bay led to Rising FC’s first true opportunity of the match, but the shot from inside the box by Manuel Arteaga ricocheted off the frame in the 22nd minute. A minute later, Phoenix found themselves with possession inside the Union’s 18-yard box once again. This time, Carlos Harvey played the ball across the box to an open Arteaga for the tap-in and the 1-0 lead.
The Crisp-and-Kelp looked to respond in the 26th minute via the right foot of Dawkins, but his second shot of the night was blocked by the visitors. In the 32nd minute, dangerous possession inside the box by Monterey Bay led to a right-footed shot by Dixon, but it was saved by the outstretched glove of the goalkeeper. Phoenix then added to their lead just before the halftime whistle with a goal by Danny Trejo to give the visitors a 2-0 lead at the break. Dixon was taken down inside the box seven minutes into the second half, leading to the referee awarding the hosts with a penalty kick. Second-half substitute Gleadle stepped up to the spot, but his shot was saved at the bottom left corner and the hosts remained without a goal for the remainder of the match in a win for Phoenix Rising FC.
Up Next: Monterey Bay remains at home this Saturday, August 5 for another Nor Cal derby against Sacramento Republic FC. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT. The match will be broadcast locally via KION on Central Coast CW (35.1 over the air, channel 14 Xfinity), with live streaming available on ESPN+.
Notes:
– His second major milestone in as many weeks, Hugh Roberts II made his 250th career USL Championship appearance as a starter in the match.
– Newest signing Rafael Baca was unavailable, while Chuy Enríquez (knee), Max Glasser (hamstring), and James Murphy (hamstring) missed the match due to injury.
Match: Monterey Bay F.C. vs Phoenix Rising FC
Date: July 29, 2023
Venue: Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Weather: Mostly sunny and 60 degrees
Attendance: 3,578
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Monterey Bay F.C. 0 0 0
Phoenix Rising FC 2 0 2
PHX: Manuel Arteaga (Carlos Harvey) 23’
PHX: Daniel Trejo (Panos Armenakas) 45+1’
Lineups:
Monterey Bay F.C. (4-1-4-1): Antony Siaha; Grant Robinson, Hugh Roberts, Kai Greene, Morey Doner; Mobi Fehr; Alex Dixon, Adrian Rebollar (Sam Gleadle, 45’), Simon Dawkins (Walmer Martínez, 71’), Chase Boone (Jesse Maldonado, 79’); Christian Volesky (Ugo Okoli, 62’)
Subs not used: Carlos Herrera, Alex Lara, Nevello Yoseke
Phoenix Rising FC (3-4-2): Rocco Rios Novo; Daniel Krutzen (Jose Hernandez, 38’), Darnell King, Alejandro Fuenmayor; Renzo Zambrano, Carlos Harvey, Henry Uzochukwu Onuorah (Emil Cuello, 88’), Edwin Munjoma, Panos Armenakas (Federico Varela, 88’); Daniel Trejo (Mohamed Traore, 78’), Manuel Arteaga (Dariusz Formella, 79’)
Subs not used: Patrick Rakovsky, Erickson Gallardo
Stats Summary: MB / PHX
Shots: 17 / 9
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 1 / 6
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 12 / 16
Possession: 50.4% / 49.6%
Misconduct Summary:
MB: Ugo Okoli (caution) 74’
PHX: Mohamed Traore (caution) 86’
Officials:
Referee: Olvin Oliva
Assistant Referee: Loren Barnett
Assistant Referee: Eric Krueger
Fourth Official: Robert Vincze
