Phoenix Rising wins first USL Championship after wild shootout win over the Charleston Battery

CHARLESTON - Phoenix Rising won its first-ever USL Championship, beating the Charleston Battery 3-2 on penalty kicks at a sold out Patriots Point on a cold Sunday night after tying the game in the 90th minute forcing extra time and then penalties.

The host Charleston Battery took the 1-0 lead in the 36th minute off a goal by midfielder Nick Markanich. Left back Mark Segbers received a beautifully weighted ball from Emilio Ycaza down the left hand side. Just before it crossed the end line, Segbers found an open Markanich who finished it with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.

With the game looking to be out of reach and just 30 seconds before stoppage time, Rising’s freshly substituted side pushed for an equalizer and got it with the 6’3” Swedish defender John Stenberg getting his head up to nod the ball down, past Battery keeper Trey Muse, and Patriots Point fell silent.

In the 108th minute, substitute Robbie Crawford sent in a great cross to Augustine Williams which went over the bar and could have been a chance to go ahead for the home side.

To penalties we go! Charleston’s Muse stops the first two Rising penalties then Paterson and Williams make theirs to put Battery up 2-0 over Phoenix. Yet, Phoenix made their final three while Charleston blanked. Rocco Rios Novo stopped two of the kicks to earn MVP of the Final. What a wild one!

Although these are the deciding moments, many people will mention a few missed calls or howlers that the referee missed on the field. The first talking point was an attack by Phoenix in the 66th minute. Carlos Harvey received the ball from Formella who was fouled by Palma but the ref allowed the advantage. Harvey was tackled by Battery midfielder Ycaza in the box. The referee, Elton Garcia, calls a penalty kick for Phoenix Rising. Harvey then goes back to Ycaza and puts his head into Ycaza’s which could be at least a yellow card. All the fans see the replay on the jumbotron and scream that Emilio got the ball while referee Garcia talks to his assistant. There is no VAR so it might be assumed that he got the assistant referee’s view that it was not a penalty and did not see the replay we saw. The penalty kick call is reversed but I see how Phoenix could feel hard done by.

Another moment was in the 72nd minute. Charleston midfielder Arturo Rodriguez dove just outside the box to try and draw a foul and free kick. The referee allowed play to continue. Phoenix defender Fuenmayor bends down and appears to strike Rodriguez for trying to simulate. Referee Garcia then calls it a free kick for the foul and gives Fuenmayor a yellow card. Phoenix ended up getting 5 yellow cards, including coach Juan Guerra, to Charleston’s one.

One big difference between the two teams looked to be the players coming off the bench. It was believed that Phoenix had the deeper bench, and they would go on to make 6 substitutions in the game with one being in extra time. Charleston only made their three substitutions in the 63rd, 89th and 119th minute.

Along with the league as a whole on the rise, these two teams are going to be contenders for the foreseeable future. As we go into the offseason, we will see if both teams are able to hang onto the majority of their bright assets from players to the coaches. I for one can’t wait for next season!

by Del Shaffer