Cabral's brace leads Phoenix Rising to 3-1 win at Rhode Island
Phoenix Rising FC's Edgardo Rito, left, protects the ball from two Rhode Island defenders on Friday night. Rising won 3-1. (Phoenix Rising FC)
Posted
SCORING
PHX – Remi Cabral (Emil Cuello) 7
PHX – Remi Cabral (Panos Armenakas) 34
RI – Clay Holsted (Noah Fuson) 89
PHX – Fede Varela (Gabi Torres) 90
DISCIPLINE
PHX – Mohamad Traore (caution) 12
PHX – Alejandro Fuenmayor (caution) 23
RI – Karifa Yao (caution) 35
RI – Clay Holstad (caution) 43
RI – Fuson (caution) 68
PHX – John Stenberg (caution) 80
PHX – Dariusz Formella (caution) 88
Phoenix Rising FC
SMITHFIELD, Rhode Island – Phoenix Rising FC improved to 3-4-1 on the season with a 3-1 win Friday night against Rhode Island FC at Bernie Stadium.
Remi Cabral picked up two goals in the win, while Fede Varela scored his first of the season to make it a two-goal victory. Panos Armenakas, Gabi Torres and Emil Cuello all had assists in the win.
Tonight, Rising took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute of the match when Cuello turned the ball over himself with a solid defensive position, then beat his defender down the left side. Cuello gained a split second to pick up his head and he found a streaking Cabral with a curling, left-footed pass the avoided another defender and required just the simplest of touches from Cabral to end up in the back of the net.
Phoenix dominated the first half and took a 2-0 advantage in the 34th minute when Armenakas grabbed the ball on the right flank and centered a pass for Cabral. Renzo Zambrano nearly got to the ball, but let it run on to Cabral and the striker finished off his second of the half with a right-footed shot with his first touch.
Referee Sergil Demianchuk pointed to the spot, awarding Rhode Island a penalty kick against the run of play in the 39th minute, when he judged Zambrano to have handled the ball in the box.
Defending USL Championship Golden Boot Winner Albert Dikwa stepped up to take the kick, but goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo, the defending USL Championship Final MVP, made a save reminiscent of the stop that earned him the award. Rios Novo jumped back and forth as Dikwa approached the ball, then guessed correctly and made a diving save to his right side before smothering the rebound.
Rhode Island was awarded a free kick in the 89th minute and Clay Holsted took advantage, burying a pass from a set piece in the top corner to make it 2-1, but Rising roared back seconds later, boosting the lead to 3-1 after Torres tore down the left flank and delivered a perfect pass to Varela to finish off the match with his first goal of the season.
Rising returns home next Saturday, May 4 to face Sacramento Republic at 7:30 p.m.
