Phoenix Rising FC remained unbeaten for a fourth consecutive match following a 0-0 road draw against Reno 1868 FC. The match was also the first clean sheet of the season for Phoenix Rising FC, who is now 5-5-3 in league play.
The match’s biggest play occurred in the 35th minute. Reno (6-4-4) was awarded a penalty and the club’s leading scorer Dane Kelly stepped to the spot. After the whistle blew, Kelly sent his shot low and to the left but Phoenix Rising goalkeeper Josh Cohen dove to the correct side and made the save to keep the match scoreless.
Cohen stepped up in a big way just about ten minutes later. A Reno attacker had space and took a long-range shot from the left side of the pitch that looked destined for the far-right corner of the net. But Cohen leapt to his left and tipped the shot onto the crossbar.
Phoenix Rising had several scoring opportunities, but the club’s two best chances came late in the match. In the 84th minute, with Didier Drogba standing over the ball, Omar Bravo snuck in from behind and took a free kick that nearly beat the keeper to the near left post before the shot was pushed aside.
Three minutes later, midfielder Matt Watson beat the defense and dribbled the ball into the box from the right side. He sent a centering pass toward the top of the box for a waiting Eder Arreola who had the space to shoot but his shot went over the target.
Phoenix Rising FC remains on the road next week when they travel to California to take on Orange County Soccer Club on Saturday, July 8. The match kicks of 5:00 p.m.
Sports360AZ
