Rising continue magical run, beat Sacramento to move on to USL Championship Final

The Cinderella run continues as Phoenix Rising FC triumphs once again. The magic keeps on going, and the clock hasn’t struck midnight yet. In the Western Conference Final against Sacramento Republic FC, Emil Cuello’s goal in the 92nd minute from outside the box sealed the victory for Phoenix Rising FC with a score of 2-1. This marks the second consecutive week that Cuello is the hero, as he delivered the game-winning goal last week against Orange County SC in the 116th minute.

With this win, Phoenix Rising FC advances to the USL Championship Final against the Charleston Battery on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Compared to their previous two playoff games, which saw goals within the first 10 minutes, the Western Conference Final had a slow start. Sacramento Republic FC opted to sit back in their own half in the beginning of the game, resulting in Phoenix Rising FC enjoying 69 percent possession in the first 30 minutes. However, there were few scoring opportunities as both teams cautiously assessed each other.

In the 17th minute, defender Mohamed Traore received an early yellow card, adding more pressure to the proceedings.

Intensity dialed up

In the 31st minute, Sacramento Republic FC took the lead after a poor pass from Phoenix Rising FC’s Dariusz Formella gifted possession to Sacramento in a threatening position. Nicholas Ross delivered a clever pass to Russell Cicerone, who displayed sublime footwork and found the back of the net, giving Sacramento a 1-0 advantage. Just one minute later, there was another chance for Sacramento as Jack Gurr’s shot was saved by Phoenix Rising FC goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo, increasing the momentum in Sacramento’s favor.

Right before halftime, Sacramento had one last opportunity with a corner kick, with the ball narrowly missing the net. They went into the break with a 1-0 lead. During the first half, Sacramento dominated with six shot attempts compared to Phoenix Rising FC’s two.

Sacramento’s defense tightened up in the second half, making it difficult for Phoenix Rising FC to break through. Despite maintaining possession, Phoenix Rising FC struggled to create clear-cut chances. It seemed like Sacramento Republic FC was on their way to an easy victory.

But then, in the 80th minute, the bubble burst for Sacramento. A set piece resulted in defender Carlos Harvey finding the ball in the box, and after a pass from midfielder Renzo Zambrano, Harvey coolly placed the ball into the bottom right corner of the net to equalize the score. The stunned Sacramento crowd had to witness Harvey celebrate with his finger pressed against his lips, silencing them.

Just when it seemed like the match was headed for extra time, Emil Cuello delivered a moment of magic with a spectacular long-range shot from outside the box. As the enraged crowd saw Cuello celebrate with his hands raised, objects were hurled onto the field toward Phoenix Rising FC players.

Cuello, who came on as a substitute for Panos Armenakas, is making a name for himself at the club. He now has two game-winning goals in the playoffs, both away games against higher-seeded teams. Last week, it was in the 116th minute, and this time, it was in the 92nd minute. Talk about clutch performances.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rising continue magical run, beat Sacramento to move on to USL Championship Final