Tag: soccer

Phoenix Rising’s Dumbuya warming up to life in the desert

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports-hoenix Rising Dumbuya, 875 words
  • Photos and caption attached below.

By Owain Evans
Cronkite News

TEMPE – The monsoon storm that blew through the Valley earlier this week was a welcome sight for at least one Phoenix Rising player.

“The heat’s been getting to me lately,” said Mustapha Dumbuya, who joined the Rising over the winter after playing a few seasons with Partick Thistle in Scotland’s top-flight and living in the cool, wet climate of Glasgow, Scotland.

“I’ve been crying out for a bit of rain.”

With rain comes lightning, and Dumbuya provides more than his fair share of that in the full-back position for the Rising, with speed that assistant coach Peter Ramage claimed is enough to “catch pigeons.”

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Phoenix Rising FC prepares for USL Cup final with an eye on San Diego stadium vote

by Bob Young

By RICARDO AVILA
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE — Phoenix Rising is on the verge of winning the United Soccer League Cup and giving Didier Drogba a fairytale farewell as a professional.

After an intense and hard-fought, 2-1, win over Orange County Soccer Club in the Western Conference final, the only team between the Rising and the USL Cup championship in only the club’s second year of existence is Louisville City FC.

However, amid the excitement of the Rising’s championship chase, the team and its followers will have an eye on an election in San Diego, California that threatens to dampen the mood around the Rising’s playoff run.

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Soccer sensation Drogba delivers on promise in Phoenix Rising FC debut

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-Drogba debut, 800 words
  • Photo available

By JOHN ARLIA
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE — When Didier Drogba arrived in the Valley as soccer’s first player-owner, he made a promise to Phoenix Rising FC and its fans.

“We are going to win a lot of games here,” Drogba told a sold-out crowd during his unveiling ceremony in April. “And together, Phoenix is going to be in the MLS.”

So far, so good.

Drogba inspired the Rising to a 2-1 home win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on Saturday night in his long-awaited debut for the club. The 39-year-old striker scored the opening goal and added an assist on the eventual game-winner by Shaun Wright-Phillips, his former teammate at Chelsea FC of the English Premier League.

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Phoenix Rising’s Gavin giving back to Valley soccer community

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-RISING GAVIN, 800 words
  • Photo available

By JOHN ARLIA
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE – As the only Arizona native on Phoenix Rising FC, it’s no surprise that Blair Gavin feels a desire to help develop the Valley’s next generation of soccer talent.

After all, he sees a lot of himself in them.

“It’s good to not only play, but also coach and help mentor kids going through the process of growing up,” Gavin said. “For me, growing up in the area, I’ve always had good coaches and I wanted to continue that path going forward.”

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U.S. Open Cup could provide MLS measuring stick for Phoenix Rising FC

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-RISING MLS, 750 words
  • Photos available

By JOHN ARLIA
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE — With a win Wednesday night, Phoenix Rising FC will get to experience MLS competition way ahead of schedule.

That’s the magic of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

While MLS commissioner Don Garber continues to deliberate over Phoenix’s bid for a permanent home in the league, the Rising will host the San Francisco Deltas in the third round of U.S. Soccer’s oldest on-going tournament.

If victorious, the Rising will match their best ever result in the single elimination competition, which this year features a record 99 teams from all divisions of U.S. Soccer, and will earn a June 14th date with the San Jose Earthquakes.

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