Phoenix FC News Release -- www.phoenixfc.com
Friday, April 5, 2013
PHOENIX -- Phoenix FC, in search of a second win in its inaugural USL PRO season, hosts the two-time defending USL PRO Regular Season champion Orlando City SC at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium on Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Phoenix is 1-1 after a 1-0 win in its inaugural home opener last Saturday against another expansion team, VSI Tampa Bay FC. Orlando City, nicknamed the Lions, plays its first match of the 2013 regular season on Sunday after defeating the Tampa Bay Rowdies for a third consecutive time in the preseason last weekend.
Orlando City features several players with Major League Soccer and/or national team experience, including midfielder Jean Alexandre (Real Salt Lake/Haiti), forward Long Tan (Vancouver Whitecaps FC/China U-23s), midfielder Freddie Braun (Portland Timbers) and forward Jamie Watson (Real Salt Lake). The Lions also have four players from Sporting Kansas City on a season-long loan through a partnership agreement struck earlier this year.
The Lions have won the last two USL PRO regular seasons, and they won the outright championship in 2011. Wolves coach David Robertson said Orlando City will offer a big challenge and a chance to see how the new team stacks up against an established club.
Phoenix lost its inaugural match 2-0 to the Los Angeles Blues in Fullerton, Calif., on March 23. Midfielder Anthony Obodai received a red card late in the first half, forcing the Wolves to play for more than one half with just 10 players. Obodai is eligible to return to the pitch this week after serving an automatic one-game suspension for the red card.
The Wolves returned to action last Saturday in front of a sellout crowd of 4,198 at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium, and Brazilian Netinho's first-half goal stood as the game winner for the first time in club history. Goalkeeper Andrew Weber made six saves in earning the club's first clean sheet.
Phoenix FC hopes for the return of veteran forward Darren Mackie from a groin injury this week. Mackie, the club's first player signing, has missed the first two matches.
Phoenix FC and Orlando City FC will meet again on Friday, June 7, in Florida.