Phoenix Rising FC came from behind to beat Orange County SC 2–1 at home on Saturday night in the USL Championship, with goals from Jean Eric Moursou and Eziah Ramirez overturning an early deficit.
Orange County struck first. Jamir Johnson opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, converting a chance created by Yaniv Bazini to give the visitors the lead. The advantage lasted just six minutes. Moursou equalized in the 28th, finishing off a feed from Gunnar Studenthofft to level the match before halftime.
The first half closed with tempers rising. Lyam MacKinnon picked up a yellow card for Orange County in the 33rd minute, and Moursou — Phoenix's goalscorer — was booked early in the second half, collecting a caution in the 49th minute.
The decisive moment came midway through the second half. Ramirez put Phoenix ahead in the 68th minute, getting on the end of a Pape Boye delivery to make it 2–1. Orange County pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages but couldn't find one, with Christopher Hegardt picking up a late yellow card deep into stoppage time as frustrations boiled over.
Phoenix Rising controlled the final stretch well enough to see out the result, securing all three points at home and continuing to build momentum in the early weeks of the season.
USL Championship