Captain Solomon Asante nets brace as Phoenix Rising draw 3-3 at home in USL Championship

Phoenix Rising captain midfielder Solomon Asante scored a brace (all penalties) in their 3-3 home draw against New Mexico United in the USL Championship on Saturday.

The visitors took the first of its three leads in the 16th minute when Santi Moar hit a curling shot to the far right side of the net from the top of the box to make it 1-0.

Rising equalized in the 29th minute, after Asante drew a penalty and then calmly slotted his penalty kick inside the right post to make it 1-1.

But one minute later, former Phoenix Rising forward Kevaughn Frater gave it a go from distance and snuck a long-range shot inside the far right post to make it 2-1, a score that held into the half.

In the second half, Rising forward Junior Flemmings was taken down in the box to set up another Asante penalty kick.

The captain made an almost carbon copy shot to beat the keeper for a second time and made it 2-2.

Undaunted by the home crowd on opening night, New Mexico United’s Moar scored his second goal of the match, this time making a long run from the middle of the field before ripping another shot from distance that found the back of the net.

Rising FC needed Johnson magic for a second consecutive match and the fans saw it in the 71st minute when Flemmings lofted a cross into the box and Johnson headed it down to bounce it over the helpless goalkeeper to make it 3-3.

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