With four games left in the regular season, Phoenix Rising FC will look to gain a commanding lead over Group B at home against second place San Diego Loyal SC this Saturday.

After scoring two goals and an assist in Friday’s 5-1 win over Las Vegas Lights FC, striker Rufat Dadashov earned USL Championship Team of the Week honors. Rising head coach Rick Schantz continues to be impressed with the double-digit scorer. 

“Rufat’s been very consistent,” Schantz said Tuesday. “We know what we’re going to get every time he goes out there. He is always moving, always working defensively. He’s extremely intelligent and he can finish.”

Dadashov’s 10 goals this season place him in a tie for second place on the USL Championship scoring list, only behind Rising FC striker Junior Flemmings who boasts 12 goals.

Flemmings, who joined the team in 2019, has established himself with the club according to Schantz.

“He’s a leader,” Schantz said. “He’s not too emotional. Because of that we’ve seen more consistency. It’s not necessarily just scoring goals for Junior. He’s one of the few players I’ve ever coached that the more physical you are with him the better he plays. It’s almost like he invites it. I’m so impressed with his maturity.”

The club played its first home game with fans since the COVID-19 pandemic hit last Friday.

Schantz credited the crowd, though limited to 1,000 fans, with giving the team a boost. Phoenix plays three of its next four games at home before the start of the playoffs, and Rising FC officials plan to continue allowing a limited number of fans into 6,200-seat Casino Arizona Field.

“What we do here is amazing,” Schantz said. “The fans were spread out, the interaction with players was incredible. I was very proud of our organization to be able to do that. I hope we can continue to show that we are capable and maybe get 1,500 or 2,000. It’s awesome to have fans. It sounded like we had 8,000 people in the stadium.”

Next up for the Rising is Loyal SC in match between first- and second-place clubs.

Loyal SC (19 points) trails by seven points with two matches left against the Rising. The final one will be in San Diego.

Right behind Loyal SC is both LA Galaxy II and Orange County SC with 18 points.

If the season ended today, Phoenix Rising FC would play Group A runner up Sacramento Republic FC. 

Saturday’s upcoming match between Phoenix Rising FC and San Diego Loyal FC will be at Casino Arizona Field at 7:30 p.m.