MEXICO CITY — Patrick Rakovsky had been trying to make the move to Phoenix Rising for quite some time. “We probably asked Phoenix almost every transfer window if they would be interested,” Rakovsky said. “They always said no, because they had Andre Rawls. They had Ben Lundt.” That Phoenix Rising was a first choice for Rakovsky for so long might…
MEXICO CITY — In their final Mexico City friendly, Phoenix Rising picked up another draw as they held Pumas Tabasco to a goalless encounter. Responses to emotions running high Sometimes, a “friendly” can look anything but. Around 15 minutes in, Manuel Arteaga went in late on the Pumas Tabasco goalkeeper. Arteaga was cautioned, and that could have been the end of it. However, around a minute later, things escalated once again and Rising’s forward had a few choice, and loud, words for his opponent. Soon, that had spilled onto the benches. It isn’t entirely clear what happened, or what the referees believed to have happened, but Rising coach Juan Guerra, Rising’s equipment manager and at least one person from the…