Phoenix Rising’s Jon Bakero has won no shortage of accolades, but Friday’s match brought a new one not just for him, but for his club’s new stadium: its first goal at Wild Horse Pass.

“It means a lot,” Bakero said. “I think that I’ve shown through the years how much I care about this club and that I’ve always wanted to be here, and to get that opportunity is great.

“I know that it could have been anyone. Obviously, the work the team put in, it’s not only my goal, it’s everyone’s goal. But it was a great feeling to score, and being the first makes it even more special.”

For the midfielder, who has been with Rising since the 2019 season, Friday’s 4-1 victory over San Diego also marked the first time he had played in an opening game at a new stadium.

“We all knew the feeling that Casino Arizona Field used to have and we were hoping that it wouldn’t be too different, obviously with the conditions with COVID,” Bakero said. “Honestly, it didn’t feel much different than a full stadium at Casino Arizona Field, so that was a great feeling. Obviously we wanted to be there with our fans, and being able to do it in that manner was a great feeling for all of us.”

After being named as an honorable mention in the USL Championship Team of the Week, Bakero is now looking ahead to his side’s next match: a clash against Oakland Roots on Saturday.

“We have 31 games left and we need to take it week by week,” he said. “I know the guys are not taking it for granted, and I know I’m not taking it for granted. We know how long it is and how hard it is to win games in this league, and am I confident in this team and our ability to win games? I am, but not overconfident in the sense that we’re going to relax and take it for granted.”

Want to hear more from Jon Bakero? Preview Saturday’s game with Rising Matchday – streaming at 9 a.m. Saturday morning on YouTube and Facebook, and available on demand shortly after.