Owain Evans

OPPONENT WATCH: Reno 1868

Reno1868

  • Reno 1868 currently sit in 14th place in the USL Western Conference, with 1 point (loss v Swope Park, draw v Las Vegas). Rising are in 3rd, with 4 points (draw v Orange County, win v Oklahoma City).
  • The two sides met twice last season, with Reno comfortably winning the first game in Phoenix 4-0. The return fixture was played out to a 0-0 draw/tie.
  • Reno finished 3rd in the USL Western Conference table last season, but lost 1-0 to Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs.
  • Reno’s star player, Dane Kelly, left for DC United over the winter. The Jamaican scored 18 goals last season, picking up the Golden Boot and MVP award.
  • The team brought in two proven goalscorers over the winter. Jerry van Ewijk, the Dutch winger who scored 8 goals for Orange County last season, and Mark Anthony Gonzalez, who scored 14 goals for Swope Park Rangers.
  • All four of Reno’s goals to date have been scored by a different player (Wehan, Brown, Musovski, and an own goal)
  • Danny Musovski, on loan from San Jose Earthquakes, will be suspended for this match after picking up a second yellow card in last Saturday’s clash against Las Vegas Lights.
  • Defenders Brent Richards, Brenton Griffiths, James Kiffe, and Jordan Murrell have played all 180 minutes so far and are likely to line up at the back.
  • Midfielder Eric Calvillo, who has also played all 180 minutes, is another player on loan from San Jose Earthquakes.  Calvillo is a former U.S. U15, U17 and U19 international.  He was runner-up in the 2017 NASL Young Player of the Year thanks to his performances for New York Cosmos.
  • Goalkeeper James Marcinkowksi earned a place in the USL Team of the Week, after helping Reno hold on for a point at Cashman Field against Las Vegas Lights last Saturday, despite being a man down from the 28th minute.
  • Reno’s midweek tie away to Rio Grande Valley was postponed due to logistical reasons.   With several flights cancelled due to storms and potential flash floods in the Dallas area, Reno’s squad were simply unable to reach south Texas.

From the Ashes Prediction: Rising to pick up another valuable point on the road.