Saturday’s USL Championship match between Phoenix Rising and LA Galaxy II was abandoned with six minutes remaining over concerns about player safety.
Phoenix’s Ben Spencer had just scored to put the Rising ahead 4-1 in the 77th minute when a beer can was thrown onto the field that landed in close proximity to several Galaxy II players. A statement from the Phoenix Rising identified the perpetrator as a “non-Phoenix Rising supporter.”
*ahem*
By the way…
20 STRAIGHT WINS#UpRising pic.twitter.com/8o9qQqxmve
— x-Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) September 15, 2019
The referees suspended the match, which took place at Phoenix’s Casino Arizona Field, and sent the players to their respective locker rooms. But as the players were walking off the field, LA Galaxy II forward Augustine Williams was struck in the back by an object that, according to the Rising statement, was thrown by a Phoenix fan.
At the point, the decision was made by the referee to abandon the match, with Phoenix declared the winner. Per USL rules, should a contest be abandoned after the 70th minute with one side holding at least a three-goal advantage, the result may be declared official, thus handing the Rising its 20th straight win.
According to the statement, “Both fans were identified and have been banned from the stadium. In addition, the club will be moving to plastic cups for future games.”