Ghanaian forward, Soloman Asante was at his maximum best as his side secured a playoffs final spot after beating Reno FC on penalty shootouts on Saturday.
The Ghana International captained his team to reach the USL Western Conference Championship playoffs final after winning 5-4 on penalties following a two-all draw during regulation time.
Corey James Hertzog opened the scoring in the first half in the sixth minute to put Reno FC in the lead very early in the game.
Kevin Partida doubled the advantage for Reno FC in the 40th minute with a powerful strike inside the box to the bottom left corner to make it 2-0.
Five minutes later, with few seconds to end the first half, Rising FC struck back when Levon Lambert’s effort from the center of the box went straight down the middle of the goal to reduce the deficit before the break for the Red and Blacks.
Twenty minutes to go to the final whistle, Santiago Moar released Ghana’s Solomon Asante on the right side of attack and the Ghanaian made no mistake in slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to find the bottom right corner to restore parity for his team.
The game finished 2-2 during regulation time and extra time and penalty shoot-outs looked the only way to decide the winner.
There were no winners after the extra 30 minutes and the game went to the shootout where Asante’s team Phoenix Rising Stars FC kept their cool to win the 5-4 on penalties after an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Phoenix Rising Stars FC will face El Paso Locomotive in the final as they hope to book a place in the MLS next year.
The Ghana international has eight goals and nine assists this year in the USL Championship in America.