Without Head Coach Mark Briggs, who was serving his suspension for being ejected during the Reno match, the Monarchs came out with only a single guest player with Demar Phillips getting a fitness start at left fullback. Jamison Olave took charge in his absence and lead the team out into the 110 degree heat at gametime.
Phoenix with Didier Drogba and Omar Bravo up top and a four man midfield diamond very familiar to RSL fans came out pushing hard on the offensive side of the ball and managed several decent opportunities which failed to materialize into anything overly dangerous.