Williams, Flemmings on target in USL

NEW YORK, CMC:

Reggae Boyz forward Romario Williams netted a brace to rescue a share of the points for the besieged Miami FC while fellow Jamaican Junior Flemmings struck a lead-leading ninth goal to inspire Phoenix Rising FC to a comprehensive win in the United Soccer League (USL) on Wednesday night.

Playing at the Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami, the hosts found themselves 0-2 down to Atlanta United 2 after 23 minutes before the 26-year-old Williams single-handedly hauled his side back from the brink with two goals in the same half.

Jack Gurr put the visitors ahead in the 18th minute before Amadou Diop doubled the lead from the penalty spot five minutes later.

But Miami halved the lead moments later when Vincent Bezecourt put through Prince Saydee, who squared from the left for the onrushing Williams to tap in from close range.

Williams' second goal came in stoppage time at the end when Modou Jadama was caught napping in possession in his own third, allowing Bezecourt to steal the ball and set up a superb finish from 10 yards out.

The Jamaican nearly had a third - and the winner for Miami - in the 58th minute when he held off one defender and curled a right-footed volley from 20 yards out but could only strike the uprights with the goalkeeper beaten.

Williams now has four goals for the season while Miami remain rooted to the bottom of Group H on two points and without a win in five outings.

At Dignity Health Sports Park - formerly the StubHub Center - in Carson, California, Flemmings was again at the forefront as in-form Phoenix hammered LA Galaxy 2, 4-1 in a lopsided affair.

The 24-year-old Flemmings grabbed the opener in the 23rd minute in an all-Jamaican link-up, involving midfielder Kevon Lambert.

Denied in the ninth minute in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Abraham Romero, Flemmings made no mistake the second time around when Lambert played a ball over the top, and he narrowly eluded the off-side trap to score from eight yards out.