Cup Matchday: Rochester

The Rochester Rhinos will try and continue their hot streak in the USOC tonight, as they take on MLS’s New England Revolution in Providence, Rhode Island tonight.

We’ve covered both teams before so I’ll keep this brief, but the Rhinos are currently riding high.  They’ve taken four points form two matches since the DC United victory, with their players looking in good form.  JC Banks continues to score, and rookie keeper John McCarthy, aka the USL Petr Cech, continued to look solid.  The Rhinos have played the Revs five times previous, however they have only advanced once, in 2004.

The Revolution are still on MLS’s World Cup break, so their form is only based from their other USOC appearance, where they barely beat Richmond, down in RVA.  Steve Neumann and Patrick Mullins scored in that match, but the Revs will need to bring something a little stronger to break Rochester’s stringent defense.  They will also be without Shalrie Joseph because of an injury, and Jerry Bengtson because he is still in Brazil with the Honduran national team.

The match begins at 7:35 EST, and will be held on the Brown University campus — similar to last year, when the two teams played each other on the Harvard facilities. The match can be streamed on revolutionsoccer.net

Rochester Advances over DCU

via rhinossoccer.com

The improbable happened, and Rochester was able to outlast the reigning US Open Cup champion DC United on a miserable Tuesday night in upstate New York.

The damage was done my Colin Rolfe, who scored from the six-yard box on the back end up a nice set-up from Michael Garzi.  The shot went past the reach of 2013 USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Year, Andrew Dykstra, who now plays in Washington.

There weren’t a whole lot of chances from United early on, and Rhinos goalkeeper John McCarthy (looking very Petr Cech-like) was only tested a few times.  The score remained tied at half, and little excitement came between then and the 60th minute (save for a Jonny Mendoza to Garzi chance in the 52nd), when  Steve Birnbaum received his second caution of the match and was sent off.  Play was then suspended in the 61st, around 8:24pm, after thunderstorms cleared the field.

Play resumed at 9:02, and with the start-up, so came on DC United captain Bobby Boswell.  Play was short, however, as a second stoppage was called at 9:11pm, this time lasting 91 minutes.  The teams began play again, around 10:42 to an admittedly dry looking pitch — kudos to the Rochester grounds crew.  From there, DC materialized a few chances, especially in the final minutes, but it was to no avail.  This was the first time that the Rhinos have defeated DC in USOC play.

Rolfe looked good with his goal, but Mendoza was simply everywhere on the field all night, and was arguably the man of the match.  Alex Dixon was looking especially speedy, in defiance of his reported injury, and McCarthy was on point all evening.  The Rhinos will now play the winner of Richmond/New England.

Cup Matchday: Rochester

via rhinossoccer.com

The fourth-place Rhinos certainly have their hands full tonight, facing MLS-leading, and defending US Open Cup Champion, DC United.  The match does, however, take place in Rochester at Sahlen’s Stadium.

Rochester has been playing solid football lately, keeping strong defensive play as the key to their success.  On the offensive side, top scorer JC Banks is doubtful with an injury, plus Alex Dixon and Pat McMahon are questionable as well. Alec Sundly is also unable to suit up, as he is cup-tied to the New England Revs, and their match against Richmond tomorrow.  Rochester has a proud history in the Open Cup, including winning the competition in 1999.  However, in their last four matches against MLS opponents, they are 0-4.

Again, DC United is flying high right now.  They lead MLS’s Eastern Conference, are in the midst of a three week break, and this is their first Open Cup match since winning last season.  They are led by captain Bobby Boswell and former USMNT forward Eddie Johnson.  They will, however, be without the talent of leading scorer Fabián Espíndola, who is currently out with an MCL injury.  Although DC usually starts Bill Hamid at goalkeeper, if he is to be rested, we could see an appearance from last year’s USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Year Andrew Dykstra, who now backs up Hamid.

Rochester has beaten many MLS sides in the past, and they will be looking for an upset at home tonight.  The game can be streamed here.

Wednesday Night Matches

via @LAGalaxyII

Harrisburg City Islanders at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (3-1)

The bottom-dwelling Riverhounds (1-7-4) fell to the Islanders (3-6-2), and for the second time in as many weeks.  An early Collins John goal was not enough for the Hounds, as Harrisburg fought back with three unanswered goals from Tim McLaughlin, Clesio Bauque, and Yann Ekra. Recent loanee Shane Johnson started for the Islanders, and played a full 90.  The teams meet again on Saturday, this time at Skyline Sports Complex in the state capital.

 

Orange County Blues FC at Orlando City SC (1-4)

Orlando City added three more points to their league leading total with a convincing win over the OC Blues at home.  Jiovanni Santana scored first for the Blues (5-8-0), but Corey Hertzog followed up with a goal of his own at the end of the first half, and Austin da Luz put the go-ahead goal in early in the second.  Brad Rusin had a late brace for Orlando (11-0-3) to assure that their unbeaten streak stayed alive.  The Blues travel north to Charlotte on Friday, while Orlando City will stay dormant until their Open Cup clash on the road against the Colorado Rapids on June 17.

 

Rochester Rhinos at LA Galaxy II (2-1)

2,268 miles from home, the Rhinos (5-3-5) defeated second-place Los Dos (8-3-3), who, with the loss, fell nine points behind Orlando City.  Jonny Mendoza and Alex Dixon scored for Rochester before the half hour mark was hit, and captain Rafael Garcia netted for the home side.  The reported attendance was 561.  Both teams are active this Saturday, where LA starts an oddly-planned road trip in Charleston, while Rochester stays out west to take on Arizona.

 

Dayton Dutch Lions at Arizona United FC (2-1)

Dayton (3-8-2) picked up their third win of the season, and first on the road, by way of a Aaron Schoenfeld brace while visiting Arizona (3-6-2) in the penultimate game of their four-match road trip.  Shoenfeld scored at 5′ and 36′, while Rodney Wallace scored for Arizona at the 18′ mark.  Wallace, a former first-round MLS Superdraft pick, only joined Arizona on June 6.  He is on loan from the Portland Timbers.  Both teams’ next matches are coincidentally against the Rochester Rhinos, with Arizona United staying home to take on the Rhinos this Saturday, while Dayton travels to Rochester Friday, June 20.