City Stars Fall 2-1 In Overtime In U.S. Open Cup Second Round

June 16, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Cleveland City Stars News Release


ROCHESTER, New York - The Cleveland City Stars could not hold onto a 1-0 second half lead in falling 2-1 to the Rochester Rhinos in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Ryan Stewart gave the City Stars the lead in the 59th minute on a penalty kick but Ryan Heins evened the score for the Rhinos in the 82nd minute to force overtime before Kenny Bertz won the match for the Rhinos with a goal in the 113th minute.

"Our guys fought hard tonight and really left it all out on the field," said City Stars Head Coach Rod Underwood. "Our defense did a good job of keeping us in the game but we just weren't able to get that one break that we needed to pull it out. It's a disappointing result for us but we have a quick turn around and we need to get focused and ready to get back into league play on Thursday. We're excited to go back home to play in front of our fans and we need to continue to play well during this home stretch."

The first half was mostly controlled by the Rochester but the City Stars were able to counter attack at times. Although the first half ended in a scoreless tie, both sides were able to create chances.

In the 4th minute, Rochester's Danny Earls fired a shot off a volley but Cleveland's Hunter Gilstrap was there for the save.

In the 28th minute Johnny Monyongar floated a pass into the box towards Mauricio Salles. Salles leaped up to the ball and sent it towards the net with an acrobatic bicycle kick but Gilstrap got a finger on the ball and deflected it off the post.

Just three minutes later, Rochester's Chris Nurse settled into a powerful shot from 30-yards out but Gilstrap was there again, this time making a great diving save.

The City Stars got their best look of the first half in the 42nd minute when Leo Gibson sent a ball from outside the 18 to the far post towards an unmarked Godfrey Tenoff. Before Tenoff could reach the pass, Joshua Boateng jumped in front with a diving header that was easily saved by Rochester's Scott Vallow.

The City Stars had a great chance just after halftime as Rochester's Nathaniel Short misplayed the ball in the Rhinos defensive third. The ball was deflected by Gibson and bounced into the feet of Boateng who dribbled into a clear shot from 15-yards out but Vallow responded with a beautiful diving save.

The next chance came from the City Stars in the 57th minute as Stewart raced passed Derron Kenton in the corner of the 18-yard box. Stewart was tackled as he turned the corner and a penalty was called on Kenton, setting up a penalty kick. Stewart took the PK and sent it into the left side of the net as Vallow dove right to give the City Stars the 1-0 lead.

The City Stars were unable to make the lead hold up as Rochester responded in the 82nd minute off a rocket of a shot from Heins. As the Rhinos pushed up the field, Andrew Gregor passed to the freshly inserted Heins and the midfielder had multiple touches on the ball before unleashing a laser from outside the box that found its mark in the back of the net between the diving Gilstrap and the far post to give the Rhinos the equalizer.

The City Stars missed on one last opportunity in the 90th minute as Ricardo Pierre-Louis made a long run through the middle but sent an off balance shot over the top of the post just before the end of regulation, sending the match into overtime.

The final tally came in the 113th minute off a Rochester corner kick. Mike Ambersely drove the ball into the box and Kenny Bertz was there on the run to head the ball past Gilstrap and in for the 2-1 lead.

Despite the last ditch efforts, the City Stars were unable to mount any serious chances during the final seven minutes of the overtime period.

The City Stars return to league play on Thursday June 18th with a home match against the Miami FC Blues. All tickets for the match are $5 and are available through clevelandcitystars.com or by calling 330-425-2003.



USL First Division Stories from June 16, 2009


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