MLS New England Revolution

Revolution Beat Rhinos, 4-2

Published on July 10, 2007 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Steve Ralston assisted on Taylor Twellman's game-winning goal in the 90th minute and then added an insurance penalty kick in stoppage time - which Twellman drew - as the New England Revolution earned a 4-2 victory over the Rochester Rhinos in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday evening at PAETEC Park. Both Twellman and Ralston scored two goals apiece as the Revs advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time of America's oldest cup tournament in as many seasons and for the fourth time overall.

With the victory - the Revs second over the Rhinos in Open Cup action in as many seasons - New England advanced to the quarterfinals of the annual event, where they will meet the winner of the D.C. United (MLS) - Harrisburg City Islanders (United Soccer Leagues Second Division) third-round match on Tuesday, Aug. 7. If D.C. advances, the Revs will travel to Germantown, Md., and face United at Maryland Soccerplex. If Harrisburg posts the upset, the Revs will host the Islanders at Lusitano Field in Ludlow, Mass.

The Revs - one of eight MLS teams in the Open Cup bracket - entered the tournament in the third round and met the Rhinos, the USL First Division's top team, at their home park. The game marked the fourth time the teams had met in Open Cup action in the last five years with the Revs advancing further three of the four times.

Ralston put the Revs ahead 1-0 in the 19th minute, curling a free kick from the edge of the penalty arc into the upper right corner of the net past Rochester goalkeeper Nuno Santos. Taylor Twellman earned the dangerous free kick after he was tackled down by Rhinos defender Kenney Bertz just outside the area on his way to goal.

After taking the one-goal lead into halftime, the Revs saw the Rhinos pick up its attack as the second stanza started and the home team out-shot New England 7-3 in the first 10 minutes of the half. Revolution boss Steve Nicol made two second-half substitutions to help change the flow of the game, with Khano Smith coming in on the left side for Marshall Leonard and James Riley entering in the defensive midfield for Andy Dorman.

With the changes, the Revs went on the attack, and Twellman helped increase the New England lead. In the 67th minute, he took a pass on the ground from Riley from the right, and back to goal, turned for the shot to the far post from five yards out. He snuck his shot past Santos for the 2-0 lead, but Rochester continued to push its attack.

Rochester broke through and scored a goal in the 76th minute when Hamed Diallo poked in a John Ball cross. Rochester switched sides of the field with the ball, and Ball - on the right post unmarked - sent a waist-high pass across the face of the goal for Diallo who ran onto the ball on the left post unmarked for the goal.

Diallo struck again in the 85th minute when he ran onto a Johnny Menyongar through ball and split the Revs defense. He struck a hard shot that curled to the left post and past Revolution keeper Matt Reis to level the score at 2-2.

Twellman, however, wasted no time in putting the Revs ahead in the 90th minute. After Smith won a free kick 28 yards out on the left wing, Ralston stepped up and sent his service in to the far post, where Twellman rose above the Rhinos defender and snapped a header past Santos for the 3-2 lead. Ralston took the free kick while Rochester was still setting up its defensive wall, and his pass met Twellman for his second goal of the game.

Just as stoppage time was coming to an end, Wells Thompson and Twellman combined in the penalty area and drew a penalty kick. Twellman broke free five yards from goal, but was taken down by P.J. Scheufele before he could get a shot off. Referee Richard Sanchez point to the penalty spot, and Ralston stepped up, stutter-stepped to freeze Santos, and calmly slotted his penalty to the right side to complete the scoring and the wrap up the victory.

The Revs return to MLS action on Saturday, July 14, when they travel to face the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., and Fox Soccer Channel will televise the game live nationally. The WEEI Radio Network will also carry the game.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 10, 2007


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