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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Defeat Phoenix FC 4:3

August 17, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


PHOENIX, AZ - The Rochester Rhinos defeated Phoenix FC Wolves 4:3 on Friday, August 16th, 2013 in Reach 11 Stadium.

In a familiar storyline from the 2013 season, the Rochester Rhinos fell behind by two goals in the first half before ultimately scoring the game-winning goal in stoppage time. Phoenix FC took a two goal lead in the first half after striker Danny Toia opened the scoring in the fourth minute and striker Travis Bowen doubled the home side's advantage in the 21st minute. Rhinos 2013 MVP Danny Earls halved the deficit for the visitors in the 32nd minute to give Phoenix FC a 2:1 lead at the half. Blake Brettschneider scored the equalizer for the Rochester Rhinos in the 59th minute, and Thomas Kelly McManus gave the Rhinos their first lead of the match in the 64th minute. Substitute Josh Bento scored an equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time for Phoenix FC, but McManus scored the game-winner in stoppage time for the second consecutive match for the Rochester Rhinos.

Phoenix FC Wolves opened the scoring four minutes into the match. Donny Toia used his pace to get free on the right side of the pitch. Then the 20 year-old Tucson, Arizona native was able to hit a well struck shot past Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller to give the home side the early lead.

Three minutes later Phoenix FC goalkeeper Sheldon Parkinson was injured. Parkinson cleared a ball from a tight situation in the Wolves box when he collided with his own defender Isaiah Schafer. Parkinson appeared to injure his hip during the collision. After three minutes Parkinson was helped off the field, and he was replaced by back-up goalkeeper Neal Kitson. It was Parkinson's first match back as the first team goalkeeper after a layoff due to injury.

Phoenix FC doubled their lead in the 21st minute. Brazilian Diego Faria was in possession of the ball on the left flank about eight yards from the end line. Faria dropped the ball back to left back Scott Morrison who served an early ball into the box from 25 yards out. Striker Travis Bowen was able to get on the end of the service and put his header on goal, but Miller was there to make a diving reflex save. While Miller was on the ground, Bowen was the first to the rebound and tapped the ball into the Rochester goal for a 0:2 deficit.

Rochester got a goal back in the 32nd minute. Rhinos MVP Danny Earls played a short corner from the right side of the pitch with midfielder Tyler Rosenlund. After a one-two off of the corner, Earls served a ball into the Wolves box. It didn't look like it would be particularly troubling for Kitson to deal with when Earls struck the ball, but the inswinging service found it's way into the side netting to cut the deficit to 1:2.

With three goals and the injury to Parkinson, the head referee added six minutes of stoppage time to the end of the first half. In the last minute of stoppage time the head referee sent 20 year old Phoenix FC defender Tommy Ramos off on the far side of the pitch. The red card left Phoenix FC to play a man down for the second half.

The Rochester Rhinos found the equalizer in the 59th minute. The Rhinos played striker Matt Horth in behind the Phoenix FC back four. Horth dribbled the ball down the left side of the Wolves box. Phoenix FC center back Cyrian Hedrick closed down Horth, but Horth was able to drop the ball to Blake Brettschneider on the Wolves penalty spot. Brettschneider took a touch before finishing the ball into the opposite corner of the net to level the score at two.

After the Rhinos found the equalizer, Rochester Head Coach Pat Ercoli replaced Horth and Brettschneider with Andrew Hoxie and Thomas Kelly McManus. Five minutes later the Rochester Rhinos took their first lead of the match. McManus blasted a shot past Kitson from the top of the Phoenix FC penalty area to give the visitors a 3:2 lead. It was McManus sixth goal of the season.

In the first minute of stoppage time Phoenix FC substitute Josh Bento looked like he rescued a point for the home side. Bento made a late run into the Rochester penalty area and blasted a loose ball into the back of the Rhinos net from 15 yards out. On the ensuing kickoff the Rochester Rhinos got substitute Michael Reidy free down the left flank. Reidy crossed the ball into the box and found McManus. The Scotsman scored his second consecutive stoppage time winner to take all three points for Rochester.

The Rochester Rhinos final match of the 2013 USL PRO season will be on Saturday, August 17th at 11:00PM ET in Los Angeles against the Blues. The match can be seen live via streaming video on UNATION at www.uslnation.com.

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