USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Drop 4th of July Clash in Pittsburgh

July 5, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


Before a sellout Fourth of July crowd at Highmark Stadium, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds won their first home game of the year as they defeated the Rochester Rhinos 2-0. Second-half goals by Andrew Marshall and Alfonso Motagalvan proved the difference as the Riverhounds took their second consecutive victory and moved off the bottom of the league standings.

The Riverhounds used the same formula in beating the Rhinos for the second time in the past month - by scoring both second-half goals from set pieces.

The goals came from two unlikely players in Marshall and Motagalvan, as the defenders tallied their first goals of the season. Goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap recorded his second shutout of the season to lead the Hounds to their second consecutive win for the first time in USL PRO in 2014.

In the 51st minute, Matt Dallman tried to send a cross from the right end-line, but Rochester's Pat Slogic's handball knocked the ball down, setting up a free kick from the edge of the box. Danny Earls sent a nicely placed free kick to the near post, and Marshall took care of it from there as he headed home to give the Hounds the 1-0 lead.

The Riverhounds continued to pressure Rochester's back line, and forced a corner kick as Rochester's Babacar Diallo misplayed a ball in the 66th minute. Dallman delivered a cross that sailed past a scrum near the center of the goal box area, and an unmarked Motagalvan squared to the goal, and managed to knock it in with the side of his body for a two-goal advantage.

Neither side was able to create many scoring chances in the early stages. In 17th minute, Rhinos midfielder Johnny Mendoza slid a shot past Hunter Gilstrap, but he was called for offside. Rochester also had a few dangerous crosses in the half, but were mostly unable to connect.

The Riverhounds had trouble generating shots in the first half too, as Jose Angulo's free kick in the 34th minute was the only shot they could muster in the first half against one of the better defensive units in USL PRO.

The Fourth of July holiday match was the third, and final meeting between the two teams, as the Riverhounds took the season series with two wins, including a historic first-ever victory at Rochester's Sahlen's Stadium after 19 tries.

The Rhinos next home match is Friday, July 11th 2014 at 7:35PM against the FC Dallas Reserves. Tickets for any match on the Rhinos home schedule will be available by by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages and group ticket sales are also currently available.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 5, 2014


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