USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Lose in a Shootout to Philadelphia Union in the US Open Cup

June 16, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


Chester, PA - The Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League (USL) lost in a penalty kick shootout 3-1 against host Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer (MLS) Tuesday evening in the fourth round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after the teams played to a 0-0 tie after 120 minutes. Former Rhinos keeper John McCarthy was the Man of the Match for Union, saving three of the four Rochester penalties and making key saves late in the second half. McCarthy was a member of the Rhinos in 2014, earning both USL Rookie of the Year and USL Goalkeeper of the Year honors.

Both teams fielded strong lineups for the match, with Rhinos coach Bob Lilley making 4 changes from his team that beat Louisville City 2-0 on Saturday and Union Coach Jim Curtin making 3 changes from his last MLS match on June 6 against New York City FC, a 2-1 loss. Philadelphia had the majority of the play in the first half hour, earning 3 corners and two free kicks in the Rochester half, but the final attempts on goal were handled well by the Rhinos back line. In the 13th minute, CJ Sapong was through one-on-one against Rhinos keeper Brandon Miller, but his pass to Cristian Maidana was behind him, delaying the shot and allowing Julian Ringhof to clear off the line. The best chance of the half for Union came in the 30th minute when Andrew Wenger's cross on the left was flicked first time on target in the six yard box by Sapong, but Miller got down well and blocked the shot.

The Rhinos stepped up the pressure in the final 15 minutes of the half on Union, winning the majority of the 50-50 balls and getting some good looks at goal. Jonny Menzoda forced a kick save from McCarthy in the 34th minute after a through ball from Christian Volesky, who also had two shots at goal in the half. Neither team could find the back of the net in the first 45 and the half ended 0-0.

The Rhinos started off the second half where they left off, keeping play in the Union half, but the home side took control in the 52nd minute with a great 3v1 chance, but the final pass from Wenger to Maidana was misplayed. Six minutes later, on a free kick from the right side, Maidana curled a shot just wide of the upper corner. It was Maidana again in minute 72 off a corner finding Vincent Nogueira, whose shot was bobbled by Miller, but the rebound attempt from Sapong was smothered by the Rhinos keeper.

Late in the second half, the Rhinos surged again and could have taken the lead but for two big defensive plays by McCarthy. In the 83rd minute, a corner from Mendoza was not cleared and the ball popped up at the penalty spot, where Ringhof chested the ball down and fired a shot that McCarthy parried into the air and then punched over the bar. Six minutes later, substitute Alex Dixon put a perfect through ball ahead for Volesky, but McCarthy came out of his area and just beat the Rhinos forward to the ball. The Rhinos had one last chance in stoppage time as Mendoza got free on the left, beat both McCarthy and defender Raymon Gaddis and chipped towards goal, but Gaddis got back and cleared the ball off the line and regulation ended 0-0.

Both teams slowed down the pace considerably In the extra 30 minutes, with the only good chance coming again to Volesky in the 104th minute as he latched onto another through ball, got around a charging McCarthy and put the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed as Volesky was deemed to have fouled the Union keeper. Third round US Open Cup hero Asani Samuels came on in the final 15 minutes for a final push, but there were to be no goals scored on the night and the match officially ended 0-0 and a penalty kick tiebreaker would decide who would advance to the next round of the US Open Cup.

Union captain Maurice Edu converted on the first penalty, beating Miller to his right, but Mendoza tied the shootout going down the middle past McCarthy. Nogueira scored for Union in practically the same place as Edu for a 2-1 lead and then it was McCarthy who became a brick wall for the home team, first diving low to his right to save from Rhinos substitute Vasilios Apostolopolous. Sapong gave the Rhinos hope by missing his penalty well high, but McCarthy came up big again on Walls, once again diving to his right to make a brilliant save. Maidana slotted home a perfect spot kick into the right corner for a 3-1 Philadelphia lead and the Rhinos final chance to stay in the shootout from Volesky was saved by McCarthy to his left, giving Union the win in the shootout and moving the MLS side into the fifth round of the US Open Cup.

The Rhinos overall record in the US Open Cup is now 34-16-6 in 20 years, with a 8-14-5 mark against MLS teams. Philadelphia's all-time Cup record in 4 seasons is 7-3-2 after Tuesday' result, officially a 0-0 tie in the books.

The Rochester Rhinos play their third match in six days on Friday June 19 against Harrisburg City Islanders in a USL league match at 7:30 pm at the Skyline Sports Complex. The next Rhinos home match is Saturday, June 27 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Hall of Fame Night at Sahlen's Stadium starting at 7:05 pm.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 16, 2015


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