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USL-1 Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos reach US Open Cup Semis

July 8, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


TAMPA, FL - On the 10-year anniversary of their famous US Open Cup Championship run, the Rochester Rhinos placed themselves within two games of becoming a two-time champion, downing the USL Second Division's Wilmington Hammerheads 2-1 Tuesday night in the Quarterfinals as the other two USL clubs fell to their opposition.

Prior to the Charleston Battery's run to the championship game last year, the Rhinos were the lone USL team since the inception of Major League Soccer in 1996 to reach the final, having accomplished the feat in 1996 and 1999. Despite a shining reputation for tournament play, the 1999 title run also marked the last time the Rhinos appeared in the final four of the tournament, allowing the Battery to become the first team last year from USL to reach the semifinals three times (1999, 2004, 2008).

After going to overtime in all three previous contests this year, including two decided in penalties, the Rhinos appeared to be headed that direction yet again as the match went scoreless in the first half at Marina Auto Stadium against the Hammerheads, who were coming off a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire of MLS.

But Wilmington's first trek out of the state of North Carolina after having hosted two matches and played the third in Cary against the USL-1 RailHawks, may have started to show in the second half as the Rhinos got on the board nine minutes into the second stanza. Mike Ambersley connected with Tai Atieno for the go-ahead goal. Andrew Gregor doubled the lead in the 67th from the spot with the penalty proving to be the winner as Wilmington's Jamie Watson was able to beat the Rhinos five minutes later.

In Charleston, the Houston Dynamo avenged elimination from the past two years' tournaments at Blackbaud with a resounding 4-0 victory over the Battery with three second half strikes.

The USL-2 leading Harrisburg City Islanders' run came to end on the road to DC United, who also avenged previous a previous upset (2007) with a 2-1 victory at the Maryland Sportsplex.

In the all-MLS affair, the Seattle Sounders will be in a third consecutive semifinal, after two as a USL club, by virtue of an 89th minute Sebastian Le Toux penalty kick in a 1-0 win over the visiting Kansas City Wizards at Starfire Sports Complex.



USL First Division Stories from July 8, 2009


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