USL Rochester Rhinos

Rochester Defeats Pittsburgh 1:0 in Home Finale

August 9, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


The Rochester Rhinos defeated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1:0 on the final kick of the match in Sahlen's Stadium on Friday, August 9th 2013.

Rhinos substitute Thomas Kelly McManus scored the game winning goal off of a free kick from 26 yards out late in stoppage time to give the Rochester Rhinos a victory in their 2013 USL PRO home finale. The final play began when substitute Kendell McFayden drove down the middle of the pitch and was tackled from behind by Riverhounds captain Andrew Marshall. Head referee David Mon booked Marshall for the foul, and then moved the Pittsburgh wall back the required ten yards setting the stage for McManus. McManus took two steps before striking the ball with his right foot over the wall and into the lower right hand corner of the Riverhounds' goal. Pittsburgh goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap was left stranded and could only watch the ball go into the net. Mon blew his whistle for full time during McManus's goal celebration.

"I practice free kicks every day and have literally taken hundreds of them in my career." McManus said. "I've had some good efforts during my time here in Rochester, but they've never seemed to go in. After a long season it's nice to give the fans something to go home happy about."

Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller made two saves on four shots faced to keep his first professional clean sheet in his first professional home league match.

The loss leaves the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the eighth and final playoff spot in the USL PRO table with three matches left to play. Pittsburgh leads ninth place VSI Tampa Bay FC by three points, and travels back home to Highmark Stadium to host VSI on Sunday afternoon at 3:30PM. The match can be seen live on UNATION at www.uslnation.com.

The three points move the Rochester Rhinos into 11th place in the USL PRO table with 25 points. The Rhinos were officially eliminated from the playoff race for the first time in the club's 18 year history after last Friday night's 1:3 home loss to the Dayton Dutch Lions. The Rhinos conclude their season in Phoenix against the Phoenix FC Wolves on Friday, August 17th at 10:30PM ET and Saturday, August 18th in Los Angeles against the Blues at 11PM ET. Both of those matches can also be seen live on UNATION at www.uslnation.com.

Before kickoff the Rochester Rhinos announced their annual club award winners. Fourth year left back Danny Earls won the Rhinos Most Valuable Player Award presented by The Flanders Group. First year striker Blake Brettschneider was the club's leading scorer and he won Offensive Player of the Year. Captain Troy Roberts won the Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive season. Midfielder Lance Rozeboom won the Rookie of the Year award. Josh Faga won the Iacovangelo Community Service Award.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 9, 2013


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