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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rochester Rhinos Visit Philadelphia Union in US Open Cup

June 15, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


Rochester, NY - The Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League (USL) continue play in the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup this Tuesday, June 16, at PPL Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a fourth round match against Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer (MLS). Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.

In the 2015 US Open Cup, the Rhinos entered the competition in the second round and beat Greater Binghamton FC Thunder of the National Professional Soccer League 1-0 at Sahlen's Stadium on May 20 on a 39th minute goal from Jamaican Kenardo Forbes. The Rhinos then visited the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL on May 27 in third round play and won 3-1 after extra time, with all of the goals coming in the second extra 15 minutes. Union loanee Eric Bird put Harrisburg up 1-0 in the 106th minute, but Forbes equalized a minute later off a pass from fellow Jamaican Asani Samuels, who then scored twice himself in the 115th and 120th minutes for the final margin of victory. The Rhinos played the final 82 minutes with 10 men after striker Steevan dos Santos was sent off for a second yellow card in the 38th minute.

The Rhinos are the only unbeaten team left in the USL, with a record of 8-0-4 in league play for 28 points, good for first place in both the Eastern Conference and the entire 24-team league, and have allowed a league-low four goals. In their most recent USL match, the Rhinos defeated Louisville City FC 2-0 on Saturday, June 13 on goals from Forbes (43') and dos Santos (68') and a shutout from fourth year keeper Brandon Miller, who was named the Man of the Match.

The Rhinos top ranked defense is led by Miller, who tops the USL with a 0.35 goals against average and five and a half shutouts in nine matches. Offensively, the Rhinos are paced in all competitions by dos Santos and Christian Volesky with four goals apiece, with Forbes and Alex Dixon having three goals each. However, dos Santos is suspended for Tuesday's match due to the red card received against Harrisburg.

The Rhinos have a long and storied history in the US Open Cup, starting in the team's inaugural year of 1996 when Rochester defeated then MLS leading Tampa Bay Mutiny in the quarterfinals 4-3 in extra time, the Colorado Rapids 3-0 in the semifinals before losing to DC United 3-0 in the final. Then, in 1999, the Rhinos became the only non-MLS team since 1996 to win the US Open Cup, beating Cup holders and MLS champion Chicago Fire 1-0, Dallas Burn 2-1 in extra time, Columbus Crew 2-1 and Colorado Rapids 2-0 in the final. The Rhinos have since made the US Open Cup semi-finals in 2009 and the quarterfinals in 2004, 2005 and 2010. Rochester's overall US Open Cup record is 34-16-5, the 34 victories tied with the Chicago Fire for the most wins in the Cup's modern era (since 1995), with the mark against MLS opposition being 8-14-4.

Philadelphia Union currently is 4-9-3 for 15 points in MLS, putting them seventh in the Eastern Conference, and have given up a league high 25 goals. Union has been idle from MLS play since a 2-1 loss at home to New York City FC on June 6, but did have a friendly match against their Premier Development League affiliate Reading United on June 9, winning 1-0 on the road. Union's attack is led by C.J Sapong with four goals and two assists, Fernando Aristeguieta and Vincent Nogueira with three goals each, Sebastien Le Toux (the modern era leading scorer in the US Open Cup - 14 goals) with two goals and four assists and Cristian Maidana with one goal and a team high five assists (fifth in MLS).

According to Philadelphia coach Jim Curtin in a Monday press conference, Union will have in goal John McCarthy, who was a key member of the Rhinos in 2014 notching an 8-4-6 record, nine shutouts and a 0.72 goals against average, which was best in the USL. McCarthy, who was named the 2014 USL Rookie of the Year and the USL Goalkeeper of the Year, was transferred from the Rhinos to Union on February 23, 2015. The LaSalle alumnus currently has a 1-3-1 record and a 1.80 goals against average in five matches, but has been sidelined since May 5 after suffering a concussion in practice.

Union failed to qualify for the US Open Cup in 2010 and 2011 when only 8 MLS teams were entered into the main draw of the competition, but then made the semi-finals in 2012, the round of 16 in 2013 and lost in the 2014 final at PPL Park to Seattle 3-1 in extra time. Union's overall US Open Cup record is 7-3-1.

This is the second meeting ever between the Rhinos and Union, the first coming in the 2012 US Open Cup fourth round at PPL Park on May 29 of that year. Philadelphia won 3-0 on two goals from Freddy Adu and one from Josue Martinez. However, nearly all of the players who competed in that match have moved on, with only Miller remaining on the Rhinos (who did not see action in the 2012 match) and starters Brian Carroll, Michael Lahoud and Sheanon Williams and unused sub Antoine Hoppenot from Union.

The Rhinos are in the middle of a three match in 6 days schedule. After Tuesday's Cup match, the Rhinos return to USL play facing host Harrisburg City once more at the Skyline Sports Complex starting at 7:30 pm. The next Rhinos home match is Saturday, June 27th in USL action against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Hall of Fame Night at Sahlen's Stadium starting at 7:05 pm.



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