USL Rochester Rhinos

Unbeaten Rhinos Top FC Montreal 3:0

Published on April 11, 2015 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


Rochester Rhinos vs. FC Montreal
Rochester Rhinos vs. FC Montreal
(Rochester Rhinos)

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - The Rochester Rhinos renewed their historic rivalry with FC Montreal on the afternoon of Saturday, April 11 th 2015 on the grounds of Saputo Stadium, and took all three points with a 3:0 victory to remain unbeaten early in the 2015 USL season. Jonny Mendoza opened the scoring for the visitors with a first half strike, while rookie substitute Christian Volesky added two second half goals for Rochester. Fourth year goalkeeper Brandon Miller kept his second clean sheet of the season for the visiting Rhinos.

Mendoza scored the match winning goal in the 35 th minute after Rhinos left back Onua Thomas Obasi made one of the most memorable runs in Rhinos history to set up the scoring opportunity. Obasi was matched up one-versus-one against FC Montreal right winger Fabio Morelli on the left flank 25 yards out from the Rhinos goal at the start of the scoring sequence. Obasi won the ball away from Morelli with a poke tackle before dribbling 95 yards down the left side of the pitch while slaloming past Morelli as well as FC Montreal defenders Janouk Charbonneau and Louis B é land-Goyette. Obasi cut the ball back when he reached the FC Montreal end line, and played the ball back through the penalty area to Rochester center midfielder Michael Garzi at the top of the box. FC Montreal was able to block Garzi's shot, but the ball rebounded right back to him. Garzi kept his composure and dropped the ball back to Mendoza. Mendoza shaped a well placed shot past FC Montreal goalkeeper David Paulmin into the right corner from 25 yards out for his first goal of the season.

The 54 th meeting between the two historic rivals dating back to the early days of professional soccer in North America was a traditional physical encounter between the two sides, and there were a total of five bookings and one player sent off. The turning point in the match came in the 65 th minute when FC Montreal center back Franck Zou é was shown a red card. Rhinos striker Alex Dixon was played through behind the FC Montreal back four, and dribbling in on Paulmin's goal when Zou é's diagonal recovery run caught up with Dixon at the top of the FC Montreal penalty area. Zou é took Dixon down just outside the penalty area with a tackle from behind. The head referee judged that Zou é acted as the last defender to deny a clear cut goal scoring opportunity, and he sent Zou é off.

Rochester dominated possession after the red card, and Volesky scored two goals in a two minute span. Down a goal and a man FC Montreal was forced to chase the match with a three man back line, and Volesky used the extra space at the back to open his professional scoring account. In the 69 th minute Mendoza finished off an extended spell of possession for the Rhinos with a through ball to Dixon down the left flank. Dixon got to the end line before turning around the corner of the FC Montreal back three. Dixon scooped a cross into the penalty area that found Volesky running unmarked in the middle of the box. Volesky calmly finished the ball past Paulmin and into the lower right corner of the goal. Two minutes later Mendoza ended another extended spell of possession for Rochester with a through ball to substitute Christian Silva down the left flank. Silva served a cross into the near post from the left corner where he found the run of Dixon. Dixon occupied two FC Montreal defenders with a dummy that left Volesky all alone at the far post. Volesky, the 2015 Major League Soccer Combine Most Valuable Player, finished again to secure all three points for the visitors.

It was only the Rhinos third victory in 27 visits to Montreal.

The Rochester Rhinos continue the early days of their 20 th season with two matches next week. Rochester visits Louisville FC on Thursday, April 16 th 2015 with a 7:30PM kickoff before traveling to Saint Louis on Saturday, April 18 th 2015 for an 8:30PM kickoff. Both games can be seen live in their entirety via streaming video on YouTube Live.

The Rhinos open their 20 th season in Rochester on Sunday, April 26 th 2015 in Sahlen's Stadium at 2:05PM against New York Red Bulls II. Single game tickets to the home opener are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), online via Ticketmaster, or by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium during business hours.

Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages, and group sales tickets are also currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), online via Ticketmaster, or by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium during business hours.

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Rochester Rhinos vs. FC Montreal
Rochester Rhinos vs. FC Montreal
   



United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 11, 2015


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