USL News Release
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
TAMPA, FL – In a special Thursday night edition of the USL First Division game of the week on Fox Soccer Channel, the Portland Timbers play host to the Rochester Rhinos at PGE Park. Game time is set for 11:00 pm ET.
The Timbers enter Thursday’s game having shut out opponents in their last three consecutive matches. Portland’s back line has logged 297 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal, including the team’s 0-0 draw against the Cleveland City Stars on the road over the weekend. The Timbers have conceded just one goal through their first four games of the season.
The Rhinos come into the contest having won three consecutive matches on the road, accounting for three of the six road wins overall in the league through 26 games played thus far this season. They notched their third win of the run last weekend in Montreal, 2-1.
Thursday marks the first of two regular season meetings between the Timbers and Rhinos this season at PGE Park. In 2008, Portland was 0-2-1 against Rochester and recorded its only point against the Rhinos in a draw at PGE Park. Portland is 1-8-2 all-time against the Rhinos since their rebirth in 2001, capturing their lone win in the series with a 2-0 result on May 13, 2007 in Portland. The Rhinos are 3-1-1 in Portland with an aggregate advantage in scoring of 8-3.
After a scoreless draw in their first meeting in their initial meeting last year in Portland, the Rhinos hosted the next two and it turned out to be the Johnny Menyongar-Matthew Delicate showcase. Menyongar set up Delicate for the opener in the second meeting with the two reversing roles for the 2-1 winner. In the final showdown, Menyongar set up Delicate again for the opener with Tiger Fitzpatrick connecting with Ryan Heins to seal a 2-0 win.
While Delicate has since returned to his former club Richmond, the diminutive midfielder-striker Menyongar is the lone player on the club with more than one goal, accounting for three of the Rhinos seven strikes on the campaign.
Next USL on FSC Match: The Carolina RailHawks will visit the promoted Cleveland City Stars next Friday, May 22 at 8:00 pm ET. It will mark the first meeting of RailHawks coach Martin Rennie with his former side.
