Ahead of the 2016 USL Cup Final, Presented by Nike, we’re taking a look at the road of the two finalists to their first visit to the championship game. Tune in this Sunday on ESPNU, the WatchESPN app, or SiriusXM FC 85 as the New York Red Bulls II host the Swope Park Rangers at 8 p.m. ET.

New York Red Bulls II vs. Rochester Rhinos
October 7, 2016 – Red Bull Arena

As successful as the New York Red Bulls II’s regular season had been, there was still one thing the side had not been able to accomplish in its run to the USL Regular Season Championship – earn the club’s first victory against the Rochester Rhinos.

Three consecutive draws, including a pair of 0-0 contests at Red Bull Arena, had come and gone in the regular season as the defending USL champions arrived for the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs. The final meeting of the season between the two teams would be very different to those that had come before, however, as the game swung back and forth between the two sides all the way into a penalty shootout.

Rochester opened the game confidently, but it was New York that took the lead in the 20th minute when a chipped pass by Vincent Bezecourt played Derrick Etienne Jr. into the left side of the penalty area. The Haitian standout cut past his defender, and sent a low shot into the left corner of the net. As quickly as the Red Bulls II went ahead, the Rhinos responded, as a quickly taken free kick caught New York’s defense flat-footed and Steevan Dos Santos replied two minutes later.

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The Red Bulls II regained the lead just before halftime, however, as Brandon Allen notched his second goal in as many games as he was on hand to clean up the rebound of Florian Valot’s first-time shot from the center of the penalty area. Again, Rochester answered, as Dos Santos struck 10 minutes into the second half as his free header found the left corner of the net.

The teams remained deadlocked through 90 minutes, and the first period of overtime, but then the Rhinos gained the upper hand as a corner kick from the right by Kenardo Forbes was sent home by Wal Fall with a near-post header with 10 minutes to go. As the Red Bulls II’s run appeared to have run its course, though, a surging run in the Rhinos’ penalty area by Dan Metzger resulted in a foul and a penalty kick, which Allen converted calmly to level the score at 3-3, and send it to a penalty shootout.

From there, it was a test of nerve, and one in which the Red Bulls II’s youngsters held theirs with aplomb. After Etienne, Aaron Long and Allen had all netted in the opening three rounds, a miss by Rochester’s Dos Santos opened the door for the hosts. Dan Meztger and Konrad Plewa walked right through, netting their two shots to send the Red Bulls II to the Eastern Conference Final.