ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos and Tampa Bay Rowdies meet in the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3 on Wednesday night at Capelli Sport Stadium with the Rhinos looking to maintain their undefeated home record this year and the Rowdies aiming to take sole possession of first in the Eastern Conference. The Video Assistant Referee system will be in use for the game, and kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.
Matchcenter: http://bit.ly/2rOFt3F | Tickets: http://bit.ly/2obvbNY | Broadcast: ESPN3
Rochester Rhinos news and notes
Current record: 2-1-3, 9pts
The Rhinos were held to a 1-1 draw on Sunday evening by the Richmond Kickers at Capelli Sport Stadium, with the visitors hitting back late in the first half after Kenardo Forbes had opened the scoring.
Rochester is on a three-game undefeated streak, and has yet to lose at Capelli Sport Stadium this season, taking five points from three games.
Alongside the Charlotte Independence, the Rhinos have played the fewest games of any team in the USL, and would move into the playoff positions with a win against Tampa Bay.
Forbes’ goal against Richmond was his second this season, and the Jamaican leads the Rhinos with 12 chances created this year.
Tampa Bay Rowdies news and notes
Current record: 6-2-2, 20pts
The Rowdies earned a 3-1 victory against Toronto FC II to open its trip to the northeast as Darwin Jones and Joe Cole both recorded a goal and assist as Tampa Bay rallied for victory.
The win moved Tampa Bay level on points at the top of the Eastern Conference with the Charleston Battery, five points ahead of third-place Louisville City FC.
The Rowdies have won three of their past four outings, and sit tied for fifth in the USL with 16 goals as four different players have recorded multiple tallies.
Former German international Marcel Schäfer leads the Rowdies with an 89.4 percent passing accuracy rate, and trails only Damion Lowe (558 passes) with 545 passes on the team.
Series Notes
Squads
Rochester – GK: Kyle Morton, Tomas Gomez, Dan Lynd; D: Ryan James, Ray Lee, Joe Farrell, Sergio Campbell, Ryan Felix, Bradley Kamdem, Todd Pratzner, Jordan Dover; M: Wal Fall, Stefan Defregger, Mike Garzi, Rayanne Boukemia, Sofiane Tergou, Jalen Brown, Brandon Beresford, Kenardo Forbes, Christiano Francois; F: Darius Madison, Samuel Edoun-Biyo, Jochen Graf, Antonio Correia
Tampa Bay – GK: Matt Pickens, Akira Fitzgerald, Nico Campbell; D: Luke Boden, Neill Collins, Darnell King, Damion Lowe, Tam Mkandawire, Kyle Porter, Zac Portillos; M: Justin Chavez, Joe Cole, Leo Fernandes, Darwin Jones, Alex Morrell, Michael Nanchoff, Keith Savage, Marcel Schäfer, Martin Vingaard; F: Deshorn Brown, Georgi Hristov, Martin Paterson
Discipline
Rochester – None
Tampa Bay – Accumulation Warning: Darnell King, Damion Lowe
Officials
REF: MATTHEW FRANZ
AR1: Stephen Montanino
AR2: Christopher Trottier
4TH: Christopher Borncamp
VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Rochester Rhinos – @RochesterRhinos
Tampa Bay Rowdies – @TampaBayRowdies
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