Rochester Rhinos News Release - www.rhinossoccer.com
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
ROCHESTER, NY -- Rochester Raging Rhinos forward Hamed Diallo scored twice, yet again, but it was not enough as the Rhinos fell to the New England Revolution, 4-2, tonight in U.S. Open Cup Third-Round action.
Rochester outshot the Major League Soccer squad 19-18 and produced six corners to the Revolution's three.
"They showed why they're one of the best teams in their league and in the country," said Rhinos Head Coach Laurie Calloway of the Revolution. "The 4-2 score doesn't really reflect the true story of the game, but they finished their chances and we didn't."
Despite having outplayed New England for long stretches of the game, the Rhinos found themselves down 2-0 after the Revolution scored in the 67th minute. Rochester remained determined and poured on the pressure until Diallo finally broke through in the 76th minute. "Super sub" Rey Martinez played the ball from the left side of the field and made a beautiful cross to the backpost where John Ball was waiting. Ball headed the ball to a wide open Diallo standing on the six-yard line and buried it to cut the lead to one.
In the next nine minutes Rochester came closer and closer to knotting up the score until Diallo struck again in the 85th minute. Johnny Menyongar received a pass in the box with his back to the goal. He tried to turn and fire but a New England defender deflected the shot right to Diallo who put it home to tie the game at two goals apiece.
It appeared as if the game was heading to overtime but the Revolution had other ideas. In the 90th minute New England was awarded a free kick to the left of the net and about 25 yards out. Midfielder Steve Ralston, an alternate on the U.S. National Team, curled a cross to the backpost where forward Taylor Twellman headed in his second goal of the game to regain the lead. A few minutes later in injury time, Raltson scored his second of the game, capitalizing on a penalty kick opportunity to give New England the 4-2 win.
The Rhinos came out in the first half ready to play with the Revolution, carrying the early play. After a series of failed offensives put forth by both teams, Rochester began to gain some really good chances beginning in the 6th minute when a nice cross found Hamed Diallo who's header just narrowly missed the left post. Immediately following the chance, New England countered as forward Taylor Twellman sped down the left side with a step on Rhino defender Jason Perry until Perry pulled off a remarkably clean slidetackle inside the box to regain control and keep the game scoreless.
Rochester responded in a big way following Perry's defensive effort producing three golden opportunities in the next eight minutes from the likes of Aaran Lines and Menyongar. New England withstood the Rhinos' early pressure however and in the 19th minute was awarded a free kick just outside the Rochester box. Ralston was selected to take the kick and he lofted a perfect shot into the top-left corner of the net to give the Revolution a 1-0 lead.
The Rhinos remained unphased and continued to press for the equalizer until the final five minute of the half when recently acquired Rhino goaltender Nuno Santos was called upon to come up with some key saves. In the 40th minute a defensive lapse propelled Twellman on an uncontested 1-1 with Nuno who came out and made an amazing save just inside the 18 yard box. Three minutes later, the Revolution created another scoring opportunity that Nuno defused by diving across and picking off a pass intended for a player all alone behind him. Nuno was called upon once again in the 45th when a ball was chipped into the box to an oncoming attacker who he challenged and was able to force to the goalline without getting off a shot.
New England continued to pressure Nuno at the start of the second half, even getting another breakaway in the 55th minute when Pat Noonan streaked down the right side only to push the ball a bit too far ahead of himself and into the arms of an oncoming Nuno. Nuno finished with three saves.
From that moment on, the game was all Rhinos. They continually crossed balls into the box and found shooting lanes but just could not bury any chances. The Revolution capitalized on their only chance in several minutes in the 67th when Twellman scored his first off a series of tight passes in the box.
With the win, New England moves into the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup. They will face the winner of the Harrisburg City Islanders/DC United match-up on September 4th.
The Rhinos will return to USL First Division action on Saturday July 14th, when they head south to face the Atlanta Silverbacks. The match will be broadcast live on WYSL 1040 AM, wysl1040.com and USL Live.
Scoring Summary
NE - Steve Ralston (unassisted) 19
NE - Taylor Twellman (James Riley) 67
ROCH - Hamed Diallo (John Ball) 76
ROCH - Hamed Diallo (Johnny Menyongar) 85
NE - Taylor Twellman (Steve Ralston) 90
NE - Steve Ralston (penalty kick) 93+
New England Revolution: Matt Reis, Avery John, Michael Parkhurst, Jay Heaps, Marshall Leonard (Khano Smith 61), Andy Dorman (James Riley 57), Gary Flood (Kyle Helton 84), Wells Thompson, Steve Ralston ©, Pat Noonan, Taylor Twellman
Substitutes Not Used: Brad Knighton, Adam Cristman, Bryan Byrne, Chris Loftus
Rochester Rhinos: Nuno Santos, Scott Palguta, Kenney Bertz ©, Jason Perry (John Bolton 46), Chris Aloisi (P.J. Scheufele 75), Tanywa Boneu, Aaran Lines, Stephen Shirley Black (Rey Martinez 50), John Ball, Johnny Menyongar, Hamed Diallo
Substitutes Not Used: Chase Harrison (GK), Ryan Wileman, Kevin Burns, Danny Kramer
