Friday, April 20, 2012
FULLERTON, Calif. – The Rochester Rhinos took a 2-0 victory against the Los Angeles Blues on Friday night at Titan Stadium, earning their second victory on the west coast in a week. The Rhinos took all three points courtesy of second-half strikes by Andrew Hoxie and J.C. Banks, while the Blues were able to create chances but not finish them, Irving Garcia coming closest when he hit the post in the second half.
While the Blues dominated possession in the opening period, but it took them until the 34th minute to create their first dangerous opportunity. Garcia found George Davis on the edge of the penalty area, and the former Dayton Dutch Lion released a dangerous effort that curled just wide of the right post.
The look came a mere minute after the Rhinos nearly pounced on a miscommunication between Blues goalkeeper José Miranda and one of his defenders, Miranda doing a great job to recover quickly and keep out Danny Earls’s short-range effort with a stunning kick save.
The visitors would take the lead five minutes into the second half, Blues attacker Israel Sesay being bumped off the ball by Hoxie, who took it all the way to the edge of the penalty area and rifled a precise right-footed effort inside the left post that left Miranda without a chance. The second Rhinos tally followed in the 56th minute, as a wonderfully hit Tam McManus cross from the right found Banks, who rose up and headed home from close range.
It could have been three for Head Coach Jesse Myers’ men just after the hour-mark, if not for Miranda. On a one-on-one for Hoxie, the 25-year-old Cuban came up with a fantastic reaction save to deflect the ball wide and give his side a fighting chance. The Blues nearly punished the visitors for the missed opportunity in the 65th minute, Ricky Waddell releasing a dangerous effort that whistled just wide of the near post.
Waddell’s side would get even closer two minutes later. Matt Fondy made a fantastic run to the byline and centered the ball to Garcia, whose first-time effort bounced off the left post. The Blues would not be discouraged by the unfortunate miss and nearly got one back in the 73rd minute, Waddell’s well-taken free kick from the edge of the box forcing a nice diving stop by Rhinos goalkeeper Kristian Nicht.
The night would end on two great chances for Blues defender Brian Burke. First the 23-year-old released a thunderous effort from the right corner of the penalty area that took a deflection in traffic before whizzing just wide of the far post. Then Burke met Davis’s in-swinging corner from the left with the inside of his foot, but only to see his short-range effort take one bounce off the pitch and fly just over the upper corner.
With the Blues continuing to press in the final 10 minutes, their opponents did well to maintain their defensive shape and come away with a crucial road win.