US Open Cup Game Report
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
ROCHESTER, NY - The Rochester Rhinos defeated the defending champion D.C. United 1-0 in the Fourth Round of the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday. Rhinos striker Colin Rolfe scored the game-winning goal off of an assist from Michael Garzi in the 27th minute, and the Rhinos held off D.C for the remainder of the storm-delayed match to advance to the Fifth Round of the Open Cup.
Goalkeeper John McCarthy made two saves for his first shutout of the tournament for the Rhinos, who will visit the winner of Wednesday's Fourth Round pairing between Richmond Kickers and New England Revolution in the Firth Round.
The Rhinos produced all the offense that was needed when Garzi got on the end of a through ball from Tony Walls on the left side of the United penalty area and ran at D.C. United right center back Nana Attakora. Garzi stepped over the ball, dribbled past Attakora, and played the ball from the endline back to Rofle at the top of the six yard box. Rolfe applied a deft finishing touch to slip the ball under D.C. United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra to give the Rhinos the lead. It was only the second goal the Rhinos have scored against DC United in their five-game U.S. Open Cup history.
A severe thunderstorm rolled into Sahlen's Stadium and play was suspended in the 61st minute, but not before DC United center back Steve Birnbaum received his second caution of the match and was sent off. The holders were left to play the remaining half hour of the match down a player.
The match resumed on the rain-soaked turf of Sahlen's Stadium after a 38-minute delay, but entered a second 90-minute delay a short itme later. When play resumed, the Rhinos were able to hold off D.C. United and seal their spot in the Fifth Round.
The win was Rochester's first against D.C. United in the Open Cup, and entering the match the Rhinos had been 1-10-4 against MLS opponents since winning the tournament in 1999.