Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Chicago Fire defeated the Rochester Rhinos 1-0 in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup of Tuesday June 28, 2011 at Sahlen’s Stadium. Diego Chavez scored the only goal of the game in the 37th minute. A professional performance by the Fire in the second half ensured their passage into the Open Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday, July 12.
The Rhinos came out in the first half-hour and took control of the game against the visiting Fire. The Fire fielded a line-up with six changes from regular starting side. The Rhinos, fueled by an energetic crowd of 5,558, looked to take advantage. In the 14th minute Rhinos midfielder Alfonso Motagalvan found forward Andrew Hoxie with his back to goal at the top of the Fire box. Hoxie slipped a through ball to Kendall Jagdeosingh, who served a dangerous ball into the box that the Rhinos could not get on the end of.
In the 16th minute Hoxie and Jagdeosingh hooked up with Rhinos midfielder Tyler Rosenlund to create a chance. Hoxie received a ball in the build-up with his back to goal. Hoxie played the back to Rosenlund in the midfield, and Rosenlund was able to slot Jagdeosingh through on the left flank. Jagdeosingh drifted through from the left and shot from a tight angle, but couldn’t direct his effort on target.
The Rhinos looked dangerous again in the 19th minute when Jagdeosingh recovered from a bad touch and found midfielder Tony Donatelli lurking at the penalty spot. Donatelli looked to slip midfielder Tyler Rosenlund through at the top of the six, but Chicago’s keeper Sean Johnson was able to intervene.
The Rhinos had another chance in the 24th minute when Donatelli whipped a service into the box that found Hoxie on the penalty spot, but Hoxie couldn’t settle. In the 29th minute a Tony Donatelli corner kick found Rhinos captain Troy Roberts at the top of the six, but the Fire were able to close him down before he could direct a shot on goal.
Chicago had just settled into the match when front runner Diego Chavez created and finished Chicago’s best chance of the half. Chavez received the ball after a Chicago build-up and found Corben Bone on the right flank. Bone was able to beat Rhinos defender TJ Gore and serve the ball on frame. Rhinos keeper Neal Kitson parried the ball away, but only as far as the top of the box where Rhinos midfielder Alfonso Motagalvan received it. Diego Chavez put Motagalvan under heavy pressure and caused a turn-over that he was able to convert with a shot into the right corner of the goal.
The Fire then turned in a professional performance in the second half that assured they would advance through to the Open Cup quarterfinals. They pressured the Rhinos tenaciously in the middle third of the field and wouldn’t allow them to possess the ball. The Fire strung together passes when they were in possession of the ball and took most of the tempo out of the match. Chicago subbed center back Jalil Anibaba into the match in the 49th minute, and he anchored the Fire back line throughout the second half. Chicago outshot the Rhinos 11-2 in the second half as Rhinos keeper Neal Kitson kept the team in touch with seven saves.
The Rhinos best chance in the second half came when Donatelli played a through ball to Jagdeosingh that Fire keeper Sean Johnson smothered just before Jagdeosingh could get a shot on goal. The Rhinos served a couple of balls into a packed box late in stoppage time, but could not create the equalizer.
The Chicago Fire advance to the Open Cup quarterfinals where they will play the New York Red Bulls on Tuesday July 12th.