ROCHESTER RAGING RHINOS (USL1) v NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Wed., Aug. 2, Paetec Park, Rochester, N.Y., (7:30 p.m. ET)
A very tricky proposition awaits the New England Revolution when they visit the Rochester Raging Rhinos - who have defeated MLS clubs on eight occasions in the U.S. Open Cup, including the Revolution two seasons ago.
ROCHESTER RAGING RHINOS
IN THE U.S. OPEN CUP: Truly one of the "giant killers" in U.S. Open Cup play - though their performance shows it's perhaps not giant killing anymore. Remarkably, the Rhinos hold a winning record against MLS teams in the U.S. Open Cup, winning eight of the 15 games in which they've faced opposition from the top flight. ... A year ago, after dispatching the Virginia Beach Mariners (USL1) 2-1 in the third round, the Rhinos played host to the MetroStars in the fourth round, and claimed a 3-1 victory (Scott Palguta 20, Mauro Carbajal 30, Rene Rivas 58 pen - Sergio Galvan Rey 85). In the quarterfinals, they took on the Chicago Fire at Frontier Field in Rochester, and after playing to a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes (Doug Miller 60 - Samuel Caballero 34), the Fire advanced 5-4 on penalty kicks. ... The Rhinos are the only non-MLS team to win the U.S. Open Cup since the beginning of the league, claiming a 2-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids in 1999. That was the second time they reached the final, losing 2-0 to D.C. United in 1996. In their magical run to winning in 1999, they knocked off three MLS sides: Dallas Burn in the quarterfinals (2-1 aet) and Columbus Crew in the semifinals (3-2) before the win against Colorado. ... This is the third time the Rhinos and Revolution have met in the Open Cup, all since 2002. That year, New England claimed a 2-1 victory in the fourth round (Steve Ralston 25, Taylor Twellman 45 - Stoian Mladenov 23), but a year later, the Rhinos advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating the Revolution on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw (Pat Noonan 7 - Kirk Wilson 61), with both of those matches played at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Mass.
THIS YEAR: As one of the top four teams in the USL First Division last season, the Rhinos entered the Open Cup at the third round, and won their opening match, defeating the USL2 New Hampshire Phantoms 5-1 in Rochester on July 10 (John Ball 12, Matthew Delicate 32, Charles Gbeke 40, Connally Edozien 86, Aaran Lines 89 - Almir Barbosa 18).
FORM GUIDE: The Rhinos are tied for second place in the 12-team USL First Division, with 31 points from 17 matches, level with the Charleston Battery seven points behind L'Impact de Montréal. ... The Rhinos are coming off a 2-1 victory against the Seattle Sounders last weekend, finishing off a stretch of five consecutive home games, where they won three and drew one. ... Matthew Delicate leads the Rhinos with six goals and two assists; former MLS players Connally Edozien (New England Revolution) and John Ball (Chicago Fire) have added three goals apiece.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
IN THE U.S. OPEN CUP: The Revolution have entered the competition six times - and on three occasions have been dumped out at the first hurdle by lower-division competition. In 1997, the Revolution lost 4-3 away to A-League Long Island Roughriders, then a Chad Schomaker goal literally on full time gave Mid-Michigan Bucks a famous third-round victory in 2000. In 2004, they lost to the Rochester Raging Rhinos on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the fourth round. ... The Revolution reached the Open Cup Final in 2001, falling to the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 in extra-time - a year before the same result would occur in the MLS Cup Final. Wolde Harris gave New England the lead on 30 minutes, but goals from Ezra Hendrickson (70) and Dan Califf (92) gave Los Angeles the trophy. The Revs began their run to the final with a 7-1 victory against PDL (fourth division) Mid-Michigan Bucks, then defeated Charleston Battery (A-League) 2-1, before knocking off Columbus Crew 2-1 in the quarterfinals and D.C. United 2-0 in the semifinals.
LAST YEAR: For the second consecutive year, the Revolution were dumped out at the first time of asking, falling 3-2 in extra time to the Chicago Fire at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Mass. (Joseph 22; Dorman 120 - Herron 22, 99; Brown 96).
