ROCHESTER RAGING RHINOS v NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Tue., July 10, Paetec Park, Rochester, N.Y., 7:30 p.m. ET
The Revolution and Rhinos meet for the fourth time in six years in the Open Cup, including a year ago, when the MLS club was extended to penalty kicks by the USL side for the second year running, only to this time advance to the next round.
OPEN CUP RIVALRY: This is the fourth 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. ... Last year it was the Revolution who advanced on penalties, winning 5-4 in the shootout after the teams played to a scoreless draw over 120 minutes.
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 .500 record against MLS teams in the U.S. Open Cup, winning eight of the 16 games in which they've faced opposition from the top flight. ... A year ago, the Rhinos defeated the New Hampshire Phantoms (USL2) in the third round before falling to the Revolution on penalties in the fourth. ... 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 YEAR: The Rhinos began their Open Cup trek with a 1-0 victory against the Long Island Rough Riders (USL 2) in the first round, the game's lone goal coming from Matthew Delicate in the 20th minute. ... Then in the second round at home, Rochester was extended to extra time by the Western Mass. Pioneers before getting a 105th-minute goal from Aaran Lines to secure a 2-1 victory. Jeff Deren had given Western Mass. the lead in the 43rd minute, but Delicate hit for the equalizer seven minutes before the end of normal time.
FORM GUIDE: The Rhinos are tied for the lead in the USL First Division with 27 points from 18 matches, level with the Vancouver Whitecaps (who have played two fewer games). ... The Rhinos returned to their winning ways with a 2-1 home victory against the Carolina RailHawks last Friday, after going three matches without a win, including back-to-back home losses to Atlanta and Seattle. ... Hamed Diallo leads the Rhinos with six goals on the season, while Matthew Delicâte has five goals and an assist. Johnny Menyongar has also added four goals.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
IN THE U.S. OPEN CUP: The Revolution have entered the competition seven 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: Over the past three years, the Revolution have met just two teams in Open Cup play - the Rochester Raging Rhinos and the Chicago Fire. Last year, they met them both, defeating the Rhinos in a penalty kick shootout after a scoreless draw in the fourth round, before falling 2-0 to the Fire in the quarterfinals in a match played at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Mass.
