Goals by Mauricio Salles and Luke Kreamalmeyer in the second half broke open a close game as the host Rochester Rhinos cruised to a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL Second Division at PAETEC Park. With the win, Rochester’s Open Cup record against USL Second Division opponents remains unblemished at 5-0 all-time.
Johnny Menyongar opened the scoring in the 26th minute for the USL First Division Rhinos, who won the US Open Cup in 1999 — they’re the most recent non-MLS team to win the tournament.
Salles added his team-high fifth goal of the season in the 61st off an assist from 39-year-old Steve Guppy. However, the Rochester player-coach, a former Premier League player who made one appearance for the English national team, was sent off less than 10 minutes later.
Kreamalmeyer added an insurance goal on a strange sequence in the 75th minute for the 10-man Rhinos. They were awarded a direct free kick from six yards out after the Pittsburgh goalkeeper picked up a backpass. Matthew Delicate played the free kick to Kreamalmeyer, and the former Major League Soccer player drove a shot over the wall and into the net to assure Rochester a spot in the Third Round against DC United of MLS.
The Riverhounds have lost eight of their 13 games overall this year, with their lone win coming against amateur side AAC Eagles in the First Round of the Open Cup.