Greater Binghamton Thunder FC

2015 US Open Cup Round 2: Rochester Rhinos dominate stat sheet, squeak out 1-0 win over Greater Binghamton Thunder

May 23, 2015 by Brendan Doherty

Kenardo Forbes of the Rochester Rhinos scored the lone goal in the 39th minute. Photo: Luis Rosario | www.LuisRosar.io

Despite blowing away their opponents on the stat sheet, the Rochester Rhinos were only able to put one past Greater Binghamton Thunder goalkeeper Jason Stenta in a 1-0 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Second Round victory. The goal by Kenardo Forbes was one of 16 shots that Rochester took but a combination of wastefulness in the final third and great positioning from Stenta kept the game close until the final whistle.

Wednesday night’s match between the former tournament winner and the second-year entrant started out physical almost from the opening whistle. Players from both sides exchanged rather aggressive challenges to set the tone in the early minutes. Slavisa Ubiparipovic, younger brother of Ottawa Fury FC midfielder Sinisa, was booked by referee David Mon for a particularly egregious tackle from behind on Rochester’s left Onua Obasi in the 13th minute. Even though the match never lost this chippy edge in the remaining time, the referee kept his cards in his pocket after that.

At the half hour mark, Marcos Ugarte sent a low cross into the middle from the left channel. The ball eluded both Duba and Kenardo Forbes but fell to Drew Ruggles near the top of the area. The first-year Rhino blasted his opportunity over the goal and into the top row of seats.

The rookie winger out of Providence College probably should have won a penalty for the Rhinos in the 38th minute. Ugarte cut in from the left wing and darted in between several Binghamton defenders. Jacob Sutherland and Domenico Vitale combined to sandwich Ugarte off the ball as he drove through the area towards goal but David Mon saw nothing awry with the physical challenge.

Rather than discourage Ugarte, the previous non-call seemed to encourage him. The very next minute Ugarte again broke free down the left flank and played low service into the box. Duba met the cross wide of the near post and attempted to feed Drew Ruggles with a ball through the goalmouth instead of shooting from a tight angle. Goalkeeper Stenta came off his line to intercept the pass but the ball bobbled around off him, Ruggles, and Jherrett Maroney.

Former Jamaican international Forbes saw the loose ball rolling toward him inside the area. Intelligently Forbes took a touch away from goal to create space before turning and chipping a shot over the goalkeeper. Three Binghamton defenders took up positions on the goal line but Patrick Thompson was unable to prevent the ball from going in and his header deflected into the roof of the net.

While the goal was not the cleanest attacking sequence for the home side, the 39th minute goal was still good enough for a 1-0 lead to take into halftime.

Rochester created a number of half-chances to open the second half but couldn’t manage to take quality shots on frame. Binghamton’s determination in the face of a challenging professional side was on display in the second half at Sahlen’s Stadium. The visitors’ best chances of the game all came towards the end of regulation.

Ubiparipovic, Božidar Jelovac, and substitute Daniel Kraynak combined well to weave an attack through Rochester’s high defensive line in the 75th minute. A ball came in from Kraynak on the right flank to the feet of Ubiparipovic at the top of the box. Julian Ringhof came in hard on Ubiparipovic in a challenge deemed fair by David Mon. A couple of inches difference on the tackle and Rochester may have been facing a penalty and the rest of the game a man down.

In the 86th minute Jelovac raced up the left channel and made quick work of both right back Sean Totsch and center back Ringhof but was stranded with no options to retain possession. The game became stretched in the last few minutes of regulation and during the four additional minutes of stoppage time as Rochester seemed intent to add a second rather than look after the ball.

After Ubiparipovic forced Rochester goalkeeper Adam Grinwis into a hurried clearance, the ball fell to Binghamton captain Christopher Riley. Without hesitation Riley unleashed a volley from about 35 yards out that forced Grinwis into his first save of the game. Binghamton’s lone shot on the night came in the 92nd minute.

After the game, Rochester coach Bob Lilley spoke about the result. “It’s disappointing that we didn’t put it together and put the game away a little sooner. Most of the times these games are close, at least we didn’t have to burn another 30 minutes; we just played 90 tonight,” Lilley joked, referring to the two cup games last year that went to extra time for the Rhinos.

“I think we were fairly comfortable but there were a few moments in the second half where maybe they could have gotten a chance and hit a shot into the corner of the net.”

“It was not a great performance but it’s the result we needed,” Lilley said, summing up the general sentiment of his players.

Rochester will now travel to central Pennsylvania next week for a Third Round matchup against Harrisburg City Islanders, who defeated PDL-side Reading United AC in the last round. It will be the second meeting between the two clubs. Rochester defeated the City Islanders 1-0 in Harrisburg back in 2011. Greater Binghamton FC can build on their strong performance and organized team shape when they return to NPSL action this Saturday, May 23 at home against Clarkstown SC Eagles.

The Rhinos head to Harrisburg to face their league rivals City Islanders on Wednesday, May 27 at 7 p.m. The two have not met yet in USL play this season but Harrisburg holds a 4-2-1 record, good enough for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

2015 US Open Cup Round 1: GBFC Thunder advance for first time, edging Western Mass Pioneers in PKs

May 18, 2015 by Brian O'Connell

Daniel Kraynak’s successful penalty sent Greater Binghamton Thunder FC (NPSL) on to the Second Round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after beating Western Mass Pioneers (PDL) 4-3 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw on Wednesday at Lusitano Stadium.

After Thunder keeper Jason Stenta made his second penalty stop, Kraynak sent his shot left, where it deflected off the fingertips of Pioneers keeper Nick Zucco and fell into the back of the net to seal the first round result for the guests. For the Thunder it was the first time they will advance to the next round in their second straight attempt. Last year, they lost 5-2 at Reading United.

The match went to penalties after Thunder midfielder Zebulun Cross’ 53rd minute strike canceled out Ryan Taylor’s 24th minute goal.

Western Mass finished with 10 after Kyle Tomas received his second caution in the 57th minute.
With the win, the Thunder will face fellow Empire State squad the Rochester Rhinos on May 20 at Sahlen’s Stadium.

Although the guests prevailed in the end, it was the hosts who opened the scoring midway through the first half. With the Pioneers pushing forward, Zach Grady sent a cross to Taylor, who put it through in the 24th minute.

But not long after Taylor’s goal, an experienced Thunder selection started to make some headway of their own. Using the right flank to great effect, the guests nearly pulled one back right before halftime when Jacob Sutherland sent a low drive toward Zucco, who scooped it up and smothered it in the 44th minute.

Persistence eventually paid off for Greater Binghamton not long after the break. Sutherland sent a pass into the box for Cross, who poked it through to level the match in the 53rd minute.

Not long after Cross’ equalizer, the Pioneers dug themselves into a hole after Tomas was sent off after receiving his second caution. With only ten men for the duration, the hosts went with a 4-4-1, looking to find the go-ahead on a well-timed counter.

While that was taking place, the Thunder busied themselves by building out of the back and putting the Pioneers under siege. Slavisa Ubiparpovic curled a dangerous cross for Patrick Thompson in the 64th minute, but Zucco stood firm.

Cross made a bid for the game-winner in the 78th minute on a long-distance blast that briefly gave Zucco some trouble. But the Pioneers’ keeper quickly recovered the rebound, and the match went to extra time not long after.

Western Mass made its intentions known early on in the first period of extra time by stationing nine players in the final third. Down a man, and tired legs abound, the Pioneers were clearly looking ahead to penalties.

Greater Binghamton, to its credit, tried to permeate the defensive shell. Substitute Lucas Heffron found no fewer than three opportunities to grab the game-winner in extra time with 97th minute shot that required a reaction save from Zucco, and a pair of long-distance blasts veered just off target in the 115th and 120th minutes.

With the match knotted at 1-1 at the end of 120 minutes, the spotlight fell on Zucco and Stenta with penalties on tap. Stenta stopped Tyler Carlos and Marcelo Cunha on the Pioneers’ second and fifth tries, while Zucco denied Sutherland. Moments after Cunha’s effort was stopped, Kraynak converted to send the reigning Keystone Conference champions to Rochester for the second round.

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Reading United cruise past Greater Binghamton, 5-2 (video)

May 17, 2014 by Phil Naegely

A strong second-half powered Reading United past the Greater Binghamton FC Thunder 5-2 at Wilson High School’s Gurski Stadium advancing the team to the US Open Cup Third Round.

Reading secured coach David Castellanos his first Cup victory and overall win as Reading manager.

“It’s a special moment for the coaching staff and the players to get that first win,” Castellanos said. “US Open Cup games are like NCAA Tournament games. It is one and done. I was very, very pleased with the result.”

Reading United move on to face USL-Pro side Rochester Rhinos on May 28th in Rochester, NY.

At the half, Reading held the one-goal advantage and stood 45 minutes away from advancing to the Third Round for the second consecutive year.

Binghamton and head referee Darth Newman did not make it easy at first.

Binghamton penetrated into the penalty box and earned a penalty kick after Reading’s Robby Sagel took down an opponent. It appeared to be a clean defensive play, but Newman decided otherwise from a distance – about 20 yards – and pointed to the spot without confirming the call with his near sideline assistant referee, who was much closer to the play.

Binghamton’s Bozidar Jelovic stepped up and shot left past a diving Alex Bono to knot the match at 2-2.

Reading’s Ignacio Maganto came in for Graham Smith in the 61th minute and made an immediate impact. Darius Madison found more space on the left flank again and charged towards the box with favorable numbers. On a 2-on-1, Madison passed over to an open Maganto whose strike put Reading up for good.

From there, the game was in Reading’s favor. Six minutes later Quincy Thomas doubled the lead. Off a corner kick, Binghamton failed to clear the ball out of danger after a few headers that pinballed around the box. Thomas secured the box at the top of the 18-yard box and sent it screaming into the top netting.

As the game wound down and Reading continued to control the game’s pace and possession, Madison put on a show for the 236 fans in attendance. Madison dribbled around his defender, losing his shoe in the process. Before the ball went out of bounds, he saved it on the sideline and drew Stenta off his line leaving the net wide open. Nick Surkamp capped-off Reading’s five goal night by blasting the ball into the open net.

“I basically squared the guy up, faked right and he stepped on my cleat and it game off,” Madison said. “I passed it towards the penalty mark and Surkamp was there to finish it.”

Reading threatened from the opening whistle. In the ninth minute, Madison’s diving header just missed finding the back of the net as it hit the right post.

Moments later the game’s first goal would come as Madison beat his defender on the left flank and found space to send a cross into the box. Oumar Ballo found the ball and sent it through traffic and goalkeeper Jason Stenta’s legs.

With Reading leading 1-0 less than 20 minutes in it continued to pressure, looking to increase its lead. Instead, Binghamton found an equalizer. A mid-field turnover allowed Binghamton an offensive advantage as Jonny Sinclair’s cross set up Alex Varkatzas perfectly for the game-tying goal in the 35th minute.

The hosts continued to press. Madison almost found the net in the 41st minute. Stenta struggled to hold onto the speedy forwards’ shot at first but was able to escape without danger. Moments later Madison found another chance to strike and emphatically put Reading up right before the halftime whistle. Lucas Baldin turned his defender on the attack and sent a precise pass to a streaking Madison who found the right-side netting.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS