Tai Atieno

2009 Semifinals: DC United still has Rochester’s number, advance to Open Cup Final

July 21, 2009 by

Defending US Open Cup champion DC United, who had to qualify just to get into the 2009 tournament, is one win away from defending their title after a 2-1 Semifinal victory over the Rochester Rhinos. Boyzzz Khumalo’s 82nd minute goal spoiled the Rhinos’ attempt to return to the Open Cup Final for the first time since their historic title run in 1999 and earned DC a chance to win their second straight championship on their home field.

DC United will host the Seattle Sounders at RFK Stadium on September 2. For United it is their fourth Final appearance and will host the championship game for the third time. In the two previous title games at RFK, they have won both of them (1996, 2008).

2009 Quarterfinals: A decade later, Rhinos back in Semifinals; beating the Hammerheads 2-1

July 7, 2009 by

For the first time in the 2009 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the Rochester Rhinos advanced to the following round without the need of extra time, defeating the Wilmington Hammerheads 2-1 in regulation at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester, NY.

A crowd of 3,598 were on hand to watch Rochester continue their run in the U.S. Open Cup, thanks to an impressive header from Tai Atieno and a penalty kick by Andrew Gregor, both in the second half. Wilmington fought back to one goal down with a superb individual effort from Jamie Watson, but it was too little, too late for the Hammerheads.

2009 First Round: Rhinos need PKs to put away shorthanded Riverhounds

June 9, 2009 by

Chances are, Tai Atieno will have nightmares of penalty kicks tonight.

The Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division survived the upset bid of the Pittsburgh Riverhouds, the last place team in the USL Second Division, by escaping with a penalty kick victory after a 1-1 draw after extra time.