Tai Atieno

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

July 21, 2009 by

Maryland Soccerplex – Boyds, Md.
Match Reports: DC United | Rochester | Washington Post | Democrat & Chronicle
MLSnet.com Matchtracker

	1	FT	2
Tai Atieno (Unassisted) 68’				41’ Jamie Moreno (PK) 82’ Boyzzz Khumalo (Unassisted)

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).

United held the majority of the possession in the first half and was awarded a penalty kick in the 41st minute. Rhinos defender Ty Harden was called for a handball in the box and Jaime Moreno stepped up to score his 12th career Open Cup goal, which moved him into a tie with current Rhino Johnny Menyongar for the most goals in the Professional Era (1995-present).

With DC continuing to put on the pressure, Rochester fought back and tied the game up in the 68th minute when Tai Atieno put the ball into the back of the net after the ball pinballed around the box after a Rochester free kick from the right wing.

The home team would find the game-winner in the 82nd minute when Chris Pontius, who replaced Moreno as a sub in the second half, found himself on a breakaway with the Rochester goalkeeper. Mella saved Pontius’ attempt, but the ball fell to Khumalo, who put the ball into the empty net for his second goal of the tournament.

Rochester’s struggles with DC United in the Open Cup continue with their fourth loss in as many tries. DC has also defeated them in the 1996 Final as well as the Third Round of the 2000 and 2008 tournaments. DC United are the first club since the Chicago Fire in 2004 to make back-to-back appearance in the Final, and like the Fire failed to do in 2004, losing to Kansas City, they will try to repeat as Open Cup champions. There has not been a back-to-back champion of the tournament since the New York Pancyprian Freedoms won the 1982 and 1983 titles.

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

July 7, 2009 by

Highlights courtesy of USLLive.com
Marina Auto Stadium – Rochester, N.Y.
Match Reports: Rochester | Wilmington | Democrat & Chronicle | Star News

	2	FT	1
Atieno (Ambersley) 54’ Andrew Gregor (PK) 67’				72’ Jamie Watson (Unassisted)

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 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.

The Rhinos, who are currently celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their historic 1999 Open Cup championship, will advance to the Semifinals for the first time since they made that Cinderella run a decade ago.

Hammerheads goalkeeper Kyle Polak made his first start of the season and only his second appearance after Daryl Sattler was injured in a July 2 league match against the Charlotte Eagles.

Early in the match, Rochester were the attacking squad, as Wilmintgon played in a defensive shell, content on letting Rochester dictate the pace.

Rochester had their first opportunity of the match on 11 minutes, as Nano Short’s bicycle kick sailed wide of the net. Five minutes later, Andrew Gregor was given a free kick from 20 yards out, but his attempt sailed just wide of the crossbar.

The best chance of the first half would come from Rhinos’ midfielder Ryan Heins. Mike Ambersley caught up to a cross and headed the ball down to Heins on the six yard box, who caught the ball on a short hop, and sent his volley high over the crossbar.

Wilmington were next to create in the 24th, with Phil Hufstader sending a cross far post, beating Tim Melia, but just out of the reach of several Hammerhead players.

Rochester maintained possession for a majority of the first half, but could not convert on their opportunities, leaving the score 0-0 at the half.

Only three minutes into the second half, Rochester looked poised to go up 1-0, but second half substitution Tiger Fitzpatrick could not find the back of the net as his header was cleared off the line by two Hammerhead defenders.

In the 54th minute, Tai Atieno would end the scoreless draw, heading home a cross from Ambersley to put Rochester up 1-0. Atieno found himself alone in the six yard box, and his header left Polak with no chance for a save.

Johnny Menyongar almost put Rochester up 2-0 as his diving header glanced just wide of the near post. Menyongar holds the record for most goals scored in the Professional Era of the US Open Cup (since 1995), with 12 to his name.

Ambersley continued his superb night in the 64th minute, drawing a penalty after a quick cut inside the Hammerhead box. Andrew Gregor stepped up and calmly slotted the ball to the right of the keeper, giving the Rhinos a 2-0 lead.

Wilmington would fight back, as Jamie Watson’s superb individual effort in the 77th minute put the score at 2-1, and gave life to the visiting USL-2 side.

The last fifteen minutes saw a rejuvinated Hammerheads side attacking Rochester, pinning the Rhinos in their defensive third. Goalkeeper Tim Melia made several strong saves down the stretch, and the Rochester defense remained strong in the air, securing the victory for the Rhinos.

With the win, the Rochester Rhinos claim $10,000 for being the furthest advancing USL-1 side in this year’s Open Cup.

Next up for the Rhinos in the Open Cup is a Semifinal matchup against DC United on July 21 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. Rochester has never defeated DC United, posting a 0-3 record against the MLS club, including a loss in the 1996 Open Cup Final. Kickoff for the Semifinals is at 7:30 p.m.

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

June 9, 2009 by

Marina Auto Stadium – Rochester, N.Y.
Match reports: Democrat & Chronicle

	1	AET	1
Tai Atieno (Ambersley) 90’+ Tai Atieno (PK miss) 118’				22’ Tenywa Bonseu (Evans) 72’ Tenywa Bonseu (RED CARD)
Rochester advance on penalties, 4-2 Penalty Summary
Tai Atieno MISS – Crossbar Kenny Bertz – GOAL Andrew Gregor – GOAL Mauricio Salas – GOAL Tiger Fitzpatrick -GOAL				GOAL – Ed Hayden SAVED – Nathan Salsi SAVED – Justin Evans GOAL – Alan Brown

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.

It was the third all-time Open Cup meeting between these two clubs and the second year in a row. Rochester beat Pittsburgh 2-1 back in 2000 when the Riverhounds were an A-League (USL First Division) team, and last year, the Rhinos were victorious by a score of 3-0. This year, it was a much more competitive match.

The Riverhounds struck first in the 22nd minute when former Rhino defender Tenywa Bonseu scored for the visitors. However, he ended up helping out his old club when he was sent off in the 72nd minute after fouling Tiger Fitzpatrick.

The Rhinos eventually took advantage of their extra man in second half stoppage time. Atieno was the hero temporarily as he scored from a Mike Ambersley corner kick moments before the final whistle.

It was in extra time that Atieno had his difficulties. In the 119th minute, Atieno stepped up to take a penalty kick that surly would give the Rhinos the win, only to see it hit the crossbar and the game went to a shootout to decide who would move on to the next round. This would be the first time in franchise history that an opening round opponent has taken the Rhinos to penalties.

Atieno was the first of Rochester’s penalty takers in the shootout, and once again failed to convert. However, his teammate Scott Vallow came to the rescue, saving two Riverhounds spot kicks to allow the Rhinos to advance to the Second Round.

The shootout win keeps Rochester’s streak of eight consecutive opening round victories. The club’s only opening round exit was in 2001 when they fell 1-0 to the Hershey Wildcats. Aside from that blemish on their record, they have qualified for every tournament since the franchise began in 1996 and have won the first game of each of those competitions 13 of 14 times.

LINEUPS

Pittsburgh: Danny Waltman; Nathan Salsi, Ed Hayden, Cody Bragg, Tenywa Bonseu; Niko Katic, Justin Evans, Tony Labudovski (Allen Brown 79), Jason Kutney (Chris Riley 112); Tommy Gray, Randolph Jerome (Joe Zewe 87)

Rochester: Scott Vallow; Kenney Bertz, Brent Sancho (Andrew Gregor 79), John Ball, Darren Kenton; Andrew Lorei, Johnny Menyongar (Tiger Fitzpatrick 45), Ze Roberto (Tai Atieno 45), Chris Nurse, Mike Ambersley; Mauricio Salles

Shots: PIT 7, ROC 24
Fouls: PIT 28, ROC 24
Corners: PIT 5, ROC 11
Saves: PIT 6, ROC 6
Offsides: PIT 1, ROC 2

Cautions

PIT: Bonseu 1, 72, Gray 29, Evans 36, Katic 48, Salsi 90, Riley 118
ROC: Bertz 57, Salles 67, Nurse 70

Ejections

PIT: Bonseu 72

Referees: Jason Krnac, Michael Farmer, Brian Miller, Bill Engel