ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Rochester Rhinos ran their unbeaten streak to sixteen matches after a 2-1 victory against FC Montréal on Wednesday night at Sahlen's Stadium. Colin Rolfe and Christian Volesky scored for the Rhinos, before Montreal's Fredéríc Lajoie-Gravelle pulled a goal back late for the visitors.
The Rhinos got off to a quick start with two chances in the first three minutes. Obasi intercepted a pass from FC Montréal right back Janouk Charbonneau on the left flank 35 yards out, took a touch, and played New England Revs loanee Timi Mulgrew in down the left flank. Mulgrew dribbled and got around the corner before playing a cross into the near post, where Rolfe flashed a header that was denied by the near post.
One minute later Mulgrew took a corner kick from the left corner. His out swinging service found the head of Julian Ringhof 10 yards out on the far post. Ringhof's header looped over FC Montréal goalkeeper David Paulmin's head, but was cleared off the line by Charbonneau.
The first major talking point of the match occurred in the 14th minute, when Rhinos goalkeeper Adam Grinwis cleared a bouncing ball from the right side of his penalty area. Walls controlled Grinwis' clearance, and switched the ball to Mulgrew running down the left flank. Mulgrew and Charbonneau raced for the loose ball when Paulmin came charging off of his line, and appeared to make contact with the ball with his left hand outside the penalty area, while also making contact with Mulgrew and Charbonneau as he knocked them both to the ground. Head referee Ernie Constantine booked Paulmin for the foul and awarded Rochester a free kick 30 yards out on the left flank.
Rudy took the ensuing free kick and served the ball into a crowded FC Montréal penalty area. The ball bounced over a pack of five players at the penalty spot, and fell to Rolfe at the six-yard area in the middle of the goal. Rolfe struck a half-volley past the diving Paulmin to open the scoring with his second goal of the season.
FC Montréal had the opportunity to draw level in the 18th minute. Obasi turned the ball over just outside of his own penalty area under pressure from Fabio Morelli, who played the ball forward to Charles Joly. The forward struck a bouncing ball from the top of the penalty area, but his volley was right at Grinwis.
Rochester doubled its advantage in the 32nd minute, when FC Montréal center back Mélé Temguin played a curious back pass for his goalkeeper from the top of his penalty area that went awry. Volesky pounced on the loose ball on the right side of FC Montréal's penalty area, and dribbled around Paulmin before finishing from an acute angle.The goal was Volesky's sixth of the season, and fifth against FC Montréal.
Rochester had the first chance of the second half as Rolfe got free on the right side of the FC Montréal penalty area, and served a cross in. Alex Dixon got on the end of Rolfe's service at the top of the six yard area, but directed his header directly at Paulmin.
FC Montréal had a quality chance to get a goal back in the 62nd as Lajoie-Gravelle received the ball at the top-left corner of the Rhinos' penalty area after a quality build-up from the visitors. Lajoie-Gravelle cut the ball in on his right foot before firing his shot from 18 yards out right at Grinwis.
Rochester was reduced to 10 men in the 64th minute as Tyler Rudy committed was awarded his second yellow card for a foul on Marco Dominguez as the FC Montréal midfielder dribbled past him. Rochester was left to play the last 26 minutes of the match a man down.
FC Montréal used their man advantage to try to get back into the match. Morelli got free on the left flank, and played a tricky cross in on goal in the 66th minute. Grinwis used his footwork to get under the looping cross and extinguish the threat. Two minutes later, Zakaria Messoudi got a shot inside the Rhinos penalty area that went just over the cross bar from 15 yards out.
FC Montréal gave the home side a warning in the 77th minute when Grinwis was forced to save Morelli's volley from 20 yards out, and after continuous pressure, FC Montréal finally broke through with five minutes to go. Charbonneau played a long ball from just inside his own half into the Rhinos' penalty area. Substitute Victor Ndiaye was able to battle Apostolopoulos and Ringhof for the 50-50 ball before flicking the ball on to Lajoie-Gravelle who used the time and space he found to finish past Grinwis and into the upper left corner of the goal.
It was only the sixth goal that Rochester had conceded in the 2015 USL season, and the first goal they had conceded at Sahlen's Stadium, but despite their man advantage, FC Montréal could not find the equalizer in the last five minutes of the match or four minutes of stoppage time.
Rochester remains in first place in USL Eastern Conference with 36 points. They lead second place Charleston Battery by five points and have a game in hand against the second-place side.
The Rhinos next match is Saturday, July 11th at 3 p.m. against Toronto FC II. The match can be seen live in its entirety via streaming video on Toronto FC II's YouTube channel.
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