Rhinos Kick-off the Season (Game Commentary)

Good evening everyone, and welcome to another season of Rhinos soccer, we are about 10 minutes from kickoff and I will do my best to provide some insight as to what is going on in the game. As Fox Soccer Channel will be airing the Sounders vs Silverbacks game and USLlive is now charging, I suspect many of you will not be watching. The game is available in the Rochester area on 107.3 FM if you have nothing else to do. If nothing else, enjoy your Friday night and catch the game summary right here when you get in tonight or tomorrow morning.

Final- The Rhinos fall to the Battery 2-0. Alright folks I am out of here for now, I will offer up post game thoughts later.

86th- Substitution: Guppy off, Evan Milward on.

83rd- Rhinos corner does not result in a shot.

81st- Goal: Battery take a 2-0 lead on a goal by Aaron King. Alonso credited with the assist. About 8 minutes plus stoppage remain for the Battery to claim their first win of the year. The Rhinos' window of opportunity is closing in this one.

76th- Rhinos really coming under pressure now. Kreamalmeyer with a goal line clearance to save a goal.

67th- This game has really slowed to a crawl, if you are reading this tomorrow because you went out tonight you'll never be so happy with the decision you made. As I type this Vallow with another huge save. Corner kick Battery. Nothing comes of it.

62nd- Substitution: Aaron King in for Lester More. That's all we'll see of Castro's least favorite soccer player this evening.

58th- Substitution: Ze Roberto on for Salles, no, not the Ze Roberto that plays for Bayern Munich

56th- Yellow card to the 39 year old Guppy, you'd think he'd want to set a better example for the kids.

55th- Sorry for the lack of posts, there just isn't much exciting going on. The Rhinos have regained their composure at the start of the second half and have been possessing more, but there has been no excitement to speak of.

Halftime- The players are coming back onto the field and the second half should be underway shortly. To quell your fears of an equally uninspiring performance as this first half was when these teams meet again in Rochester's home opener, fear not, as regardless of the home result we can either enjoy Bo Bice after the game or throw things at him in frustration.

Halftime- Tiger Fitzpatrick is quietly have a nice game, and Menyongar is putting in a workman-like effort. The Rhinos have been maintaining more possession as the game has moved forward, and they seemed to have settled in until the goal. It will be important to see how they respond to giving up the late goal, the start of the second half will be very telling. Look for the goal to open up play a bit more for the second half as the Rhinos are forced to push higher for an equalizer on the road.

45th- Another Battery shot goes just wide, the Rhinos need the halftime whistle to save them and allow them to regroup.

42nd- Goal: Randi Patterson heads home a cross to the back post. Just when the Rhinos looked to be controlling the game more they give up a corner and the ensuing play results in the goal. The assist goes to Marco Reda, and the Rhinos will not post a shutout season.

37th- Diallo slips before he can move in for a header, would have been a great chance. Rhinos are starting to put some pressure on now.

35th- Vallow with a routine save. Rhinos have a free kick coming from just inside midfield. Player/coach Guppy will serve it into the 6 but it sails through for a goal kick.

29th- Lester More called offside on a breakaway, but Vallow came up with a nice save anyhow.

28th- Nice flick on off a corner by Bonseu but nothing comes of it, after the clearance Lester More has the Battery's first good look but fires high.

23rd- The commentator mentions that Lester More's orange cleats made him think he was wearing pumpkins... seriously, where do they find these guys. As I type this, a booking in the 24th to Alonso of the Battery. The resulting free kick results in the first shot on goal by Salles, but it easily dealt with by Charleston's keeper.

21st- Battery earn the first corner of the game, and Bonseu comfortable nods it away from danger.

20th- Both teams are feeling each other out, not wanting to make the mistake. Unfortunately that has prevented many openings and to this point there have been no shots for either team.

14th- Substitution: Nate Craft on for the injured Atiba Charles

14th- Atiba Charles has taken a knock and may be heading off, there is action on the bench. It appears to be a cut on Atiba's head and he is heading to the locker room.

12th- The Rhinos have to find a way to play the ball into the feet of Delicate, the service to the forwards early on has left much to be desired, and much of the battle has lingered around the midfield.

1st- And we're underway, through the early moments possession has been controlled by the Rhinos but neither team has created any opportunities.

Pre-game: Starters for the Rhinos tonight will be Scott Vallow, Scott Palguta, Tenywa Bonseu, Atiba Charles, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Tiger Fitzpatrick, Mauricio Salles, Steve Guppy, Johnny Menyongar, Hamed Diallo, and Matthew Delicate

The Battery feature former Red Bull reserve Randi Patterson up top along with Lester More, the impressive Cuban international best known for defecting.