Welcome to those of you joining in for the running commentary. The game is about to get underway in Portland. If you want to listen in you can catch the game on 107.3 in the Rochester area or click the link to the station on the rhinossoccer.com website. Let's hope we're in for some quality action tonight, and perhaps the Rhinos first win, but hey I'll live with a tie! I'll do my best to update major events and general opinions of play throughout the game. Comment on your thoughts on tonight's match.
Final: Rhinos earn their first point of the season with a 0-0 draw in Portland. They started strong but faded in the second half. Rochester has now failed to score in 3 straight games to open the season, but on the bright side ticket lines may not be as long for home games! Kidding folks, a point on the road is a positive result, I won't list excuses but the Rhinos need time to build and gain some confidence at home before we can fairly judge them. Postgame reflection will come tomorrow evening.
89th- Substitution: John Ball in for Bonseu. I thought this was an aggressive move, but he seems to be holding in a right back spot. Can't say it makes for encouraging viewing.
88th- Substitution Portland: Former Rhino Bagley is on for Brown.
83rd- At this point the Rhinos will do well to hold on for a draw.
81st- Palguta draws a yellow card.
81st- Portland has outshot the Rhinos 10-4 as the Rhinos haven't generated much this half. That said not too many of those 10 shots were particularly worrysome.
77th- Substitution: Delicate is on for Salles! Vallow with a save following the substitution. And another miss for the Timbers. Crowd is announced at under 8,000.
73rd- The Rhinos offense has looked stagnant in the 2nd half and has not yet managed a shot in the half. Kreamalmeyer taken down in the box but no call, looked as though he was pulled on. How long until Tilley makes a change? On a side note, looks as though my formatting has gone down the tubes again, I'll have to look into this problem for the future, not as easy of a read when my updates all run together.
70th- Portland makes the first substition, Little is on for Portland and I regret that I am not in Portland to hear the Scottish accent.
68th- Salles with a chance with the head but the keeper collects.
64th- Back and forth play again with some buildups that have been dealt with without incident on either side of the field.
57th- Yellow to Fitzpatrict who took it upon himself to respond to the foul on Kreamalmeyer. After seeing a replay of Suzuki's foul it was certainly reckless and I can see why the Rhinos were hoping for a send off.
56th- Suzuki with a yellow for taking down Kreamalmeyer, the Rhinos are irate asking for more than a yellow. I think more than a yellow would have been a bit harsh in fairness.
55th- Timbers free kick near the corner, inswinger is hit in around the 2 man wall but headed away by Fiztpatrick. Possession still with Portland.
53rd- Salles is being paid a visit by the trainer as it appears he has a problem. Rhinos freekick from 35 yards, was a foul against Kreamalmeyer, not Salles, who appears to be fine much to the displeasure of the Portland crowd after he spent some time on the ground.
50th- Dangerous free kick for Rhinos, not really shooting angle though. Comes through outside the 6 yard box but goes out harmlessly off Palguta.
47th- No changes at halftime, although if the Rhinos don't get on the board you can expect to see Delicate come on around the 70th minute unless his injuries are more serious than they let on.
Halftime- Through the first 45 the Rhinos must be relatively happy with what they've been able to do. They've opened the field up with some nice passing sequences and I expect they will continue to get chances in the second half. Now it is time to take advantage of some of the chances. They've been superior as the visitors tonight, and while a point on the road is typically considered a good result I think anything less than the full three points will leave some thinking "what if" on the bus ride up to Vancouver. I like their chances, but you have to seal the deal, how many times have we seen a team look superior but fail to capitalize, then the other team gets one goal against the run of play and steals the three points? What do you think of the first half? Hoping Delicate comes on for the second half?
45th- Diallo with a nice run with the ball, but his shot goes the wrong side of the post. Some nice pressure again but as of this point no tangible results.
44th- Salles with a strong left foot wide of the goal.
40th- After taking a cheap shot at Suzuki as I hadn't heard of him, it was just explained that he spent time in the Japanese J-League as well as Brazil before coming to the USL. Rhinos corner coming up. Not much comes of it, Menyongar taken down shortly afterwards and the ref ignores it.
35th- Still no scoring, although this has the feel of a game where a goal for either side could really open up play. If the Rhinos can get one, they might well be able to get two, but they must find a way to break through. It is dangerous letting a home side hang around and build confidence, the Rhinos must take advantage of their strong play.
33rd- Ze Roberto has been active so far tonight.
30th- Is it just me or would anyone else prefer the commentator to bite the bullet and say Fitzpatrick so I don't have to hear him say "good pass Tiger, way to go Tiger".
28th- Rhinos corner, Kreamalmeyer to Bonseu's left foot, which does not produce magic in this instance.
27th- Dangerous situation for the Rhinos but the escape as the ball is headed wide of Vallow's net. Juan Pablo Reyes is warming up, but difficult to say if a move would be made this early. Perhaps Salles took more of a knock than it appeared earlier.
26th- Folks, as they discuss ticket sales for Rhino home games this year it might be a good time to mention I will do my best to get discounts for readers when possible, and will occasionally do contents on here for ticket giveaways or other prizes.
24th- The Rhinos have had a little less of the play than earlier, they still are playing at least evenly, but the momentum seems to have slowed. Salles involved in a collision but both he and the Timbers' defender seem ok.
20th- A little about Portland's team. Chris Brown may "Run It" up top for Portland, but it isn't the singer Chris Brown. He leads the league so far in shots, and those of you who really pay attention to your soccer in America, he was with Real Salt Lake last year in the MLS. He is partnered up top with Takayuki Suzuki. No, I don't know anything about him, just felt a resolute need to type his name.
18th- Rhinos have been off to a great start tonight. They've comfortably played the ball back to maintain possession, and managed a solid amount of pressure, we're just waiting on the breakthrough. Just a feeling I get, but I think the Rhinos will get into the win column tonight, although my original prediction of 2-1 Rhinos doesn't look as appropriate with the lack of attacking pressure for Portland.
14th- Kreamalmeyer with a cross but Portland deals easily and clears.
11th- Some nifty passing in the final third from the Rhinos. Diallo is taken down just outside the box and the Rhinos will have a dangerous freekick about 20 yards out from straight on. It looks like Salles, he hits it straight to the keeper.
9th- Diallo suffers an apparent foul in the penalty area but the ref seems unimpressed.
8th- Salles with a right-footed blast just off frame. Rhinos seem to be settling in and gaining more possession. The back line has dealt comfortably with the rare early buildup for Portland.
5th- Rhinos freekick around midfield, some back and forth action early on and a few fouls, but nothing major to take note of.
1st- We're underway in Portland.
Pre-game: Starting for the Rhinos: Scott Vallow, Scott Palguta, Atiba Charles, Nate Craft, Tenywa Bonseu, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Tiger Fitzpatrick, Johnny Menyongar, Ze Roberto, Mauricio Salles, and Hamed Diallo. Matthew Delicate is nursing some knocks and will be available off the bench.
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