VS
2016 US Open Cup Round 3
June 1st, 2016 at 7 p.m. ET-- Sahlen's Stadium; Rochester, NY
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| Lansdowne midfielder Craig Purcell charging at the ball to perform an interception during the game against Southie F.C on May 2nd. Hess Boys Photography |
Lansdowne Bhoys F.C can brag about being the best amateur club in the country, reaching the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup after upsetting semi-pro team Long Island Rough Riders and professional side Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Next up for the Bhoys in the third round of the U.S Open Cup is Rochester Rhinos, the reigning champions of the United Soccer League and a club who had already won the competition in 1999--Lansdowne was only two years in the running then.
The Irish based club coach Austin Freil acknowledges the USL champions' capability but is reassured that his players won't back down from them.
"They're a very strong team, they're obviously a professional team," Friel told a reporter after his side's 2-0 win against NY Pancyprian Thursday night.
The Irishman later added: "Even though Rochester is the current USL champions, as I said, we will respect them but we don't fear them."
The Irish based club coach Austin Freil acknowledges the USL champions' capability but is reassured that his players won't back down from them.
"They're a very strong team, they're obviously a professional team," Friel told a reporter after his side's 2-0 win against NY Pancyprian Thursday night.
The Irishman later added: "Even though Rochester is the current USL champions, as I said, we will respect them but we don't fear them."
Friel's side is two division below the Rhinos as they play in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. However they have numerous players who can play in the higher professional leagues. In fact, the Lansdowne keeper Abdoukarim Danso praised his teammates after the clean sheet Thursday.
"They're really, really, really good," Danso said, "trust me, this team can play in any level--all of them-- even our subs, they are really, really good."
Their captain Stephen Roche played professionally in Ireland with UCD Dublin in 2009-10. Coach Friel played for several teams in the top division in Northern Ireland. Striker Kendon Anderson represented Jamaica in the U20 FIFA World Cup.
Furthermore Thomas Wharf played for a first division collegiate team, University of Connecticut, and so on.
Striker Sikele Sylvester shared how optimistic he is of their first-rate roster against the Rhinos too last Thursday.
"We just have to work hard and play our best and just take our chances. We're going to get chances in that game for sure, I guarantee you that," Sylvester said.
The amateur's club goal is to clinch the USL in the next three years. Their past five seasons is a perfect picture of what a promoted team looks like: they finished first in the league for the last five seasons--going undefeated in two of them-- and they defeated teams from higher divisions in the U.S. Open Cup.
Knocking the USL champions out of the U.S Open Cup would be their loudest scream yet to show U.S Soccer how much they deserve to compete in the USL.
Rochester will be protecting a 24 home game unbeaten run. They sit in sixth place in the Eastern Region of the USL.
The Rhinos got eliminated in the fourth round last year by MLS side Philadelphia Union in penalties.
Rochester vs Lansdowne Stats:
Rhinos (1 game) U.S Open Cup Bhoys (2 games)
Goals conceded: 0 1
Goals scored: 7 4
Last five matches
Rochester Rhinos (D, L, W, D, W)
5-28-16: Bethlehem Steel FC vs Rochester Rhinos 2-2
5-22-16: Rochester Rhinos vs Orlando City B 1-2 (@ Titan Soccer Complex)
5-18-16: Rochester Rhinos vs Southie FC 7-0
5-14-16: Charlotte Independence vs Rochester Rhinos 0-0
5-6-16: Charleston Battery vs Rochester Rhinos 2-3
Lansdowne Bhoys FC (W, W, W, W, W)
5-26-16: NY Pancyprian Freedom vs Lansdowne Bhoys 0-2
5-22-16: Everton FC Westchester Eagles vs Lansdowne Bhoys 1-5
5-18-16: Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs Lansdowne Bhoys 0-2
5-11-16: Long Island Rough Riders vs Lansdowne Bhoys 1-2
5-7-16: Lansdowne Bhoys vs Manhattan Celtic 3-0
"They're really, really, really good," Danso said, "trust me, this team can play in any level--all of them-- even our subs, they are really, really good."
Their captain Stephen Roche played professionally in Ireland with UCD Dublin in 2009-10. Coach Friel played for several teams in the top division in Northern Ireland. Striker Kendon Anderson represented Jamaica in the U20 FIFA World Cup.
Furthermore Thomas Wharf played for a first division collegiate team, University of Connecticut, and so on.
Striker Sikele Sylvester shared how optimistic he is of their first-rate roster against the Rhinos too last Thursday.
"We just have to work hard and play our best and just take our chances. We're going to get chances in that game for sure, I guarantee you that," Sylvester said.
The amateur's club goal is to clinch the USL in the next three years. Their past five seasons is a perfect picture of what a promoted team looks like: they finished first in the league for the last five seasons--going undefeated in two of them-- and they defeated teams from higher divisions in the U.S. Open Cup.
Knocking the USL champions out of the U.S Open Cup would be their loudest scream yet to show U.S Soccer how much they deserve to compete in the USL.
Rochester will be protecting a 24 home game unbeaten run. They sit in sixth place in the Eastern Region of the USL.
The Rhinos got eliminated in the fourth round last year by MLS side Philadelphia Union in penalties.
Rochester vs Lansdowne Stats:
- Rochester won the U.S Open Cup in 1999. Lansdowne was two years old then.
- This is Lansdowne's first appearance in the U.S Open Cup. The Rhinos participated in every single U.S Open Cup since 1996.
- The Rhinos defeated Southie F.C 7-0 in their only game of the tournament so far. Lansdowne beat Souhtie F.C 4-1 in the National Amateur Cup this season.
- Rochester is on a 24 home game unbeaten run at Sahlen's Stadium. Lansdowne played their two previous games in the tournament away from home, outscoring their opponents 4-1.
Rhinos (1 game) U.S Open Cup Bhoys (2 games)
Goals conceded: 0 1
Goals scored: 7 4
Rochester Rhinos (D, L, W, D, W)
5-28-16: Bethlehem Steel FC vs Rochester Rhinos 2-2
5-22-16: Rochester Rhinos vs Orlando City B 1-2 (@ Titan Soccer Complex)
5-18-16: Rochester Rhinos vs Southie FC 7-0
5-14-16: Charlotte Independence vs Rochester Rhinos 0-0
5-6-16: Charleston Battery vs Rochester Rhinos 2-3
Lansdowne Bhoys FC (W, W, W, W, W)
5-26-16: NY Pancyprian Freedom vs Lansdowne Bhoys 0-2
5-22-16: Everton FC Westchester Eagles vs Lansdowne Bhoys 1-5
5-18-16: Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs Lansdowne Bhoys 0-2
5-11-16: Long Island Rough Riders vs Lansdowne Bhoys 1-2
5-7-16: Lansdowne Bhoys vs Manhattan Celtic 3-0
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