The Long Island Rough Riders managed a spilt with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in their home-and-home series with a 2-1 win on Saturday, May 27. Although the Riders won the game, they were eliminated from the US Open Cup, as Pittsburgh won the match-up 5 points to 4.
In the first half of play, the Riders dominated play and had several opportunities to take an early lead. The Riders were just not able to capitalize on their chances and find the back of the net. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, took the early lead when Nick Terlecky scored in the 21st minute of play off a corner kick assisted by Jair Vasquez. The goal gave the Riverhounds a brief 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, the Riders broke through, scoring their first goal of the game. Edson Buddle carried the ball down the left side of field and crossed the ball into the box.
Then, just as it looked like the cross would sail through the box untouched, the Riders answered. Ben Diallo slid in the back door, while the Riverhounds defense watched helplessly, to score his first goal of the season. Buddle collected his first assist of the season to go with his four goals, good to lead the team with five points.
After the half, the Riders continued to possess the ball and create opportunities to score. Coming in to the game, Long Island need to win by the score of 3-0 or 4-1 in order to advance to the next round of the US Open Cup. The closest the Riders would get was 2-1. Their last goal of the game came in the 49th minute. Long Island received a corner kick, which Jerry Lucey bent into the box. This time Dahir Mohammed was successful, as he headed home his first goal of the season. Mohammed suffered a concussion and received 14 stitches in his head the last time; he tried to score a goal during their 1-1 tie with Connecticut.
The game was also a trial run for the new two referee system. There are two referees along with the two assistants. This all seems like a good idea, but it did not look that way during this run through. The first half was a physical one, that got worse as the game and tension grew. One would think that with four referees, eight eyes that the game would be kept clean and fouls and cautions would be caught. Not this time!
There were blown calls after blown calls in the first half for both teams, and there was only one caution and 14 fouls called as well. In the second half, the referees did not get any better, this time they called 22 fouls and issued just three yellows!
The whole night they were out of position, did not communicate with each other, and did not know whether they had to watch the ball or the players. This system could work, but they need to stress each referee's job in the system for it to work well.
The Rough Riders return to action with a game on the road against the Tennessee Rhythm on Sunday, June 4 at 6 p.m., before they return home to face the Connecticut Wolves on Wednesday, June 7 at 10:30 a.m.
