Montreal Defeats Rochester
Sebrango Continues to Haunt Rhinos, Impact Move Back into
First Place
J-P Altieri & Keith Kiedrowski,
a-league.com Match Reporters
Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY, June 23, 2003 – Divisional rival
Montreal came to Rochester for the first of three games between the two teams
in a week. At the starting whistle, Montreal came out attacking and for the
first 10 minutes, they had Rochester on their heels.
Putting two close shots on target, Montreal was desperate to find
a hole in Rochester’s defense. Content to sit back and wait for their
opportunity, Rochester would manage few shots and hardly maintain any constant
pressure on Montreal’s defense.
In the 27’, Rochester ‘keeper Bill Andracki came off his line,
way out of position. Montreal seemed assured a goal when defensive standout
Craig Demmin came in and managed to get a foot on the ball, sending it out for
a corner. In the 34’, after a defensive lapse, Montreal’s Eduardo Sebrango (a
former Rhino) had a one on one with Andracki, however Sebrango sent his shot
straight at Andracki, who stopped the shot.
Despite a lack of good communication between their midfield and
forwards, Rochester was able to break the deadlock in the 35’. Kirk Wilson sent
a long ball on for Doug Miller near the Montreal goal box. Miller was able to
get past the last defender and then push his shot past the keeper.
Three minutes before half-time Montreal again had a solid chance
with a point blank shot. Once again they sent it straight into the arms of
Andracki.
Rochester would waste little time in the second half when Lenin
Steenkamp put home a long range shot in the 49th. Looking to
surmount a 2-0 deficit, Montreal did not give up. They increased their
attacking intensity with the hopes of finding that one crack in the otherwise
solid Rochester defense.
The cracks began to show when, in the 58’, Craig
Demmin, the last man to beat, took down a Montreal player and was given a red
card for his efforts. With only 10 men, however, Rochester actually took
control of the match. They were creating chances and stopping Montreal’s
attacks before they got a chance to develop.
In the 80t, Rochester breathed new life into Montreal
by scoring an own goal. Trying desperately to hold on to the lead and playing a
defensive game, Rochester would concede the tying goal in the 89th
minute, when Montreal’s Lemire scored unassisted.
Once again Rochester would look for a win in extra time. They
looked to have it in the 92’ with a header from Lenin Steenkamp, but Montreal’s
‘keeper Greg Sutton was able to make the save. Montreal would end the game in
the 97’ when Sebrango scored a rocket from long range, past a bewildered
Andracki.
Rochester played a defensive game that they have played many
times before and for many years. However, it should now be apparent that
Rochester’s defense is not what it used to be, and the team has not adjusted
its playing style to accommodate this drop.
|
Time
|
Goal Scorer & Assist
|
Score
|
|
35
|
Miller [Wilson]
|
ROC 1 – MON 0
|
|
49
|
Steenkamp [Lavrinenko]
|
ROC 2 – MON 0
|
|
80
|
OWN GOAL
|
ROC 2 – MON 1
|
|
89
|
Lemire
|
ROC 2 – MON 2
|
|
97
|
Sebrango [Barker]
|
ROC 2 – MON 3
|
Starting Lineups
Y = Yellow Card
R = Red Card
Rochester Raging Rhinos
Formation: 4-4-2
1 GK – Bill Andracki [y]
5 D – Yuri Lavrinenko [Mendes 65’]
3 D – Craig Demmin [r]
4 D – Scott Schweitzer
11 M – Bill Sedgewick [y]
10 M – Stoian Mladenov
21 M – Kirk Wilson
12 M – David Hayes [Suarez 82’]
23 M – Lenin Steenkamp
24 F – Ian Fuller
19 F – Doug Miller [Mitchell 79’ [Commodore 94’]]
Opponent
Formation: X-X-X
1 GK – Greg Sutton
3 D – Jason Ditullio
5 D – Nevio Pizzolitto [Barker 77’]
7 D – Drew Kopp [Fronimadis 64’]
24 M – Abraham Francois
4 M – Nick Desantis [Lemire 67’]
6 M – Mark Rowland [y]
10 M – ZeRoberto Santana
15 M – Patrick Leduc
12 F – Eduardo Sebrango
20 F – Mauro Biello [Matondo]
How They Fared
Here’s how we feel the Rhinos fared against Opponent:
8 = Highest, 0 = Lowest
|
Player
|
J-P’s Rating
|
Keith’s Rating
|
Comments
|
|
1 GK – Bill Andracki
|
5
|
4
|
Started strong
and finished weak. Let’s see more of Soren Johnson in games that matter…
|
|
5 D – Yuri Lavrinenko
|
7
|
7
|
Played hard,
looked good. More comfortable at the back than Dinunzio has looked recently.
|
|
3 D – Craig Demmin
|
4
|
4
|
Two nearly fatal
errors and an ejection…off his game tonight.
|
|
4 D – Scott Schweitzer
|
6
|
5
|
Played sound, as
he has of late. Decent touches, no mistakes defensively.
|
|
11 M – Bill Sedgewick
|
5
|
5
|
Does a lot of
running, and not much more.
|
|
10 M – Stoian Mladenov
|
5
|
4
|
Seems to have
disappeared into the distance a little. Suddenly stranded on an island with
no help in the midfield. (Martin Nash, where art thou?)
|
|
21 M – Kirk Wilson
|
8
|
7
|
Played possibly
his best home game all year. Good touches and precise shooting. Nice through
ball to Miller.
|
|
12 M – David Hayes
|
6
|
6
|
Played decent,
although was injured around the time that Demmin was ejected, thus making
Rochester appear to only have 9 on the field.
|
|
23 M – Lenin Steenkamp
|
8
|
8
|
Played well,
especially in the second half. Scored a quick goal that SHOULD HAVE been the
winner…
|
|
24 F – Ian Fuller
|
5
|
5
|
Bench him…one
good game at Minnesota doesn’t warrant starting. Let’s see more of Jamel
Mitchell.
|
|
19 F – Doug Miller
|
8
|
7
|
Wasted plenty of
opportunities to make this game unreachable, but his goal was pretty.
|
|
Coaches
|
5
|
4
|
The score is low
because of the defensive shell the team dropped into late in the game…it cost
them 2 goals and first place in the NE division.
|
Statistics
SHOTS:
ROC: 10
MON: 9
SAVES:
ROC: 5
MON: 5
FOULS:
ROC: 19
MON: 18
CAUTIONS/EJECTIONS:
ROC: 2/1
MON: 1/0
ATTENDANCE: 10,159
