Rhinos Slam Silverbacks And Stay In Hunt for Playoffs

Red-Hot Rhinos Stick It To Atlanta in Must-Win

J-P Altieri & Keith Kiedrowski,
a-league.com Match Reporters
Rochester

ROCHESTER, NY, August 25, 2004 – In a must-win against Atlanta, the Rhinos proved that there’s still some fuel left in their collective tanks. The Silverbacks entered the match with enough points to lock up at least the fourth and final position in the Eastern Conference, knocking the Rhinos out of the playoffs picture with a victory at Frontier Field tonight.

Playing with what appeared to be extreme confidence, or perhaps cockiness, Atlanta came out and played flat and uninspired, not looking like the team that beat the Rhinos earlier in the year at Frontier Field. With the exception of superb play by Silverbacks midfielder John Ball, Atlanta’s half-hearted effort proved to be exactly what the Rhinos, playing their most crucial game of the season, needed. A corner taken by Rochester midfielder Shawn Tsakiris in the 22’ set the tone for the evening. Forward Chris Carrieri received a pass at the right edge of the penalty area from Tsakiris off the short corner, took a couple of steps and fired hard past ‘keeper Joe Barton for the match’s first goal.

Atlanta appeared to be reeling after the goal, and Rochester defender Bill Sedgewick upped the score 7 minutes later with a hard right-footed shot from the edge of the Atlanta penalty area. After just 29 minutes, the Silverbacks found their playoffs dream crashing towards Earth. The Rhinos, playing hard and desperate, actually showed what a team of their caliber is capable of when all the cylinders are clicking. It actually was pretty scary.

Atlanta suffered even more agony in the 44’, when defender Adilson DeLima was issued his second caution of the match and was automatically ejected. At halftime, the Silverbacks were faced with a 2-goal deficit and would have to play a man short for the remainder of the night. The Rhinos crowd was in high spirits, especially with a 2-goal cushion in a must-win game.

Chris Carrieri struck again after the intermission in the 49’, converting on a poor clearance by Atlanta’s defense. Rhinos ‘keeper Theo Zagar placed his goal kick straight down the pitch into the Silverbacks’ penalty area. When Atlanta’s defense failed to move the ball upfield, Carrieri was in perfect position to trap the ball and fire hard past Barton for his second goal of the match.

Rochester pounded Atlanta hard, sending a message to visiting Montreal on Friday, which is another must-win for the Rhinos. While the both Atlanta and Rochester’s playoffs hopes remain alive, the Rhinos finally have the upper hand—for now.

Scoring Summary