|
Aug. 2, 2006
REVOLUTION ADVANCE IN CUP
Larentowicz kicks Revs into quarterfinals
 |
Jeff Larentowicz scored the deciding penalty kick to give the Revs a 5-4 win over the Rhinos
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images |
Rochester, N.Y. – The New England Revolution converted five straight penalty kicks, after missing their first two to defeat the Rochester Raging Rhinos 5-4 and advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup Wednesday night.
Both goalkeepers - Matt Reis of New England and Scott Vallow of Rochester - made enough big saves to keep a clean sheet 90 minutes of regulation, plus two overtime periods, and Vallow made two saves in the shootout, but in the end, it was the Revs Jeff Larentowicz who clinched the decision by shooting past Vallow in the seventh round.
The win was the Revs first in the Open Cup since 2003.
Rochester's Mike Ambersley and John Ball both converted their opening
penalty kick chances in the shootout, while the Revs' first shooters -
Shalrie Joseph and Andy Dorman - both saw their shots saved by Vallow. Up 2-0, Rochester then sent Matthew Delicate to the spot, where he sent his shot high over the net, while New England's José Cancela softly chipped his attempt into back of the net to pull the Revs within one, 2-1.
Tenywa Bonseu was Rochester's fourth shooter, but his effort crashed off of the crossbar, while Steve Ralston converted his spot kick to pull the Revs even in the fourth round. Aaren Lines put the Rhinos up 4-3 when he sent a shot past Reis in the fifth round, but then Reis helped his own cause when he stepped to the spot and rocketed a shot past Vallow to even the score at 3-3 and send the shootout to sudden death rounds.
Defenders Kenney Bertz of Rochester and James Riley for the Revs both scored on their chances to push the shootout to a 4-4 score, but Sanfilippo then stepped up and sent his shot high over the bar, giving the Revs an opportunity to win on Larentowicz's kick. The second-year midfielder stepped up and stroked his shot to the center of the net as Vallow dove to his left to send the Revolution into the quarterfinals with the 5-4 shootout victory.
Rochester had the game's first chance in the 12th minute, when Johnny Menyonger tried to find the net from 25 yards out with a dipping shot under the crossbar, but Reis made the acrobatic grab for the save.
Pat Noonan created a chance in the 24th minute when he broke down the
right wing and cut back to the inside into the penalty area before ripping a shot near post that forced Vallow to make a diving save
to his left.
Larentowicz had a chance in the 38th minute ripping a hard right-footed shot from 15 yards out, but Vallow made the save to his right to keep the game scoreless.
Taylor Twellman gave the Revs their first chance of the second half when he caught up to an angled Noonan cross from the right center in the 55th minute. The ball looked to be out of Twellman's reach but he managed a left-footed first-time shot to the near post, and Vallow was forced to come up with a big save to preserve the 0-0 score.
Jose Cancela, who came on for captain Joe Franchino in the 69th minute, had a chance in the 78th minute when he ran into the 18-yard box and twirled around a defender and put a shot on frame that forced Vallow to make a diving save to his left. The ball ricocheted up over Vallow back toward the endline - still on frame - and the Rochester defense was forced to clear to prevent Sims from putting a shot into the open net.
In the 104th minute, the Rhinos' Matthew Delicate had the team's best chance of the night. Former Rev Connally Edozien sent in a cross from the right side to the far post, where Delicate headed it a yard off the line. However, Reis leapt and met the ball for save, blocking it with his chest at the post.
Sims appeared to have scored the clinching goal for the Revs in the 120th minute when Larentowicz sent him in with a through ball down the center channel, but again the linesman ruled Sims came on from an offside position and ruled no goal, sending the game into the penalty shoot-out to decide the game.
|
