ROCHESTER, N.Y. (October 3, 2015) – New York Red Bulls II fell in the Eastern Conference Semifinal against the top-seeded Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen’s Stadium, 2-0. Konrad Plewa was issued a red card in the 22nd minute and Steeven Dos Santos scored both goals for the Rhinos to eliminate Red Bulls II from the USL Playoffs.
New York Red Bulls II completed its inaugural season with a 12-10-6 record and earned the No. 4-seed in the USL Playoffs. After winning its first ever playoff match against Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the first-round, Red Bulls II’s 2015 season came to an end with the loss at Rochester.
Eleven minutes into the first half, New York nearly took an early lead on a cross that almost floated into the back of the net. Stefano Bonomo swung in the in-swinger which was searching for the inside of the back post, but Rochester goalkeeper Brandon Miller made the leaping save to keep it out.
Rochester thought they had the lead five minutes later when a close-range shot was fired on-net. Santiago Castano was in position to make the point-blank save, and the shot off of the rebound was sent wide.
In the 22nd minute, Dos Santos earned a one-on-one with Plewa and ran at the defender. Plewa won the ball and passed back to Castano, but tugged at Dos Santos who went to ground and the referee issued a straight red car for the challenge.
The Rhinos’ best chance of the half came in the 32nd minute on a corner kick. The cross connected with the head of Tony Walls, but the effort pinged off of the wrong side of the post and out. The Rhinos outshot Red Bulls II 6-3, forcing Castano to make two saves.
Rochester came out of the gates fast in the second half and took the lead in the 48th minute. Dos Santos found himself in space from 20-yards out and curled a shot into the goal at the back post to put the Rhinos ahead.
The home side doubled its advantage in the 69th minute when Rochester found themselves inside of New York’s penalty box. Alex Dixon squared a pass to Kenardo Forbes, who fired a pass to the back post which Dos Santos finished into the open net for his second goal of the game.
In the 78th minute, Marius Obekop whipped in a cross on a dangerous free kick which bounced off of the hand of a Rochester defender in the penalty area. The New York players pled for the referee to blow his whistle for a chance from the penalty spot, but no foul was called. New York pressed forward in the final 10 minutes of the match, whipping in numerous crosses, but were unable to find the finishing touch and fell on the road to Rochester for the third time this season.
Scoring Summary:
ROC: Steevan Dos Santos 48’
ROC: Steevan Dos Santos (Kenardo Forbes) 69’
Discipline Summary:
NY: Konrad Plewa, Ejection 22’
ROC: Onua Thomas Obasi, Caution, 63’
ROC: Grant Van De Casteele, Caution 77’
Lineups:
NY: Santiago Castano, Shawn McLaws, Mike Da Fonte, Konrad Plewa, Colin Heffron, Bolu Akinyode, Speedy Williams, Leo Stolz (Franklin Castellanos, 77’), Manolo Sanchez (Daniel Bedoya, 70’), Stefano Bonomo (Chris Tsonis, 80’), Marius Obekop
Subs not used: Rafael Diaz, James Thomas, Victor Manosalvas, Alex Clay
ROC: Brandon Miller, Onua Thomas Obasi (Sean Totsch, 70’), Grant Van De Casteele (Nate Bordeau, 88’), Vassilios Apostolopolous, Pat McMahon, Mike Garzi, Tony Walls, Jonny Mendoza (Marcos Ugarte, 73’), Kenardo Forbes, Alex Dixon (Colin Rolfe, 83’), Steevan Dos Santos
Subs not used: Adam Grinwis, Timi Mulgrew, Asani Samuels
