ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Rochester Rhinos welcomed the Charleston Battery to Sahlen’s Stadium in the first match played between the two since 2009. Tony Donatelli’s 25th minute goal was enough as the Rhinos held off the defending USL-2 champs 1-0 in the first home-opening win for the Rhinos since 2004.
Rochester controlled the pace of play for most of the first half. Rochester had the first real scoring chance in the eighth minute when Connor Tobin hit a cross just wide off a cross into the box from Tyler Rosenlund.
The Battery came close to taking the lead in the 18th minute but midfielder Alex Caskey’s drive sailed over the cross-bar.
The Rhinos eventually struck first when defender Quavas Kirk made a run down the right flank, crossing the ball into the box. Donatelli worked his way into scoring position and volleyed a right footer off the goalpost to the right of Charleston ‘keeper Keith Wiggins. With Wiggins on the ground Donatelli cleaned up the rebound for his first goal as a Rhino.
Charleston held possession in the second half but couldn’t crack the Rhinos defense. Zach Prince had an opportunity to beat Neal Kitson from inside the eighteen but Rhinos netminder made the save.
In the 58th minute Donatelli’s a free kick rang off the cross bar nearly giving the Rhinos a 2-0 lead. Rochester again nearly added to their lead in the 59th minute when Donatelli’s in-swinging free kick was headed just high over the crossbar by Tobin.
Charleston pressed to get the equalizer with the best chance coming in the 89th minute. Dane Kelly lobbed a cross in from the left side that Mike Zaher got a head on but his header glanced over the bar. Rochester was able to hold off the Battery for the final five minutes as Charleston mounted a furious comeback. For the Rhinos the win marked their first in a home opener since 2004.
“The win was nice but the performance wasn’t” said Rhinos Head Coach Bob Lilley. “We need to tighten up some areas if we are going to be successful. We allowed them to pressure us late in the game but fortunately we managed to hold them off.”
Courtesy Rochester Rhinos
