Rochester lost to eventual champs via the shootout last season.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Are they our biggest rivals? That’s for you to decide, but these are the last two USL Champions. In the two seasons of the NYRB 2’s existence, every match has been an absolute dogfight, and both teams have taken turns knocking eachother out of the USL Conference Semi-Finals en route to titles. The Rhinos also lost a thrilling 1-0 contest to the Red Bulls MLS side in last year’s US Open Cup.
Last season, the Red Bulls and Rhinos played to four draws in four matches, including a playoff thriller that ended in heartbreak for Rochester. The first matchup ended in a 0-0 draw to close out last year’s season-opening three-match road trip at 1-1-1. The teams played out another 0-0 draw at Red Bull Arena in July. The third and final regular season matchup ended all square at 1 after the Red Bulls equalized in the 89th minute.
The 2016 Eastern Conference semifinals was an absolute thriller that both sides will remember for years to come. The Rhinos came from behind twice to send the match into extra time, where they took the lead through a Wal Fall tally in the110th minute, only to be equalized at the penalty spot in the 118th minute. The Red Bulls would win the shootout 5-4, and go on to beat Louisville City FC and Swope Park Rangers to win the USL Championship.
In 2015, the Rhinos lost only one game all season en route to winning both the USL regular season and playoff championships. Rochester went 2-1-0 against the Red Bulls in the regular season, which included a season-opening 0-0 draw followed by 2-0 and a memorable 3-2 victory in which NYRB drew level in the 93rd minute only for the Rhinos to pull off the win a minute later despite being down to 10 men.
Two weeks later, the Rhinos defeated NYRB 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals behind a pair of second half goals from Steevan Dos Santos. Red Bulls may have felt injustice by receiving a red card only 22 minutes into the match. The Rhinos would then defeat Louisville City and LA Galaxy 2 to win the 2015 USL Championship.
Rhinos lead the all-time series 3-5-0, including playoffs. We will face NYRB on two other occasions: Aug. 5 at Montclair State University and the final match of the regular season Oct. 14 at Capelli Sport Stadium.
Kickoff: 6:05 pm, Gates Open at 5 pm. $2 Genesee Happy Hour + Maroon Five Tribute Band prior to game.