Samuel Edoung-Biye nets the game-winner in stoppage time as Rochester edges GPS Omens, 2-1.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Sammy Edoung-Biyo scored a goal he will remember for the rest of his life. Not only was it his very first professional goal, but a goal in the dying seconds of the match to send the Rhinos to the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup where they will face the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer.
Moments after substitute Joe Farrell’s ricocheted shot somehow didn’t go in the net, Antonio Correia made a beautiful tackle that started the game-winning goal. The ball went out to Bradley Kamdem Fewo who launched a perfectly curled 60-yard ball to Jalen Brown who hit a one-time pass near post to Edoung-Biyo who launched his body at the ball, scoring on the diving header and raced to the corner to celebrate with his team as well as fans who ran onto the field.
“I had three good opportunities I should have finished, and I just kept working,” said Edoung-Biyo, “I kept looking for it and eventually it got in the back of the net. Hopefully, it becomes a habit.”
Sammy is five years removed from his collegiate career and paid his way into the open tryout this past December. After an invitation to the invite-only tryout and lasting throughout preseason, he made the team and has taken full advantage of the opportunity.
GPS Omens often played with all 11 men behind the ball and tried to absorb the pressure long enough to get to penalties. The Rhinos dominated with 72% of the possession, and a 21-6 shot advantage.
After a very dull first half of action with no shots on goal, Rhinos rookie winger Jalen Brown opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with a beautiful shot from about 20 yards that took a fortunate deflection into the bottom corner for his first professional goal.
GPS Omens answered almost immediately after they were awarded a free kick 20 yards out in prime territory. Keith Caldwell; brother of New England Revolution’s Scott Caldwell, hit a gorgeous strike around the five man wall past Penfield native Dan Lynd and into the top corner to level the score at 1.
The Rhinos had several chances to win the game, with most coming off of crosses that sailed high. Eleven of the 21 Rhinos shots came in extra time, and the 21st shot was the one that mattered most.
The Rhinos face FC Cincinnati Saturday, June 3 before heading to Florida for matches against Orlando City B and Tampa Bay. They’ll then fly back north to face the New England Revolution on June 14 at Providence College.