Two wins in Rochester’s final two matches can clinch a home playoff game.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The 5th-place Rochester Rhinos (12-7-11; 47 points) are home for their final two matches before they enter the postseason. Rochester plays host to Bethlehem Steel FC on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at Capelli Sport Stadium as they attempt to jump into the Top-4 spots in the USL Eastern Conference – which would secure a home playoff match. Kickoff is set for 7:05 pm.
The Rhinos clinched a playoff berth for the 21st time in 22 seasons with a 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night. Jochen Graf scored his 8th goal of the season just 22 seconds into the match, volleying home a beautiful cross from Christiano Francois, who now leads the team with 5 assists in just 11 appearances this season. Wal Fall finished the scoring, putting home a rocket into the top right corner from 12 yards for his team-leading 9th goal of the 2017 campaign.
In terms of hosting a playoff match, the Rhinos currently control their own destiny. For the moment, Rochester sits in 5th place with 47 points, with a match in hand on everybody in the Eastern Conference. The Rhinos sit one point behind the Charlotte Independence, who have lost four straight. The Tampa Bay Rowdies are three points ahead on 50 points, while the Charleston Battery are in 2nd place with 51 points. Charleston and Charlotte face one another in their final match of the season, while the Rowdies face a desperate 9th-placed Orlando City B.
Rochester will take on New York Red Bulls 2 in the final game of the season.
This is a rematch of the opening match of the season that the Rhinos won 3-2 in Bethlehem. Rochester took a 2-0 lead in the first half, before Bethlehem leveled the match after being awarded and converting 2 penalty kicks. Jochen Graf came off the bench to score an 88th-minute winner in his USL debut.
The Rhinos broke their five-match winless streak; the longest such streak in 2017.
Bethlehem currently is seeking its first playoff berth in its second season of existence. The Steel have been red-hot to finish the season, currently sitting in 7th place on 43 points in the midst of a 6-match unbeaten streak. They would clinch a playoff spot with a win in either of their final two matches, an FC Cincinnati loss, or an Orlando City B loss/draw.
The Steel has never defeated the Rhinos, drawing twice last season before this season’s loss.