Steevan Dos Santos and Onua Obasi return to Rochester with Toronto.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Rhinos (11-5-8; 41 points) return home to Capelli Sport Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 6:05 pm to face the Ottawa Fury (7-9-9; 30 points) on Mascot & Superhero Night presented by M&T Bank.
After a 1-0 win over Toronto FC 2 last week, Rochester finds themselves just outside of the top four in the USL’s Eastern Conference solely on goal difference with just 8 matches left to play – a feat that would guarantee the Rhinos at least one home playoff match.
Chances look extremely good for the Rhinos to clinch a top-4 spot. Rochester currently is level on points with third and fourth-placed Charleston Battery and Tampa Bay Rowdies with 2 games in hand on both clubs. Only the Charlotte Independence and Louisville City FC (47 points) have fared better this season in the East. The Rhinos have two games in hand on Charlotte and still have to face Louisville twice this month – Sept. 20 in Louisville and Sept. 30 in Rochester – the next home match.
This is the third and final time the Fury and Rhinos will meet this USL season. Rochester came out 1-0 winners at home thanks to an early header by Ryan Felix. The sides nearly battled to the same result at TD Place before Tucker Hume leveled the match in the 89th-minute to give Ottawa a share of the points.
The Fury come to Capelli Sport Stadium without a win in their last five matches, going an 0-2-3 over that span. Ottawa’s last two matches against Saint Louis FC and New York Red Bulls II have resulted in 2-2 draws. They are led by former Rhino Steevan Dos Santos, who has 7 goals and 1 assist this season.
The Rhinos will be without their leading scorer Wal Fall after he was suspended for one match due to yellow card accumulation.
Gates open at 4:45 pm with kickoff slated for 6:05 pm. We’ll have our $2 Bud, Bud Light & ShockTop Happy Hour beginning when the gates open at the Genesee Beer Garden.
It’s Mascot and Superhero Night presented by M&T Bank. Otto the Orange, Billy the Buffalo, and more will be at Capelli Sport Stadium to cheer on the Rhinos. Those who come in their favorite superhero attire will receive a ticket voucher good for the season finale on Saturday, Oct. 14 vs. New York Red Bulls 2.
The match will be streamed LIVE on ROC Sports Network; WBGT channel 18 and digital 46.1. You can also watch the match on the USL YouTube Channel.