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Rochester Rhinos vs. Minnesota Thunder
Date/time: Sunday, July 20th, 2008 6:05 pm EDT
Location: James Griffin Stadium, St. Paul, MN
Weather: Clear
Attendance: 3,176

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GOALS H1 H2 O1 O2 TOTAL Rochester 1 0 1 Minnesota 0 0 0	FOULS H1 H2 O1 O2 TOTAL Rochester 4 7 11 Minnesota 6 2 8
SHOTS H1 H2 O1 O2 TOTAL Rochester 5 3 8 Minnesota 5 6 11	OFFSIDES H1 H2 O1 O2 TOTAL Rochester 0 0 0 Minnesota 2 1 3
SAVES H1 H2 O1 O2 TOTAL Rochester 0 1 1 Minnesota 1 3 4	CORNERS H1 H2 O1 O2 TOTAL Rochester 2 2 4 Minnesota 2 2 4
REFEREE Fotis Bazakos ASST. REFEREE Michaun Ahmad ASST. REFEREE Troy Cohrs 4TH OFFICIAL Kristine We

POS	#	STARTERS	MIN	G	A	S	F
D	13	BALL, John	90				2
D	16	EARLS, Danny	77			1
D	20	PALGUTA, Scott	90
D	27	BONSEU, Tenywa	90
M	4	KREAMALMEYER, Luke	88		1	1	3
M	7	GUPPY, Steve	45			2	2
M	10	MENYONGAR, Johnny	90	1		2	2
M	12	GREGOR, Andrew	57
M	23	LOERA, Alfonso	90			1
F	8	SALLES, Mauricio	90
POS	#	SUBSTITUTES	MIN	G	A	S	F
D	2	CRAFT, Nate	45				1
M	6	FITZPATRICK, Tiger	0
F	9	DELICâTE, Matthew	33			1
F	20	SEVERS, Chad	2
F	35	MARTINEZ, Rey Angel	13				1
G=Goals, A=Assists, S=Shots, F=Fouls				1	1	8	11

POS	#	GOALKEEPERS	MIN	SHFC	SAVES	GA
GK	24	VALLOW, Scott	90	11	1
GK	1	MELIA , Tim	0
				11	1	0

The Rochester Rhinos and Minnesota Thunder renewed an old rivalry tonight in a rematch of the 1998, 1999 and 2000 League Championships with the Rhinos coming out on top with a 1-0 victory. It was the Rhinos second win in a row out west improving their record to 6-5-6.

Rochester looked like the more dangerous team throughout the first half though Minnesota held the majority of possession during the half. The Rhinos had the first real scoring chance of the game in the 11th minute when Steve Guppy walked into the box and blasted a shot on net but Thunder keeper, Nicolas Platter was up to the challenge punching it over the net. Minnesota's only real chance of the half came on a free kick by Ricardo Sanchez but he could not put his 25 yard effort on frame. The Rhinos came right back with Luke Kreamalmeyer, who fought through a tackle on the right wing before crossing the ball to former Minnesota star Johnny Menyongar who volleyed a shot home to give the Rhinos a 1-0 lead. Alfonso Loera had another chance for Rochester but he put his header over the bar in the 31st minute. Minnesota's Jonathan Greenfield had the last scoring opportunity of the half but he put his long range effort well over the net. With the rest of the first half being battled out in the midfield the teams headed to the dressing rooms with the Rhinos enjoying a 1-0 advantage.

With both teams pushing for a goal in the second half, the pace of the game was amped up by both teams as they searched for that crucial second goal of the game. Minnesota had the first chance of the half in the 55th minute but Rochester's Tenywa Bonseu made a big sliding save before the shot could make it to the net. Mauricio Salles had an opportunity to add a goal for the Rhinos but his header was stopped on the line by Minnesota defender Kevin Taylor. The Thunder were lurking again just two minutes later but Minnesota's Jeremiah Bass could not put his header on net.

Rochester was looking to add insurance to their slim lead in the 81st minute when Kreamalmeyer used some fancy footwork to work past his defender before sliding a pass to Matthew Delicate, who's effort was blocked by a sliding Greenfield. Salles then put a left footed effort just wide. Scott Vallow came up big for the Rhinos late making two huge saves with time winding down, including a diving save on a header from Frederico Moojen, to preserve his sixth shutout of the season.

The win moves the Rhinos into third place in the USL First Division with 24 points. The Rhinos will be back home to take on rival the Montreal Impact on Friday July 25th with the Friday Night Frenzy beginning at 8:00 p.m.