Coming off a nice 2-1 home win over Vancouver, the Rhinos host the NSC Minnesota Stars this evening.
When the Rhinos faced the Stars in Minnesota on April 28th, the Rhinos were able to win convincely by a 3-0 scoreline.
With a win tonight the Rhinos can pull within a point of Tampa Bay for second place in the USL Conference of the USSF D-2 Pro League and 3 points of first place Austin.
Here are some things I'm wondering about heading into tonight's match:
- Will they play in the 4-1-4-1 formation that they used versus Vancouver?
- Will Rich Costanzo and Tino Nunez who scored the goals in the first match up versus Minnesota start tonight?
- Will they survive the first 5 to 10 minutes following the intermission for the second straight home match?
- If they are up late, will they kill off the game to Bob Lilley's satisfaction?
A couple of thing's that Devo has broken over the past 24 hrs is that Scott Vallow will be in goal and that Max Ferdinand will not be in the 18 due to a knee injury.
Let's just hope that the rain holds off until after the match is over......
News & Notes:
- SBI.net has their look ahed at Week 9 in the USSF D2 & their D2 Power Rankings up.
- Grant Wahl & Yanks Abroad have previews of tomorrow morning's US-Australia match.
- SI.com takes a look at Group C and has England and the US advancing.
- Add this new US hat to my wish list.
- Didier Drogba & Rio Ferdinand may be out of the World Cup due to injuries.
- If The Onion is making fun of US Soccer fans does that mean that the sport has arrived here?
- Greg Seltzer has his Top 5 head scratchign World Cup cuts and Mr. Rossi is in at #3.
- This Holland supporter's shirt is awesome.
- Sacha Klejstan may be moving to Europe despite not making the trip to South Africa. I wonder if Belgians dig the 'stache?
- Seattle supporters are starting to turn on Freddie Ljungberg.
- Atlanta has signed four of the big names from the St Louis Athletica in USWNTers Hope Solo, Lori Chalupny, and Tina Ellertson, along with WPS leading scorer Eniola Aluko.
- The NY Times looks at how Ajax develops soccer stars. I wonder if you can take that same approach here in the US?
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to news@soccersam.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
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