May 9, 2008
Usually a scoreless draw isn't a reason to celebrate, but after the Rhinos first two games of the season, the Rhinos were more than happy to leave Portland with their first point of the 2008 season.
Rhinos head coach Darren Tilley tweaked his lineup with Matthew Delicate coming off the bench and Mauricio Salles starting up top with Hamed Diallo.
For the second straight game, Steve Guppy was not on the 18 man roster for the Rhinos. Alfonso Loera and Chase Harrison were on the 18 man roster for the first time this season, although neither came on as subs.
Former Rhinos Chris Bagley and Neil Dombrowski started on the Timbers bench with Bagley coming on as a late sub.
After becoming the first team to get a point in Portland this season, the Rhinos travel to Vancouver to take on the Whitecaps tomorrow evening. Tilley was extremely upbeat after last night's result, so hopefully the team is in the mood for another first for the 2008 season and they will finally get on the scoreboard!
And this may be a first in Rhinos history - They have a point in the standings before they have a goal for.......
News & Notes:
- In last night's MLS game of the Week on ESPN2, the Chicago Fire remained hot and DC United remained cold. And DC's President is not happy about that fact.......
- The AP has a nice article on Abby Wambach closing in on 100 USWNT goals.
- I wonder if Sven Goran Eriksson knows Spanish?
- US Soccer.com has a podcast interview with Fulham and USMNT midfielder Clint Dempsey about Fulham's fight to stay in the EPL.
- One of Rochester's favorite MLS coaches, Jason Kreis, has been suspended for criticizing officials. Jason Kreis whining? No way!
- Steven Goff has a nice article on Chicago Fire head coach Denis Hamlett. You've got to root for a guy that was an assistant coach for over a decade with one team when he finally gets his shot as the head coach.
- I sure hope this isn't how Benny the Beard's soccer career ends.
- Apparently Red Bulls rookie defender Eric Brunner is looking at other options after NY yanked his senior roster contract to sign former TFC defender Andrew Boyens. SBI.net says that Brunner is looking at USL teams. I wonder if Scott Palguta would give him a good reference?
- The first player signed by MLS' Seattle Sounder FC is current Seattle Sounder Sebastien Le Toux.
- Texas Southern University may be stepping in to help the Houston Dynamo get a stadium deal done.
- Martin Rogers has an updated Top 20 Players in MLS list. The first surprise to me was Schellotto coming in 3rd ahead of Blanco at 4.
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.
