April 23, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Rochester New York FC News Release
Sometimes in a soccer match, a team plays well for long stretches, only to fall short when the referee blows the final whistle.
That is exactly what happened Saturday night at John L. DiMarco Field on the Monroe Community College campus, as RNY FC took on New York City FC II in the first Empire State Derby of the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro League campaign.
NYCFC II got a second half brace from forward Jonathan Jimenez, including the match winner in the third minute of stoppage time, to snatch all three points from a game that looked destined to go to penalty kicks.
Jimenez had given the visitors a 2-1 lead just three minutes after the break, as his deflected shot trickled past RNY FC keeper Caique, who could do nothing after he was sent diving to his right to try to save the shot, only to see the ball spin inside the left post.
The spirited encounter, played in front of Rochester fans in a league game for the first time since October of 2017, started off with multiple early chances for each team. But it was RNY FC that took the lead in the 20th minute, after Will Inalien converted from the spot following a hand ball in the box. It was more than deserved for the hosts, who played well over the first half hour of the contest.
But the lead was short-lived: Stephen Turnbull pulled the visitors even in the 32nd minute from a well-worked set-piece routine. NYCFC II played a corner short, then worked it out to the edge of the box, where a perfectly weighted ball from CB Nicholas Benalcazar found Turnbull ghosting to the back post. The right back coolly slotted home at the near post to even the match at 1-1.
After Jimenez gave NYCFC II the lead, the hosts picked up their play, and found the tying goal in the 65th minute. Pedro Dolabella used a bit of skill to turn out of trouble and send Milan Vanacker on a run into the opponent’s final third. Vanacker then found Inalien, who scored lhis second of…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central MLS NEXT Pro MLS NEXT Pro News…