June 2, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Rochester New York FC News Release
All winning streaks must come to an end at some point.
Heck, even Real Madrid has only won five of the last 10 UEFA Champions League titles.
So, the RNY FC supporters knew that, despite a dominant month of May, Rochester was going to stumble somewhere in this run of matches.
But even without all three points Thursday night, RNY FC still managed to pull many positives from its Lake Ontario Derby clash with Toronto FC II.
Rochester got a late goal from Jesus Batiz to take the lead, then saw the visitors find an even later goal, in the 85th minute from Themi Antonoglou, to see the match end in a 1-1 draw.
RNY FC recovered to win the penalty shootout 4-3, which gave the hosts an extra point in the table. Those two points earned were enough to see Rochester, which started its 2022 MLS NEXT Pro campaign with no wins from its first four games (and just two points), now sit in the playoff places in the Eastern Conference table with a 14-point haul from its last five games (4-0-1).
Yes, it is early in the season: but it is never a bad thing to be near the top of the table, and above the playoff line instead of below it.
RNY FC actually had plenty of the action early in the contest, but had to deal with TFC II keeper Luka Gavran, who looked every bit the MLS draft pick on the night. Gavran made an early fingertip save on Ed WIlliams, but his double save in the 31st minute, first on the shot from Batiz, then a rebound attempt from Gibran Rayo, stunned the crowd. Gavran scrambled to his feet to save the second shot in quick succession, and stopped what looked to be a sure goal.
At the other end of the pitch, RNY FC GK Caique Luiz Santos da Puricaçāo was able to keep it scoreless as well heading into the intermission with a couple saves of his own, and it was all to play for in the final 45 minutes.
Rochester midfielder Pedro Dolabella had a great chance in the 57th minute, as Ian Garrett’s free…
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