Misc Soccer News

RNY FC Travels to Big Apple for Another Key Empire State Derby

RNY FC Goes Back to Where Unbeaten Streak Began to Face FC Cincinnati 2

July 15, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)Rochester New York FC News Release

Do you like goals?

Do you like prolific goal scorers on scorching-hot runs just as the weather turned warm?

Well, we have a treat for you Saturday night in the Big Apple: two of the best MLS NEXT Pro teams in the league will face off with second place in the Eastern Conference at stake.


The last time RNY FC faced off against NYCFC II was way back in late April, and it was the New York City side that came away with a stunning 3-2 victory after Jonathan Jimenez scored the winner in the third minute of second half stoppage time.

At the time, it felt as if Rochester was the most snake-bitten team in the league: after four games in its new iteration, RNY FC had a lone draw, and two points, to show for some decent outings.

Then, the calendar flipped to May, and it has been a whole different Rochester team. Maybe it was that loss, and the way it happened, that snapped this team out of the early season mire. Since then, RNY FC has gone 6-2-3, with three extra points in spot kicks, and comes into Saturday even on points with third place New England Revolution 2 and just two points behind second place NYCFC II.

Yes, you see it: Rochester would move up into second place with a win in the Big Apple Saturday, and it would trail Columbus Crew 2 by just three points for top spot in the table.

But this NYCFC II team has been PROLIFIC: that capitalization is needed, as the hosts have scored 14 times in its last three games while allowing just one. And if you want to talk about prolific, how about John Denis? He scored FOUR TIMES in the first half last week in the 4-0 destruction of New England. Amazingly, in his last two games, he has six goals, four of which have come in the first SEVEN MINUTES of the matches: he scored in the third and fourth minute in a 5-1 win over FC Cincinnati 2, and then in the second and seventh minute last week.

That is pretty ridiculous. Denis is just on fire right now. But RNY FC has Gibran Rayo, who has five goals in his last two games, and three of those have been first half tallies.

We might not have to wait long for this game to come to life.

How does this pivotal Eastern Conference contest play out in Queens? Let’s take a look.

MLS NEXT Pro Match Week 15

NYCFC II vs. RNY FC, Saturday, July 16, 7 p.m. EDT (12 a.m. UK time), Belson Field

Streaming

Use this link to the MLS NEXT Pro site to watch the contest.

Record and place in table

NYCFC II: 8-4-3, 28 points, +22 GD,…

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