CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Rochester Rhinos emerged with a wild 3-2 victory at FC Cincinnati Saturday night, surviving a United Soccer League match that included three red cards, seven yellow cards and three penalty kicks before 23,548 at Nippert Stadium.

Wal Fall converted two of those penalties, in the 78th and 82nd minutes, to transform a 1-1 deadlock into a 3-1 advantage for Rochester (8-3-8, 32 points). The Rhinos, who increased their unbeaten streak to six games (3-0-3), climbed into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, moving five points behind first-place Charleston Battery with two games in hand. Cincy (30 points) fell to 8-7-6.

Referee Guido Gonzalez ejected the Cincinnati assistant coach and backup goalkeeper Dallas Jaye from the bench.

The referee was the center of attention in this match, handing out a total of 7 yellow cards, 1 red card on the field, and ejected the Cincinnati Assistant Coach and their backup goalkeeper Dallas Jaye from the bench.

In the 12th minute, Bradley Kamdem Fewo put in a cross to an open Sofiane Tergou. Fewo headed the ball down as it took a deflection off Cincy’s Justin Hoyte and landed at the foot of Jochen Graf, who slotted the ball into the lower left corner off the post for a 1-0 Rhinos lead.

Just before the half-hour mark, Cincinnati struck back. Rhinos goalkeeper Tomas Gomez came out of his goal to try to stop Jimmy McLaughlin’s effort, but the ball slid underneath him and over the goal line for a 1-1 tie.

Cincinnati’s Djiby Fall was awarded a controversial second yellow card in the 42nd minute for putting his studs into Wal Fall as he attempted to clear the ball. The crowd booed Wal Fall each time he touched the ball for the rest of the match.

The fireworks began in the 78th minute when Fall was brought down on the edge of the box by defender Andrew Weideman as Gonzalez pointed to the spot. Fall converted the penalty kick past keeper Mitch Hildebrandt to give the Rhinos a 2-1 lead. Fall ran towards the Cincy fans and covered his ears in celebration and was shown a yellow card for the act.

Only three minutes later, the Rhinos were awarded another penalty. Graf received the ball in the area and flicked it towards the top of the box. The ball hit the chest of Cincinnati debutant Kevin Schindler, a former Bundesliga player with Werder Bremen, and Gonzalez pointed to the spot again. Fall converted his second penalty in four minutes as the visitors enjoyed a 3-1 lead in the 82nd minute.

The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 86th minute to go as the Rhinos were called for a handball in the box. Danni Konig converted into the right corner.

The Rhinos will meet Red Bulls II Saturday at Montclair State University, in a rematch of the 2016 USL quarterfinals. Rochester drew NYRB II 2-2 in its home opener behind a last-second goal by Joe Farrell.

Scoring summary:

12’ – ROC – Jochen Graf
29’ – CIN – Jimmy McLaughlin (Kenney Walker)
78’ – ROC – Wal Fall (penalty)
82’ – ROC – Wal Fall (penalty)
86’ – CIN – Danni Konig (penalty)

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.