Photo by Rochester Rhinos

By ADAM TROXTELL

A home crowd only added to the Rochester Rhinos’ hot start to the season on Sunday.

A goal on either side of halftime took the Rhinos easily past New York Red Bulls II, 2-0 in their home opener to keep them unbeaten through six games. They trail Richmond Kickers in the Eastern Conference on goal difference alone as the Rhinos’ 20th anniversary season comes into full swing.

Alex Dixon scored his third goal of the season in the 40th minute to draw first blood. The initial shot from Tyler Rudy at the top of the box was saved before Dixon pounced on the rebound from 10 yards out.

Jonathan Mendoza added a second in the 67th minute. Rudy was again the catalyst, taking the ball off of NYRB II forward Daniel Bedoya to start the move. Eventually, the ball made its way to Colin Rolfe, who played Mendoza inside the left of the box before he cut inside and sent a low finish to the far side.

FC Montreal is next in line to test the Rhinos’ unbeaten record on Saturday. NYRB II will try to snap a four-game winless streak at home against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Sunday.

Here are some more recaps from this weekend’s USL action:

BELMAR FIRES T2 PAST ARIZONA UNITED

In need of a boost, Portland Timbers 2 looked to the increasingly reliable Kharlton Belmar for a valuable road win.

Belmar scored twice in a 2-0 win against Arizona United, taking the striker’s total to five goals for the season. The match also marked a return to action for Will Johnson, who started and played just over 60 minutes while on loan from T2’s parent club.

Rundell Winchester combined with striking partner Belmar to open the scoring in the 19th minute. The lead was doubled just before halftime when Belmar curled a strike to the far post and inside the right corner of the net.

T2 returns home on Sunday to face an in-form Orange County Blues side. After consecutive losses, Arizona United tries to get back on track against Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

RED-HOT BLUES MAINTAIN STREAK AGAINST SACRAMENTO

Sacramento Republic FC may have picked up the pace in recent weeks, but the club hit an immovable object at home in the form of Orange County Blues on Friday.

The Blues came back to win, 2-1, for their third-straight victory in the early season. Republic FC had rattled off three straight wins of their own a week before, but the Blues proved to be too much.

After Justin Braun’s opener in the sixth minute, Orange County bounced back with a Denzel Slager goal just before halftime. Didier Crettenand then struck in the 46th minute for a surprise lead to the visitors.

Luka Patricevic was then sent off for a dangerous tackle in the 59th minute, leaving the Blues to defend with 10-men for the remaining 30 minutes.

The Blues try to follow up a valuable road win with another against Seattle Sounders 2 on Friday night. Sacramento travels to face Real Monarchs on Wednesday before getting the weekend off.

RIVERHOUNDS ROUT 10-MEN TFC II

Everything changed in the 41st minute of Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ home match against Toronto FC II, and the hosts ran with it.

Up a goal via Mo Babouli in the 17th minute, TFC II was riding high in the first half. Then, Tarik Robertson brought down Kevin Kerr in the box. The referee determined that Robertson denied a goal scoring opportunity, resulting in a red card before Kerr dispatched the penalty.

Things quickly got out of hand in the 56th minute. Rob Vincent scored twice in the space of 12 minutes, before Danny Earls added the fourth in the 72nd minute. Tyler Pasher’s stoppage time goal added emphasis for the Riverhounds, who recorded just their second win of the season.

Kerr finished the night with two assists on top of his goal.

TFC II gets a bye week to try and recover, while the Riverhounds go on the road to face Red Bulls II.

LATE DIALLO STRIKE PUSHES LOS DOS PAST MONARCHS

Even when Bradley Diallo sent what appeared to be a cross in from the left late in LA Galaxy II’s game against Real Monarchs, a scoreless draw looked inevitable.

But Diallo actually had more in mind, instead watching his ball curl inside the near post for a stoppage time winner to take Los Dos to a 1-0 road victory. The win propels Galaxy II up to eighth, while the Monarchs remain on the bottom of the Western Conference without a win yet this season.

Here are the results from this weekend’s USL action:

Charlotte Independence 1, Harrisburg City Islanders 1

Sacramento Republic 1, Orange County Blues 2

FC Montreal 0, Richmond Kickers 1

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 5, Toronto FC II 1

Louisville City FC 2, Tulsa Roughnecks 0

OKC Energy FC 1, Saint Louis FC 2

Austin Aztex 1, Colorado Springs Switchbacks 0

Real Monarchs 0, LA Galaxy II 1

Arizona United 0, Portland Timbers 2- 2

Rochester Rhinos 2, New York Red Bulls II 0

Wilmington Hammerheads 1, Charleston Battery 2

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2- 1, Seattle Sounders FC 2- 1