Rivalry Re-visited - Top 10 Moments

There is no question that the rivalry between the Rhinos and Montreal has a long history. The two clubs just hate each other. From front office to the fans. It's a war zone each and every time these two teams meet. With so many events and games to choose from, here is our top 10 list, and hopefully we'll be able to add to it soon as this 6-point weekend could change alot for these two clubs. Enjoy.....



10. Kirk Wilson, Gabrial Gervias, Martin Nash....
-The Montreal Impact have a recent history of "signing" players who were stars in Rochester and bringing them to the Impact. Most notibly, Kirk Wilson, Martin Nash and Gabrial Gervias. Of those, only Gervias currently still plays in Montreal. The Rhinos have tried to get back at Montreal by signing Charles Gbeke. A move which did not work out well for the Rhinos. In recent years, the Impact have had the edge on signing players away from the Rhinos, however, early in the history of this rivarly, the Rhinos were the team that took players away, such as Pat Onstad and Darren Tilley.

9. July 23, 2000. Rhinos 1, Impact 3.
-The Impact won easily on this night, however, Jimmy Glenn's goal had alot of significance in the loss. Little would anyone know, that is the last Rhinos regular season goal scored in Montreal. Hopefully the Impact moving stadiums will help the Rhinos. Since that goal, the Rhinos have gone 14 straight matches in Montreal without a goal. Although, many of those games have been under very shady officiating. Rhinos players and fans have complained for years about the poor officiating in Montreal, with no success, except for earning the nickname "Whinos" around the league.

8. July 6, 1997 - Impact 6, Rhinos 1.
-Rhinos star Doug Miller send off early in the match gave the home side the advantage for nearly 85 minutes. The Impact took the advantage. Scored 4 first half goals and never looked back. Anyone who saw the match has to think this one was fixed.



7. August 20, 2005- Rhinos 2, Impact 2.
-The game that is known as the "Puddle game". Rhinos and Impact had to wait and over an hour delay as a huge rainstorm and a thunderstorm passed the area. The match had to be played that night as Montreal had to leave town the next morning. In a game where you barley could pass, one would think 1 goal could win it. Scott Schweitzer penalty in the box gave Montreal a early advantage, but Scott Vallow would save the Penalty Kick taken by Patrick Leduc. Greg Howes scored first for the Rhinos, but Nevio Pizzolitto tied it in the 57th minute. Howes, playing one of his best games as a Rhino, scored what might have been the goal of the year, just 6 minutes later to give the Rhinos the lead. However, Charles Gbeke, who would become a Rhino later on in his career, tied it up in the 86th minute. Three minutes later, he was ejected.

6. August 27, 2004- Rhinos 2, Impact 0.
-The rivarly was really on a high temper on this night. The Rhinos came out attacking and Montreal tried to slow them up, play very physical. Chris Carrieri recieved a yellow card just 5 minutes in. Mauro Biello got a yellow 11 minutes in. Impact star Adam Braz received a red in the 17th minute, which led to two Rhinos goals, in the 25th and 27th minute by Noah Delgado and Corey Woolfork. At half-time, Rhinos coach Pat Ercoli got into an argument with Impact Manager Nick De Santis. Shortly after, near the locker rooms, Rhinos star Lenin Steenkamp and Montreal star Nevio Pizzolitto got into a shoving match, in which Steenkamp was punched before officials broke the fight up. Maurico Vincello recieved a red card in the 82nd minute after his from behind tackle on Yari Allnutt. Rhinos got the last laugh and won 2-0.

5. September 5, 2004 - Impact 1, Rhinos 0.
-Rhinos coming off a loss in Leg 1 to Montreal 1-0, went to Claude Robillard Stadium for Leg 2. The Rhinos, needing a win to stay alieve in the playoffs were robbed when a Kirk Wilson goal was called off. Wilson argued the call, and got a straight red. Montreal won the game 1-0, and the series and went onto to winning the A-League title.



4. Mauro Biello.
-Biello was a star with Montreal from 1993 til 1998, when the club had to cease operations for one season. The Impact loaned Biello out to Rochester for the 1999 season. In that season, Biello scored 8 goals and 4 assists, and was the Rhinos' leading scorer. That year, the Rhinos were finalists in the A-League Final and Won the US Open Cup title. Still one of the greatest achievements by a lower league club in the United States. Biello returned to Montreal in 2000, and contineued his form. He's scored 37 goals for Montreal since returning from the Rhinos and is the Impact's captain.



3. Darren Tilley's Transfer.
-The Montreal Impact got Darren Tilley from the Toronto Lynx during the 1997 season. After joining Montreal, Tilley made his true mark in the A-League, scoring 10 goals in just 14 games. After that season, Chris Economides, then Rhinos General Manager, signed Tilley from the cash-strapped club. The Impact felt the Rhinos had stolen Tilley from them. It was a risky tactic by Economides, but it paid off. The following season, Tilley scored 28 goals and had 10 assists in 32 games and helped the Rhinos win the A-League title. The following season, Tilley scored 8 goals and helped the Rhinos win the US Open Cup title. Montreal was still bitter and did all they could to bring Tilley back, and they did in 2000. However, by then it was too late. Tilley was scoreless for the Impact in 10 matches before they offloaded him. Tilley is now the Head coach of the Rhinos which has to anger the Impact.

2. September 8, 2007 - Rhinos 2, Impact 0.
-The rivalery took a strange turn in the final meeting between the two teams last season. The Impact had beaten the Rhinos all 3 meetings and had outscored them 5-0. On this September 8th night, the Rhinos played world class football and beat the Impact 2-0 on goals by Matthew Delicate and Rey Martinez. The night got crazy in the 84th minute, after Deli's goal when Jason Perry ripped down a Montreal fan groups banner. The incident was a highly talked about issue in the USL and among the fans. Let's just say, Montreal fans and their club were not one bit happy.



1. July 12, 1996 - Rhinos 3, Impact 2.
-"The birth of Doug Miller". Doug Miller was a nobody. However, on this night, vs. Montreal, the short, #19 striker made a name for himself which put him in the hearts of thousands of Rhinos fans forever. Montreal was unbeaten against the Rhinos in 3 games in that season (2 wins) and outscored the Rhinos 5-0.... until July 12th that is. Montreal played their game and played well, scored 2 goals, however, they couldn't over come the magic of Doug Miller, who scored a hat trick. The Rhinos won and the legend of Miller grew. It was the Rhinos' first match at Frontier Field. "I couldn't write a better script for this," told Miller to the D@C after the game. His game winner came in the final minute of play.

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