The Wilmington Hammerheads scored two first half goals on the way to their United Soccer Leagues Second Division leading eleventh victory of the 2009 season, a 2-0 win over the Riverhounds in Pittsburgh before 887 fans at Chartiers Valley Stadium.
The Hounds can still earn a berth in the USL-2 playoffs, but will need to win their remaining two matches and hope that Real Maryland, at best, loses at least one of its remaining matches and ties two, Crystal Palace Baltimore ties its match with Harrisburg then loses in Pittsburgh, and Western Mass wins only one of its three remaining games. The Riverhounds can afford to have the Pioneers win or tie one of those matches. That’s a lot for which to ask, but mathematically, Pittsburgh is still in the hunt. In 2008, the Hounds’ hopes for the final playoff berth were dashed in their final game. In 2009, the top five teams in the standings will receive postseason invitations.
The Hammerheads scored in the 5th minute as they swarmed Pittsburgh’s 18-yard box. Forward Phil Hufstader blasted the ball to the lower right post after a pivot move in front of the Riverhounds goal and received a perfect feed from midfielder Kenny Bundy.
Wilmington kept the pressure on Pittsburgh and the ball in the Riverhounds’ end for much of the first 30 minutes of the first half. Still, Pittsburgh had its chances. On a controversial “no call”, Pittsburgh striker Randolph Jerome appeared to have been taken down on a one-handed tackle by Hammerheads’ keeper Chris McClellan who instead hopped up and claimed the ball. Jerome had only McClellan to beat, but never had the chance to finish off the attack.
In the 37th minute, Zeke Dombrowski finished of a Wilmington attack that featured three quick touches inside the Pittsburgh penalty area. Mark Briggs carried it to the right side of the area. He tapped a centering pass to Hufstader, who gently sent it to Dombrowski who then popped it past Riverhounds goalkeeper Danny Waltman for the Hammerheads second goal of the evening.
In stoppage time in the first half, Pittsburgh just missed on a left-to-right Bill Brindley cross to a spot about 10 yards off of the Wilmington goal line. Jerome was again streaking down the middle, but Brindley had a bit too much muscle on the ball, and Jerome ran under the looping ball. For the half, Wilmington outshot Pittsburgh 7-1.
Hounds’ Head Coach Gene Klein tried to put more bite into the match by subbing three fresh players, Tommy Gray, Allan Brown, and Tony Labudovski, in the 54th minute. On a Pittsburgh attack just four minutes later, Justin Evans’ low blast tailed away to the right of the Hammerheads’ nets. In the 60th minute, Gray crossed the ball from the left wing to Jason Kutney, whose one-timer from 15 yards out also missed wide. In the 68th minute, Allan Brown’s header from just outside the goal box was directed wide right. In the 75th minute, Kutney’s bicycle kick attempt, despite bruised ribs that kept him out of a match a week ago, sailed just a few feet over the crossbar.
Wilmington came close to scoring a third goal in the 90th minute, but Steven Curfman’s shot was slapped down by a leaping Waltman using two hands.
With the victory, Wilmington moves to 11-4-2 (35-points) and keeps a share of first place in the United Soccer Leagues Second Division, as the Richmond Kickers kept pace with their 1-0 win over the Real Maryland Monarchs. Pittsburgh is 5-9-4 (19-points) and in 8th place in USL-2.
Next Saturday, August 8th, the Hounds host the Charlotte Eagles at Chartiers Valley Stadium at 7:05. Then, they play Crystal Palace Baltimore in their final regular season match on August 15th. Tickets for both games are on sale at www.riverhounds.com, by phone at 412-539-1191, and at the gate on game nights.
