Referee: Justus Agbeko
Assistant Referees: Behzad Vagar, Dustin Thorne and Luis Nieto
Weather: Sunny/Windy

Team Summary - Charlotte Eagles

Players

Lefebvre, Williams (Smith 78'), Dalby, Rife, Bryant, Martins (Alves 89'), Lemons (Conner 78'), Toby, Herrera, Tachie (Bentos 67'), Ogunseye (Ferrer 84')

Players not used - Keane and Waller
 

Shots: 11
Saves: 3
Fouls: 8
Offsides: 2
Corners: 5

Team Summary - Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Players

Gilstrap, Salsi, Kutney (Pierce 84'), Hayden, Rolko (Deighton 70'), Gray, Katic (Gazda 70'), Harada, Baker, Severs, Kowdia-Tobey

Players not used - Stenta, Flunder, Seth
 

Charlotte, NC - On a warm and humid evening, the Riverhounds (0-1-3) could not produce the equalizing goal and came up short against the Eagles (3-2-0) to a final score of 2-1. The match was held at Charlotte Christian stadium in front of 1,152 spectators.

Charlotte jumped ahead early in the 8^th minute when Debola Ogunseye received a long, direct service played behind the Riverhounds defense.  Ogunseye brought the service down and cut the ball back to his right, as the first defender approached; Ogunseye touched the ball into space and struck a low, hard shot past the Riverhounds goalkeeper, Hunter Gilstrap.

Four minutes later the Eagles conceded a corner to the Hounds.  Tommy Gray whipped in a quality cross to connect with Nate Salsi at the penalty stripe.  Salsi one-timed the service clean and believed he had knotted the score at one, but the ball deflected off of Riverhounds forward Lee Kouadio-Tobey and was cleared from danger by the Eagle defense.

The remainder of the first half, the Riverhounds played simple and composed maintaining quality possession of the ball.  The Hounds defense combined nicely with the checking forwards, Chad Severs and Kouadio-Tobey to free Matt Baker and Gray down the flanks. The final penetrating passes from the Hounds inside the penalty area were cleared by the Eagles defense resulting in limited dangerous chances.

The Hounds possession limited the Eagles opportunities and forced them to try and counter attack.  The Eagles direct style of play was collected by the Riverhounds defense and was turned up field with speed.

The second half began with the Riverhounds creating dangerous opportunities by changing the point of attack quickly and catching the Eagles out of shape.  In the 58^th minute, the Eagles committed a foul in the Riverhounds defense. Gilstrap stepped into the spotted ball and played a long diagonal behind the Eagles defense to find a wide open Gray.  Gray’s first touch brought the Eagles goalkeeper, Erik Lefebvre off his line but Gray chip the ball back to Severs who was slashing through the area. Severs headed the ball sharply pasted Lefebvre only to find the ball ricochet off of the crossbar and away from the empty net.

In the 62^nd minute, a miscue from the Hounds defense resulted in a foul just outside the penalty area on the left side of the goal.  Jorge Herrera played a low driven ball around the wall to find a sliding Brady Bryant who flicked the ball over Gilstrap to take a 2-0 lead.

Minutes later, Gray and Salsi hooked up again on a set piece.  Gray served another brilliant ball into the penalty area and connected with Salsi’s head.  Salsi’s header beat Lefebvre, but was denied by the woodwork.  The ball struck the crossbar and came straight down into Lefebvre’s hands.

With a 2-goal deficit, Riverhounds Head Coach Justin Evans adjusted to a 3-4-3 formation in the 70^th minute. Two minutes later the Hounds cut the score in half, when Kouadio-Tobey beat two defenders down the right side and slotted a ball into Severs who first-timed the cross past the diving Lefebvre.

The final eighteen minutes was a track meet for both sides with the Eagles and Hounds by passing the midfield.  Both sides created numbers up situations on each end of the pitch, but neither club would find the back of the net, and the match ended with the Eagles on top 2-1.

The Riverhounds traveled to Charleston after the match to play the Battery (3-0-1) tonight at 7:30.  The match will be streamed live at USLlive.com.