PITTSBURGH (May 25, 2019) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (2-1-6) tied the Charlotte Independence (1-6-5), 0-0, on Saturday night at Highmark Stadium.
Despite recording a total of 15 shot opportunities, the Hounds were kept off the scoreboard all night by efforts of Charlotte’s defense. On the opposite side of the field, Austin Pack earned the clean sheet for Pittsburgh, finishing with one save.
First Half
The Hounds did not score in the first half but held their own on the pitch. Pittsburgh created multiple scoring opportunities but could not find the back of the net.
Pittsburgh’s Kenardo Forbes fired a shot toward the goal but was blocked by Charlotte goalkeeper Curtis Anderson. Riverhounds forward Neco Brett attempted a shot that was blocked by Anderson once again at the 6th minute mark.
The game was halted for a weather delay in the 24th minute, but play was resumed within an hour.
After play resumed, Jordan Dover had another close chance with a direct shot toward the net, but was stopped by Anderson once again.
Joe Greenspan was cited with a caution, then ejected after a second yellow taking place within a ten minute span. Charlotte received a free kick late in the first half just outside the penalty box. However, the net was defended excellently by Riverhounds midfielder Robbie Mertz.
Pittsburgh ended the first half of the game with a total of six shots, one of those shots coming on target. Charlotte only managed one total shot the entire first half.
Second Half
The Black and Gold’s attack opened up the second period of play with a number of set piece opportunities.
Forbes launched a ball on target in the 48th minute off of a free kick, but the chance was batted out of play by Charlotte’s goalkeeper.
Two corner kick opportunities immediately followed, but the Hounds failed to convert on either chance.
Charlotte came up with arguably its most dangerous scoring chance of the match in the 66th minute. A free kick opportunity from Independence forward Niki Jackson trickled just left of the cage, keeping the score knotted at 0-0.
Steevan Dos Santos nearly got on the board in the 82nd minute, but placed a header just over the crossbar.
In the closing seconds of stoppage time, the Hounds earned a corner kick opportunity. Mertz took the honors, but lofted a ball just over the head of Ryan James and it sailed out of play right before the final whistle.
Hound of the Match
Thomas Vancaeyezeele spearheaded the team’s strong defensive showing. The 24-year-old finished the match tied for the team lead in tackles (four), and recorded two clearances and a block.
Stat of the Game: 1
The Riverhounds’ backline held its opposition to just one shot on target in the draw.
What’s Next
Riverhounds SC takes on Indy Eleven in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Highmark Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets at ticketmaster.com.
Lineups:
Riverhounds SC: Austin Pack – Ryan James, Tobi Adewole, Joe Greenspan, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Jordan Dover (Uchenna Uzo 90’+3) – Robbie Mertz, Kenardo Forbes, Kevin Kerr (Anthony Velarde 76’) – Neco Brett (Steevan Dos Santos 76’), Christian Volesky
Subs not used: Kyle Morton, Noah Franke, Sammy Kahsai, Dani Rovira
Charlotte Independence: Curtis Anderson – Aaron Maund, Steven Thicot, Hugh Roberts, Andrew Gutman – Michaël Maria, Afrim Taku, Joel Johnson – Zyen Jones (Jorge Herrera 73’), Enzo Martinez, Dominic Oduro (Niki Jackson 45’)
Subs not used: Brandon Miller, Jake Areman, Kevan George, Hassan Ndam, Abdoulie Mansally
Misconduct Summary:
PIT – Joe Greenspan 28’ (caution)
PIT – Joe Greenspan 36’ (caution, ejection)
CLT – Joel Johnson 47′ (caution)
CLT – Niki Jackson 90’+1 (caution)
Head coach Bob Lilley
On the delay…
“It’s a credit to the players, they were very good at the beginning of the game. We try to stay prepared in these delays, we had Memphis and never had a chance to go back. Typically that’s the mentality you want from your players.”
On Charlotte’s attack…
“In wide areas, they are much more explosive in one-v-one areas. Very good servers of the ball, to keep Joe a little more central for those header moments, although they didn’t generate a lot today. Also, to cover out flank areas, that’s a little bit more Thomas’ and Tobi’s alley.”
On the draw…
“I think they’ll probably be disappointed. I’m only disappointed because I thought we did enough that we could have won tonight. I’m certainly not disappointed in how we played or the effort of the guys. It’s not morals, it’s progress.”
Midfielder Thomas Vancaeyezeele
On urgency when Joe Greenspan was ejected…
“It is not easy when you go a man down especially when it is Joe. He is so keen on the backline. I feel like the energy of the team went up and stayed focused on the ball. We had a lot of energy because we were pressing super high. I felt like we didn’t feel like we were a man down. We had a lot of chances and opportunities to score. I think we should have won the game. I think it is still a decent result to tie the game.”
On disappointment not winning the game…
“When it happens, you feel adversely disappointed because there are still 15 minutes to go so it is very long and it going to be a tough game to win. But we believe in our chances, believe in our abilities to win the game so we did what we could do.”
On changes to normal placement on the pitch…
“It depends on the opponent and we work on that technique against the opponent you know. You work through that during the week and for me I change position, but it doesn’t matter. I just try to give 100 percent and give my best. I think it is the same for the team, he changes a lot of people up front, as well. A lot of turnover, everyone is involved, and the team gets better and better.”
Midfielder Kenardo Forbes
On challenges of playing through a rain delay…
“The main thing is just to stay focused because we have a game to play. Even if things are 35-minute delay or 40-minute delay, we are used it also. Most of the guys who have been in the league, we are used to it. I think we responded pretty well when we came back out and did well in the first 10 minutes. I think we deserved a point.”
On approach when a man down and still attacking toward the net…
“I think it is just the mentality. We do that all the time in practice. We always play down a man in practice. We always do that in practice so it’s just the mentality. We are a strong group and we are always pushing for a goal because we are at home. Regardless of who we are playing.”
On extra disappointing when they control possession with a man and not come away with win…
“I mean, we just have to take a point. That was a good team we played over there. To go down to 10 men against that team. We got a point. We tried our best to win it.”
