PITTSBURGH (Sept. 15, 2018) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (13-4-11) completed a comeback effort against Louisville City FC (13-6-9) in the final minutes en route to a 2-2 result on Saturday at Highmark Stadium.
Behind 2-0 in the final five minutes of play, the Hounds came storming back to tie the opposition after an own goal in the 86th minute and a Kenardo Forbes penalty kick goal in the 90’+1 minute. With the draw, the Black and Gold remain in second place in the Eastern Conference.
How It Happened
Before the Hounds completed a sensational comeback, Louisville seemed to have clinched three points with 20 minutes remaining.
In a neck-and-neck battle during the second half of play, Louisville tacked on to its lead in the 70th minute. Delivering his second assist of the contest, Paco Craig sent a ball to defender Alexis Souahy, who placed a header into the net from close range to increase his club’s lead to 2-0.
Pittsburgh cut the deficit in half during the 86th minute. Second-half substitute Joe Holland ran down the left side of the penalty box before sending a ball toward the goalmouth that deflected off a Louisville defender then goalkeeper Gregory Ranjitsingh, who was credited with an own goal.
Later in the 90th minute, the Hounds were rewarded a penalty kick after Brett was taken down inside of the 18-yard box. Taking the chance, Kenardo Forbes beat Ranjitsingh with a powerful shot to tie the match at 2-2.
In the midst of a fury of Pittsburgh shots, Louisville converted its only first half take to grab a 1-0 lead at the half.
Taking a set piece just past the halfway line, Louisville defender Craig booted a ball into the penalty area before striker Cameron Lancaster trapped and beat Pittsburgh goalkeeper Dan Lynd to the bottom left-hand corner in the 31st minute for the half’s lone tally.
Romeo Parkes and the Hounds had the first opportunity just 30 seconds into the half. Following a run down the left sideline, Ranjitsingh saved the forward’s left-footed shot.
Another Pittsburgh chance was blocked away in the 18th minute, but Ranjitsingh was not the one to make the save. After midfielder Forbes sent a through-ball to Neco Brett, the forward snuck by the goalkeeper and kicked a ball destined for the back of the net. Although at the final second, Craig sprinted back to clear the ball away before it could cross the goal line.
The Hounds had another couple opportunities after Louisville took a 1-0 lead. In the 35th minute, Brett had a shot from close range saved by a jumping Ranjitsingh. Later in the 44th minute, Parkes missed the goal on a header attempt while trying to connect on a cross from Forbes.
Man of the Match
Midfielder Kenardo Forbes notched the game-tying goal off a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time to complete the comeback for the Hounds.
Stat of the Game
Kenardo Forbes’ penalty kick goal was just the fourth the club has scored all-time in second-half stoppage time.
Beyond the Box Score
- Coming back from injury, goalkeeper Dan Lynd made his first start since the team’s 2-1 victory at Bethlehem Steel FC on Aug. 12.
- Defender Joe Greenspan led the Hounds with eight clearances.
- The Hounds held a 64 percent possession share during the match.
- Pittsburgh set a season game-high with 15 corner kicks.
What’s Next
Riverhounds SC will complete a three-game home stand against Indy Eleven (12-8-9) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Highmark Stadium. The match, the Hounds’ second-to-last home game of the season, will mark ‘90s Night.
Lineups:
Riverhounds SC – Dan Lynd – Ray Lee (Kay Banjo 80’), Tobi Adewole, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Joe Greenspan (Joe Holland 80’), Jordan Dover – Ben Zemanski (Christiano François 61’), Mouhamed Dabo – Kenardo Forbes, Romeo Parkes – Neco Brett
Subs not used: Mike Kirk, Noah Franke, Andrew Lubahn, Hugh Roberts
Louisville City FC – Greg Ranjitsingh – Kyle Smith, Alexis Souahy, Paco Craig, Oscar Jimenez – Speedy Williams (Shaun Francis 63’), Paolo DelPiccolo – George Davis IV, Ilija Ilic (Jose Carranza 80’), Niall McCabe – Cameron Lancaster (Luke Spencer 90+2’)
Subs not used: Tim Dobrowolski, Richard Ballard, Pat McMahon, Sean Totsch
Scoring Summary:
LOU – Cameron Lancaster 31’ (Paco Craig)
LOU – Alexis Souahy 70’ (Paco Craig)
PGH – Greg Ranjitsingh 86’ (own goal)
PGH – Kenardo Forbes 90+1’ (penalty)
Misconduct Summary:
LOU – Cameron Lancaster 55’ (caution)
PGH – Joe Greenspan 69’ (caution)
LOU – Kyle Smith 90+4’ (caution)
Quote Sheet
Head coach Bob Lilley
On the match…
“I thought we had a great first half. I think we started the second half with good energy. I think we were in it to get the tying goal and go on to win the game.”
On getting a point…
“Every game now is going to be a battle. At the end of the day, getting that tying goal may be the difference at the end of the season. We squeezed out of it what we could there at the end.”
On what he told the team after the match…
“In the huddle I just told them, ‘just keep this in the back of your head because it’s something that could happen at playoff time and you could be winning 2-0 and you’re going to have to understand the game is not over until it’s over.’”
Forward Neco Brett
On missed chances…
“I got like two or three chances I should have put away, but unfortunately I didn’t do it and that’s the reason why we had to take the hard way out.”
On halftime talk…
“We just kept it simple. We had 45 minutes to go. Our ultimate thing was to come out and get a goal. We ended up getting two, and it wasn’t enough.”
On what team needed to do in the second half…
“We just needed to push. Don’t let it be easy on them. We came out and pushed really hard and we got the tie.”
