PITTSBURGH (July 3, 2018) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (7-1-7) kicks off the month of July with a bang, hosting North Carolina FC (5-7-3) on Independence Day at Highmark Stadium. Set to kick off at 7 p.m., the meeting will be the first-ever between the two sides.
Riding a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) into tomorrow night’s action, the Hounds will look to continue their success against USL newcomers this season in first-ever meetings. Facing the likes of Atlanta, Indy and Nashville already, Pittsburgh is 1-0-2 in said contests having yet to allow a goal.
North Carolina, which joined the USL this offseason after competing in the NASL, has had a middling season so far, sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference and most recently picking up its first road win since April 14 last weekend against Richmond. Allowing 1.4 goals per game, the club has been buoyed by a strong attack led by Daniel Ríos, tied for the conference lead in goals scored with eight, and Kyle Bekkers, second in the East with seven assists.
Defense has been the theme all season for the Hounds and should remain prevalent tomorrow night, as the Black and Gold lead the league with 10 clean sheets and currently have recorded a shutout in three straight games. The dominance has been particularly notable at home with seven of those clean sheets coming at Highmark Stadium.
Following the action on the pitch, fans are encouraged to stick around in celebration of the Fourth of July and watch the Pittsburgh fireworks on the Mon.
Tickets to tomorrow’s match are still available and can be found by visiting www.riverhounds.com. The game can also be streamed live via ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
More info on Wednesday’s game can be found below.
WHO
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. North Carolina FC
WHEN
7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4
WHERE
Highmark Stadium
WATCH
FOLLOW
Twitter: @RiverhoundsSC – #PGHvNC | #UNLEASH
Stats: USL Match Center
North Carolina FC overall record: 5-7-3
North Carolina FC away record: 2-3-2
Streak: W1
Pittsburgh overall record: 7-1-7
Pittsburgh home record: 4-1-3
Streak: W1
Ben Zemanski – Out (Lower-body)
Kyle Morton – Out (Lower-body)
No prior meetings
Pittsburgh
Goals: Neco Brett (8)
Assists: Kevin Kerr (4)
Points: Neco Brett (19)
Saves: Dan Lynd (23)
Save %: Dan Lynd (.767)
GAA: Dan Lynd (0.58)
North Carolina FC
Goals: Daniel Ríos (8)
Assists: Kyle Bekker (7)
Points: Daniel Ríos (18)
Saves: Alex Tambakis (45)
Save %: Alex Tambakis (.682)
GAA: Alex Tambakis (1.40)
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh 1, Louisville 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
PGH – Kenardo Forbes 79’
LINEUP:
Dan Lynd – Ray Lee, Todd Pratzner, Joe Greenspan, Hugh Roberts, Jordan Dover – Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Kenardo Forbes (Andrew Lubahn 90+6’) – Kevin Kerr (Mouhamed Dabo 63’), Christiano François (Romeo Parkes 63’) – Neco Brett
North Carolina FC
North Carolina FC 3, Richmond 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
RIC – Heviel Cordovés 4’ (Scott Thomsen)
NC – Alex Lee 59’ (own goal)
NC – Austin da Luz 62’ (Kyle Bekker)
NC – Ulrich Ewolo 90’+5 (penalty)
LINEUP:
Alex Tambakis – Aarón Guillén, Michael Harrington, Connor Tobin, D.J. Taylor – Austin da Luz, Kyle Bekker (Tiyi Shipalane 86’), Graham Smith, Steven Miller – Daniel Ríos (Ulrich Ewolo 90’+3), Marios Lomis (Marcel Kandziora 64’)
The team’s $1 beer special will run from gates open at 5:30 p.m. until kickoff. Fans are encouraged to stick around in celebration of the Fourth of July and watch the Pittsburgh fireworks on the Mon following the conclusion of the match.
