The Riverhounds (5-6-4) won the first match of their two-game home stand against Tampa Bay, 2-0, on June 22. Pittsburgh now looks to grab back-to-back victories and turns its attention to a July 4 showdown against the Charlotte Independence (6-3-4). This will be the second meeting between these Eastern Conference foes, as the first clash resulted in a 1-1 draw.
Jamaican Me Crazy
Last time out against Tampa Bay, forwards Chevy Walsh and Romeo Parkes, each natives of Jamaica, accounted for both of the Hounds’ tallies. Walsh scored his first goal of the season on a shot from atop of the 18-yard box whereas Parkes’ finish came on a late-game breakaway. Both strikers should create additional scoring opportunities against Charlotte.
En(zo) Fuego
Enzo Martinez has been heating up for the Charlotte Independence. The midfielder recorded both of the Charlotte’s goals in its win against Richmond on June 24 and leads the team with six goals and 13 points. The Hounds will need to lock in on Martinez this Fourth of July.
Losing Time
The Hounds’ possession time has decreased in each of their past four games from 50.1 percent to a 37.8 percent. In these four games, Pittsburgh has compiled a 1-2-1 record. The Hounds’ season-low for possession time (29.1 percent) came during their first meeting against the Independence earlier this year.
Center back Gale Agbossoumonde recorded a season-high eight clearances last time out against Tampa Bay. The defender now has 12 clearances in 278 minutes this season, and the Hounds will continue to rely on his clearing abilities.
The Hounds have a plus-2 corner differential in the first half this season, but the second half tells a different story. Opponents have outnumbered Pittsburgh in corner kicks, 41-26, in the second half of games. The Black and Gold will need to flip this second-half script on Tuesday.
