PITTSBURGH (August 11, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC had its four-game winning streak broken after Miami FC rallied from two goals down to defeat the Hounds, 3-2, at Highmark Stadium.
The Hounds (10-5-2) led 1-0 at halftime after Tommy Williamson netted a goal off a free kick. The Hounds added to their lead early in the second half, when Kenardo Forbes notched a highlight-reel volley.
Miami (9-6-3) quickly tied the game with two goals in two minutes. Former Hounds winger Christiano François and former Robert Morris star Speedy Williams scored to level the score, and Williams put in the game-winning goal off a penalty kick in the 82nd minute.
First Half
Miami dominated possession early but had difficulty creating chances.
Its best opportunity came in the 20th minute, when Lamar Walker used a nice fake to create space inside the penalty box. Hounds goalie Jake Leeker easily caught the ensuing shot for one of two saves in his fourth start of the season.
In the 23rd minute, Forbes put on some moves of his own, and eventually put a shot on target that was saved out for a corner kick. Following the corner, Anthony Velarde’s shot missed just left.
The Hounds finally broke through when Dani Rovira earned a free kick about 25 yards from goal in the 40th minute. Williamson stepped up and sent his shot over the wall and into the bottom-left corner for his third goal of the season and his second of the year from a free kick.
Second Half
It didn’t take long for the Hounds to add to their lead.
In the 50th minute, Alex Dixon lobbed a high cross from the right to Forbes, who then struck a rocket volley into the top-left corner to give the Hounds a 2-0 lead. The goal was the first for the Hounds’ captain and all-time assists leader since 2019.
Miami answered almost immediately. François beat defender Preston Kilwien to a ball in the box and put a shot past Leeker to cut the lead in half in the 52nd minute. A minute later, Williams scored when Ariel Martínez dropped a pass back to the Jamaican, who drove a shot that took a slight deflection and hit the back of the net.
Velarde nearly made it four goals in four minutes in the game when he had a chance at a bouncing ball right in front of goal, but the Hounds midfielder was knocked off balance just enough by the defense, causing him to put his shot high.
The game was decided when Kilwien was called for tripping François in the corner of the penalty area. Williams sent his second goal into the bottom-left corner to make things 3-2 in favor of Miami.
The Hounds’ last quality opportunity came in the 88th minute, when Casey Bartlett-Scott sent a header high but off the mark from a corner kick.
Hounds Man of the Match
Kenardo Forbes scored his first goal since Sept. 28, 2019, when he scored twice against Indy Eleven, but he also led the Hounds in touches (83), crosses (4) and duels (16) and was second in completed passes, connecting on 45 of 55 (81.8 percent).
What’s next?
The Hounds won’t have long to dwell on this loss, as they travel to Legion Memorial Stadium for their third matchup of the season against Charlotte Independence on Saturday. The clubs split their first two meetings, both of which finished 1-0 at Highmark Stadium, and they will be meeting for the first time ever at the Independence’s new home.
Riverhounds SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Jake Leeker; Preston Kilwien, Shane Wiedt, Jalen Robinson (Todd Wharton 63’), Ezra Armstrong; Dani Rovira (Casey Bartlett-Scott 83’), Danny Griffin; Anthony Velarde (Wyatt Borso 83’), Kenardo Forbes, Alex Dixon (Louis Perez 63’); Tommy Williamson (Russell Cicerone 63’)
Miami FC lineup (4-3-3) — Connor Sparrow; Junior Palacios, Baggio Kcira, Luca Antonelli (Janos Loebe 45’), Paco Craig; Bolu Akinyode, Devon Williams, Christiano Francois (Jahshaun Anglin 90+3’); Lamar Walker (Sean McFarlane 45’), Othello Bah (Billy Forbes 63’), Ariel Martinez (Adonijah Reid 63’)
Scoring summary
PIT — Tommy Williamson 40’
PIT — Kenardo Forbes 50’ (Alex Dixon)
MIA — Christiano Francois 52’
MIA — Devon Williams 53’ (Ariel Martínez)
MIA — Devon Williams 82’ (pen.)
Discipline summary
MIA — Luca Antonelli 14’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
PIT — Preston Kilwien 81’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
MIA — Junior Palacios 86’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
