WILMINGTON, N.C. (July 30, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (3-12-4) nabbed their first win on the road this season, putting on an offensive display to the tune of four goals to defeat Wilmington Hammerheads FC (6-8-6) at Legion Stadium. Breaking both a four-game losing streak and six-match winless streak, the Hounds tallied four goals for the first time since the 6-5 “Miracle on the Mon” victory over the Harrisburg City Islanders on May 30, 2015.
Pittsburgh buried two goals late in the first half off the work of Kevin Kerr in the 45th minute and Corey Hertzog in stoppage time. Wilmington opened scoring the second half off a Jermie Lynch goal in the 62nd minute before ceding tallies to Stephen Okaiin the 69th minute and Nick Thompson in 90-plus.
The match nearly took an unfortunate turn for the Hounds after Kerr won a penalty for being taken down by goalkeeper Eric Ati in the 37th minute. Hertzog lined up and buried the penalty on his first attempt only to see the sure-goal disallowed due to encroachment by Pittsburgh. His second attempt would not nearly go as well, as Ati dove to his right to keep the match scoreless.
Undeterred, the Hounds responded in the waning minutes of the second half after a brutal turnover by the Wilmington backline gave Kerr free run at the box. Wasting no time, the captain powered a volley far-post from just outside the 18 to give the Hounds the lead.
Barely a minute later, Hertzog extended the lead to two with a pretty finish of his own. Forcing a turnover from about 40 yards out, Mike Green curled a beautiful ball that took a fortunate bounce off the head of a Wilmington defender to Hertzog at the top of the box. The Hounds leading-scorer left no doubt on this tally, firing a low shot to the right of a diving Ati and giving Pittsburgh only the second two-goal first half of the season.
The second half saw the Hammerheads close the gap to one in the 62nd minute thanks to a direct, sharp finish by Lynch within the 18 that found its way past goalkeeper Mauricio Vargas‘ right. Okai and Hertzog wasted no time though in bridging the gap to two once more, as the two linked for a nifty give-and-go resulting in the former evading Ati for an open look on goal in the 69th minute.
Thompson would make the lead final at three late in the second half after Hertzog, again, fed a pretty ball into the box with Thompson pushing a shot past Ati for his first goal in a Hounds uniform. For Hertzog, the two-assist night, to go along with his one goal, was the first by a Hounds player since Green and Lebo Moloto both had two helpers against Toronto FC II on August 8, 2015.
Of note, in a match filled with numerous positives, the Hounds will be without the services of Sergio Campbell for at least one match due to suspension for accumulating his fifth yellow card on the season in the 47th minute. The Hounds defender’s eventful night did not end there either, as he was on the wrong end of a post-whistle mix-up in the 76th minute with Qudus Lawal that saw Lawal step on Campbell’s hand to earn a red card. Campbell would then later leave the match due to an apparent injury after making a diving clearance in the 83rd minute.
The Hounds now return home looking to build off an impressive road win, facing Louisville City FC (12-3-6) on Friday, August 5 at 7 p.m.
Line-ups:
Riverhounds – Mauricio Vargas – Willie Hunt, Sergio Campbell (Marshall Hollingsworth 83′), Ryan Adeleye (Zak Boggs 68′), Mike Green – Stephen Okai (Jack Thompson 88′), Danny Earls – Lebo Moloto (Nick Kolarac 90’+), Corey Hertzog, Kevin Kerr – Alejandro Aguilar (Nick Thompson 68′)
Subs not used: Hunter Gilstrap
Wilmington Hammerheads FC – Eric Ati – Michael Mecham, Ferrety Sousa, Ryan Roushandel, Michael Binns – Logan Miller, Liam Miller (Peaobo De Doue 55′) – Jeff Michaud, Justin Moose (Jermie Lynch 55′), Austin Martz (Stefan Defregger 75′) – Matthew Barnes-Homer (Qudus Lawal 72′)
Subs not used: John Smits, Tom Parratt, Zev Taublieb
Scoring Summary:
PGH – Kevin Kerr 45′
PGH – Corey Hertzog 45’+ (Mike Green)
WIL – Jermie Lynch (Matthew Barnes-Homer)
PGH – Stephen Okai 69′ (Corey Hertzog)
PGH – Nick Thompson 90’+ (Corey Hertzog)
Misconduct Summary:
WIL – Michael Binns 39′ (caution)
PGH – Sergio Campbell 47′ (caution)
WIL – Qudus Lawal 76′ (red card)