(July 23, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC scored twice early in the second half to put away the New York Red Bulls II, 3-1, at MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, N.J. on Friday night.
Alex Dixon, Russell Cicerone and Albert Dikwa scored for the Hounds (8-4-3), who move into first place in the Atlantic Division with the win. Kenardo Forbes, the Hounds veteran midfield captain, assisted on the first two goals of the match to give him 29 as a Hounds player, breaking a tie with Kevin Kerr for the most in club history.
Omar Sowe scored for New York (3-7-4), which had been unbeaten in its previous three matches entering the game.
First half
For the second match in a row, the Hounds got the scoring started with an early goal.
The Hounds transitioned quickly out of their own end in the 10th minute, and Forbes found Dixon running 1-on-1 down the right flank. Dixon got control of the ball and turned his defender off the dribble, creating enough room for a left-footed finish — his second of the year — into the bottom corner of the net from 16 yards out.
The Hounds continued to press forward, including two near misses by Forbes for a goal of his own, but New York began to gain control of play and pulled level in the 28th minute when Jake LaCava played Sowe in behind the defense. Goalkeeper Danny Vitiello came off his line to force Sowe wide, but the young striker scored from a sharp angle.
The half ended with Forbes putting a ball into the net in the 43rd minute, but the offside flag was raised against him on the pass from Dixon.
Second half
The Hounds came out and established themselves early after the break, playing tighter in the middle of the field.
In the 52nd minute, Cicerone made it 2-1 when he bagged his team-leading seventh goal of the season by receiving a cross at his feet from Forbes and cutting to his left to get an angle to shoot around the goalkeeper.
Vitiello had his biggest moment of the match shortly afterward when he denied LaCava on a quick counter after the Hounds wanted a foul call in the center of the park.
Dikwa tapped in the insurance goal in the 62nd minute, as Dixon this time played provider with a low pass from the right side hit across the face of goal on his first touch. It was Dikwa’s second goal of the year, while Dixon and Forbes are now tied for the team assist lead with four apiece.
The Hounds kept things closed down defensively after that, allowing just three New York shots after the break despite having only 46 percent of possession for the game.
Hounds Man of the Match
Kenardo Forbes played a more attacking position for the second straight match, and it paid off with his creativity leading to a pair of goals as he claimed the club assists record. But Forbes also won eight duels and often was the reason the Hounds were able to control tempo against a high-pressure New York team.
What’s next?
The Hounds return home for a game next Saturday, July 31, against a Hartford Athletic (6-3-2) team jockeying for playoff position. The Hounds drew 1-1 with Hartford in their first meeting this season in Connecticut on May 15, and Hartford hosts Miami FC in their next match tomorrow night.
Riverhounds SC lineup (5-2-3) — Danny Vitiello; Todd Wharton, Preston Kilwien, Jalen Robinson, Shane Wiedt, Alex Dixon (Ezra Armstrong 88’); Danny Griffin (Mekeil Williams 77’), Dani Rovira (Louis Pérez 78’); Russell Cicerone (Tommy Williamson 82’), Albert Dikwa (Anthony Velarde 78’), Kenardo Forbes
New York Red Bulls II lineup (4-2-2-2) — Anthony Marcucci; Jason Pendant, Juan Castillo, Kyle Zajec, Joseph Zalinsky; Daniel Edelman, Florian Valot (Sam Williams 67’); Jeremy Rafanello (Serge Ngoma 67’), Cameron Harper (Mathias Jørgensen 82’); Omar Sowe, Jake LaCava (Nicholas Rabiu 88’)
Scoring summary
PIT — Alex Dixon 10’ (Kenardo Forbes)
NY — Omar Sowe 28’ (Jake LaCava)
PIT — Russell Cicerone 52’ (Kenardo Forbes)
PIT — Albert Dikwa 62’ (Alex Dixon)
Discipline summary
PIT — Dani Rovira 32’ (caution — unsporting behavior)
NY — Daniel Edelman 42’ (caution — unsporting behavior)
PIT — Danny Griffin 54’ (caution — unsporting behavior)
NY — Joseph Zalinsky 60’ (caution — unsporting behavior)
