In Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s 3-0 win against Hartford Athletic on Friday at Dillon Stadium, its wingbacks were disruptive in the attacking half. Not to mention combining for a top play on ESPN’s SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays.
Ryan James scored two goals on the night, notching his first career multi-goal game, while fellow outside back Jordan Dover posted an assist on teammate’s second tally.
James’ first goal came in the 11th minute, after the Hounds earned a free kick in the attacking half. Dover pushed the pace on the right wing, and dribbled toward the right side of the penalty area. He then sent a cross into the center of the penalty area to Anthony Velarde, who set up James in the left side of the 18-yard box. James blasted the ensuing one-timer past Hartford goalkeeper Parfait Mandanda to put the Hounds on the board.
His second goal came in the 50th minute, after a Ropapa Mensah shot was sent away by Mandanda. Dover regained possession on the right side of the penalty area and sent a cross to James to the back post. James then sent a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner, giving the Hounds a 3-0 lead. This beautiful goal earned the No. 10 spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays.
While James scored a couple goals, Dover was a key catalyst. He tallied two key passes and assisted on James’ second goal. His other key pass came just before the brace, when Dover hit Velarde outside the penalty area. Velarde’s long shot was blocked, but eventually led to Pittsburgh’s third goal of the night after the rebound.
“Today was a good team performance,” head coach Bob Lilley said after the game. “I think we had good possession at times, and we were able to create some good moments. We competed well and managed the game well.”
The Hounds will return to Highmark Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 1, for a match against Loudoun United FC. The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
