Coming off a hard fought 3-3 draw against New York Red Bulls II in the season opener, Pittsburgh (0-0-1) now turns its attention to FC Cincinnati (0-1-0), which dropped its first game to the Charleston Battery, 2-1. The Riverhounds and FC Cincinnati will square off at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Highmark Stadium.
Moving on up
Previously spending the 2016 campaign at midfield, Kevin Kerr moved up to the frontline in the season opener. The team captain paired with Corey Hertzog up top, and the duo accounted for all three of Pittsburgh’s goals. Kerr made his only shot count, placing it on target and past the New York goalkeeper in the 39th minute.
A towering backline
Jamal Jack and Gale Agbossoumonde, the tallest players on the Hounds roster at 6 feet 3 inches tall, each earned a start in the opener. The towering defenders combined for 146 minutes and five tackles. Jack and Agbossoumonde also contributed on the offensive end, posting one shot each.
Fresh off a professional debut
Rookies Victor Souto and Kay Banjo made their professional debuts in the season opener against New York this past weekend. Souto started and played the full 90 minutes, leading the team with seven tackles. The midfielder also fired one shot on goal. Subbing for Jack Thompson, Banjo saw the field for the first time in the 77th minute.
After scoring two goals in the season opener, Hertzog brings his Pittsburgh career total to 15 tallies, moving him into a three-way tie for eighth all-time in team history with former Hounds Said Ali and Gary DePalma. In addition, the forward is tied with three other players for the USL lead in goals after one game.
FC Cincinnati shut out the Hounds in all three head-to-head matches during the 2016 campaign (1-0, 0-0 and 1-0). After generating 14 shots and three goals against defending champion Red Bulls II, the Pittsburgh offense will need to sustain this pressure another week to break FC Cincinnati’s string of clean sheets.
