PITTSBURGH (July 26, 2017) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (5-7-8) extended their unbeaten streak to four matches, playing the Charleston Battery (10-4-6) to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night at Highmark Stadium.
Pittsburgh netted goals from midfielder Victor Souto in the 21st minute and forward Corey Hertzog in the 62nd minute. Souto’s was his second of the season, while Hertzog’s was his team-best seventh of the 2017 campaign.
After allowing the first goal of the match, the Hounds scored two unanswered before surrendering a late tally. Pittsburgh won the possession battle (51.1 percent), drew 13 fouls, including two yellow cards, and completed 80.2 percent of its passes in picking up the club’s fourth consecutive draw.
The Hounds have now captured points in five of their last six matches (1-1-4).
Charleston, the Eastern Conference leader, opened the scoring on a corner kick to the right of goalkeeper Keasel Broome. Miles Robinson’s running header off a feed from Justin Portillo just found the far post early in the 11th minute.
The Hounds responded soon after on their first corner kick of the game. From the right of Charleston goalkeeper Alex Tambakis, midfielder Romeo Parkes fired the ball over the cluster of players in the box, finding Souto unmarked by the far post. The rookie midfielder one-touched the feed from Parkes past a lunging Tambakis to put the Hounds on the board.
In the second half, Hertzog put the Hounds ahead with a highlight-reel goal. Starting quickly off the corner, Hertzog went short to Parkes, standing only a few feet away before receiving the return as he entered the box. The forward then fired an incredible shot with his right foot that curved into the top-right on frame rendering Tambakis frozen in the process.
The tally was Hertzog’s 20th as a member of the Hounds in his 50th appearance with the club, making him the eighth player in team history to reach that mark. The goal also snapped a seven-match goalless streak and was his second tally in as many games against Charleston this season.
Appearing poised to pick up their first win since June 22, the Hounds were unable to hold off the Battery late into the second half. Just outside the Hounds’ box, midfielder Maikel Chang worked a nifty one-two with fellow midfielder Ataulla Guerra, slipping past three Hounds’ defenders on the left side to enter the box unmarked. Guerra found him with a one-touch pass, which Chang wasted no time slotting past Broome with a low shot to the far-right side.
The equalizer in the 84th minute marked the latest lead given up by the Hounds this season and the first time that Pittsburgh did not win when leading with 10 minutes remaining.
Of note, Parkes assisted on both Hounds goals to become the first Pittsburgh player this season to record a multiple helpers in a single match.
Wednesday’s match also marked the fourth time this season that the Hounds scored multiple goals (2-0-2).
The Hounds will play their second match in four days when they face the Tampa Bay Rowdies (8-5-7) at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 26 at Al Lang Stadium. The match will be the second of three matches viewable on the Pittsburgh’s CW this season. For more information on the Hounds’ next match, visit www.riverhounds.com.
Lineups:
Riverhounds – Keasel Broome – Taylor Washington, Jamal Jack, Tobi Adewole, Shannon Gomez (Mike Green 88’) – Romeo Parkes (Marshall Hollingsworth 76’), Victor Souto, Stephen Okai, Kevin Kerr – Chevaughn Walsh (Kay Banjo 82’), Corey Hertzog
Subs not used: Trey Mitchell, Gale Agbossoumonde, Abuchi Obinwa, Jack Thompson
Charleston Battery – Alex Tambakis – Skylar Thomas, Taylor Mueller, Miles Robinson, O’Brian Woodbine – Quinton Griffith, Justin Portillo, Tah Anunga (Kotaro Higashi 80’), Maikel Chang – Neveal Hackshaw (Ataulla Guerra 65’), Ricky Garbanzo (Heviel Cordoves 65’)
Subs not used: Odisnel Cooper, Forrest Lasso, Jarad van Schaik, Lagos Kunga
Scoring Summary:
CHS – Miles Robinson (Justin Portillo) – 11’
PGH – Victor Souto (Romeo Parkes) – 21’
PGH – Corey Hertzog (Romeo Parkes) – 62’
CHS – Maikel Chang (Ataulla Guerra) – 84’
Misconduct Summary:
CHS – Taylor Mueller (Caution) – 56’
CHS – Skylar Thomas (Caution) – 90+’
Cleveland Brothers “Blue Collar Player of the Game”
Quote Sheet:
Head coach Dave Brandt
On the game’s up-and-down pace…
“I think you’re always going to get that with Charleston – different day, different game, different dynamics.”
On the team’s goals off corner kicks…
“First one was by design. Second one was a quick put-down and play from them – we hadn’t trained that, we hadn’t talked about that. I think Charleston was a little slow getting set. We were quick to the ball.”
On Corey’s goal…
“For Corey to get a goal, I think great for him, great for us. I think we penetrated well tonight. That’s important to us.”
Forward Corey Hertzog
On his goal and playing the corner opportunity quickly…
“I just saw they weren’t set, so I figured just get it in play. At first I thought of crossing, but then where I was and I looked up to see where the keeper was – I was hoping it was going back post. It was a good heads-up play by me and Romeo.”
On his luck hitting the post this season…
“Luckily it hit the post the right way and went in. It sucks hitting the post four or five times, but it’s always good to get a goal. I feel like we could’ve got three points though – I hit the crossbar in the first half.”
On Romeo Parkes playing midfield…
“Romeo is a big, strong guy. He can get it in the middle, just turn with it. Nobody in the league is going to stop him one-on-one or running with the ball. Trying to get him in those spots where he can turn and just run at the goal or pass it off.”
