Returning to Highmark Stadium after a season-long three-game road stretch, Pittsburgh found itself down early to Charleston.
The Riverhounds (5-7-8) trailed by a goal when they were awarded a corner opportunity in the 21st minute. Setting up in front of the Steel Army, Romeo Parkes readied to send a ball into the penalty area.
The midfielder booted the ball in, which sailed across the box before finding Victor Souto. Having snuck behind the Charleston defense, the rookie gathered and shot the sphere into the net.
Souto’s second goal of the season was the Hounds’ first tally in their 2-2 draw against the Battery (10-4-6). In a season that saw only one corner opportunity converted into a goal before Wednesday, the Black and Gold posted two such scores against the Eastern Conference-leading foe.
“First one was by design,” head coach Dave Brandt said. “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.”
In the 62nd minute, Pittsburgh added its second tally stemming from a corner kick.
Before the Battery backline could get set, Corey Hertzog promptly played the ball into Parkes, who then sent the ball back to the striker. The Penn State University product took a touch and moved just inside the 18-yard box before releasing a shot that curved off the post and into the goal.
“I just saw they weren’t set, so I figured just get it in play,” Hertzog said. “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.”
During the past three games, Parkes has moved from the frontline back to the midfield. This shift allows the team to utilize more scoring threats on the field at once, as Hertzog, Chevaughn Walsh and Kay Banjo handle duties on the frontline.
“Romeo is a big, strong guy,” Hertzog said. “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.”
With the draw, the Hounds extend their unbeaten streak to four straight games. The team now turns its attention to the Tampa Bay Rowdies for a Saturday road test. The upcoming match will be Pittsburgh’s third game in the past eight days.
“We just need to start putting points together and getting three points consistently,” Hertzog said. “We’re only one point out of the playoffs right now, so if we get two or three of those points together we’re in the playoffs and in a good spot.”
