Last time out, the Riverhounds’ comeback attempt fell just short as they lost at Bethlehem Steel FC, 3-2. Pittsburgh (8-10-11) will look to bounce back on the road this weekend against New York Red Bulls II (11-12-5) at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Goal Watch
When the Hounds and Red Bulls II clash this weekend, it could very well be a match of a high scoring nature. In their first meeting this season, Pittsburgh and New York combined for six goals. Heading into this week, both teams rank within the top five of the Eastern Conference in shots, as New York sits in second place (410) and Pittsburgh is fifth (358).
Valot Parking
Florian Valot has recently heated up for Red Bulls II, scoring two goals in the club’s last match against FC Cincinnati. Valot, who scored against Pittsburgh earlier this year, ranks third in shots (44) and second in scoring chances (47) on New York’s roster. The Hounds backline will need to account for the dangerous midfielder this weekend.
One Too Many
After picking up a yellow card against Bethlehem last Sunday, Jamal Jack will be suspended one game for yellow card accumulation. This season, the center back leads the Hounds with 155 clearances.
With his two-goal performance against Bethlehem this past weekend, Corey Hertzog passed former Hounds great Rob Vincent in all-time club tallies and sits at 26 for his Pittsburgh career. The striker now rests four goals behind Thiago Martins for second all-time.
Pittsburgh did not have much going for it early last time out against Bethlehem, seeing the opposition record two goals within the game’s first eight minutes. Despite a comeback attempt that brought them within one goal, the Hounds could not recover from the slow start. This weekend, the Black and Gold will need to start better at New York, which also happened to score an early sixth-minute goal in the teams’ first meeting this year.
