CHARLESTON, SC (June 23, 2018) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (6-1-7) battled the Charleston Battery (5-3-7) to a 0-0 draw on Saturday at MUSC Health Stadium.
Led by goalkeeper Dan Lynd, this result marks the squad’s ninth shutout this season and first clean sheet at Charleston since 2011. Grabbing a point on the road, Pittsburgh remains in third place in the Eastern Conference standings.
“We held our own in a difficult place to play,” head coach Bob Lilley said. “They don’t drop points here very often. I think it was a game they were desperate to have and I think we got a very good Charleston team tonight.”
How It Happened
In a match with little scoring opportunities, the Hounds’ adversaries had perhaps the best chance to notch a tally.
In the 56th minute, Charleston had a great chance to break the 0-0 score. Taking a free kick from outside of the 18-yard box, attacker Gordon Wild blasted a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar and straight down along the goal line. With the loose ball in front of the goalmouth, defender Joe Greenspan cleared it away from danger. This was the Battery’s only shot on target for the game.
Pittsburgh’s only shot on goal came just nine minutes later. Following a corner kick, Greenspan placed a header on net from the center of the penalty box, but Charleston goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky saved his chance.
The first half was an evenly played possession battle. Both Charleston and Pittsburgh had one shot apiece and no shots on target in the first-45 minutes.
The Hounds had their lone first-half shot in the 4th minute, as Romeo Parkes’ right-footed take sailed over the crossbar from inside the penalty area. The Battery had their only first-half shot in the 33rd minute, when Ataulla Guerra created space just outside of the penalty box and released a shot wide right of the net.
During the first half, Pittsburgh held the ball for the majority of the time with 52 percent possession.
Man of the Match
In the shutout effort, defender Hugh Roberts tied for the Hounds lead in interceptions (three) and clearances (five), in addition to pacing the club with four tackles.
Stat of the Game
Rookie Thomas Vancaeyezeele kept his streak alive and remains the only athlete for Pittsburgh to play every minute of the 2018 season (1,260).
Beyond the Box Score
- Starting the match, midfielder Kevin Kerr moves into a tie with Gary DePalma for second all-time in club history with 145 appearances.
- Recording his sixth career clean sheet with the club, goalkeeper Dan Lynd moves into a tie with Trey Mitchell for the fourth most shutouts in team history.
- Kenardo Forbes led the Hounds with three fouls won.
- Of players who played a full-90 minutes, holding midfielder Thomas Vancaeyezeele had a team-best 84.4 percent passing accuracy in the Charleston half.
What’s Next
On a short week, Riverhounds SC will stay on the road to battle Louisville City FC (7-2-4) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Louisville Slugger Field. This will mark the first match this season between Pittsburgh and the reigning USL champions.
Lineups:
Riverhounds SC – Dan Lynd – Ray Lee, Tobi Adewole, Joe Greenspan, Hugh Roberts, Jordan Dover – Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Kenardo Forbes – Kevin Kerr (Joe Holland 87’), Christiano François (Mouhamed Dabo 69’) – Romeo Parkes (Neco Brett 61’)
Subs not used: Mike Kirk, Kay Banjo, Andrew Lubahn, Todd Pratzner
Charleston – Joe Kuzminsky – Neveal Hackshaw, Skylar Thomas, Leland Archer – Jarad van Schalk, Tah Anunga, Angelo Kelly-Rosales, O’Brian Woodbine (Jay Bolt 84’) – Kotaro Higashi (Nicholas Rittmeyer 68’), Gordon Wild (Ian Svantesson 89’) – Ataulla Guerra
Subs not used: Odisnel Cooper, Ryan Arambula, Robert Beebe, Patrick Okonkwo
Misconduct Summary:
PGH – Hugh Roberts 74’ (caution)
PGH – Joe Greenspan 82’ (caution)
