On a night capped with an array of fireworks over Highmark Stadium, it was a SportsCenter Top 10 worthy burst from Kenardo Forbes that propelled Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (6-2-7) to a 1-0 win against Bethlehem Steel FC (5-9-4) on Thursday at the venue.
The shot that earned the midfielder a spot on ESPN’s renown countdown (No. 10) came from just outside of the penalty area in the 57th minute. The Hounds were awarded a free kick following a Bethlehem foul, and the rest was left in Forbes’ right foot.
“In the first half, I crossed the first one and tricked the goalkeeper,” Forbes said. “He was looking for the cross, and I just surprised him.”
The Kingston, Jamaica native elected for the shot on net and tucked it just inside the crossbar, ultimately putting Bethlehem to bed. The take was as accurate as they come. And the celebration afterward was a lucid display of many colors.
“That is a celebration,” Forbes said. “That was a celebration. As soon as I hit it, I knew it was in.”
To pair with Forbes’ game-winning goal, the Hounds played lockdown defense for the entire match. The backline held Steel FC without a shot on target and just five total shots over the 90 minutes.
Next up for Pittsburgh is a match at the Charlotte Independence (3-7-8), taking place at 7 p.m. on Sunday at Sportsplex at Matthews. The Hounds are riding a four-game winning streak into this weekend’s road showdown.
“It is a great feeling,” Forbes said. “Three games at home, and won all three games. The guys are confident going into Charlotte. I hope we can keep it going on the road.”
