(June 30, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC had its three-game winning streak snapped, as Loudoun United FC came away with a 2-1 win on Wednesday night at Segra Field in Leesburg, Va.
Ted Ku-DiPietro and Jovanny Bolivar both scored on long-range goals for Loudoun (2-7-0), which defeated the Hounds (5-4-2) for the first time in seven meetings. Louis Pérez scored his first professional goal for the Hounds to tie the match early in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to keep alive the Hounds overall win streak or a four-match road win streak.
The match, which was delayed by 1 hour, 40 minutes due to lightning, saw Loudoun play a physical style, receiving eight yellow cards against just one given to the Hounds. Possession in the match was an even 50/50, while Loudoun outshot Pittsburgh, 14-8.
First half
Both teams had a few early chances, but none were particularly close to breaking the deadlock.
The first early moment of drama came in the 24th minute, when Hounds goalkeeper Jake Leeker and Loudoun forward Darluis Paz collided as Leeker punched a cross away. Both players needed a couple minutes of treatment, but both would continue in the scoreless contest.
Leeker finished with a season-high five saves in the match, including a diving stop on Gaoussou Samake in the 41st minute. But from the ensuing corner, Jeremy Garay was able to win the ball and set up Ku-DiPietro about 22 yards from goal, and the 19-year-old Virginia native scored on a shot through traffic that left Leeker helpless.
Second half
Three minutes after the intermission, the Hounds tied the game 1-1 with a quick-hitting counter attack.
Tommy Williamson forced a turnover in the Loudoun half of the field and found Anthony Velarde in space in the center. Velarde dribbled toward goal and drew defenders before dishing the ball off to Pérez, and the left-footed Paris native calmly netted his first professional goal.
The Hounds tried to spark more offense by bringing Alex Dixon, Albert Dikwa and Kenardo Forbes off the bench in the 61st minute, as all three regulars were left out of the lineup with the team facing four games in 12 days. But it was Loudoun who began to seize the upper hand, and Bolivar scored the winning goal in the 75th minute after finding room to tee up a shot from outside of the box that was perfectly placed inside the far post.
The Hounds continued to press, and it took a spectacular save by Loudoun goalkeeper Jermaine Fordah to prevent a tying goal in the 82nd minute.
Russell Cicerone used a flicked header to send a Forbes through ball toward the back post, and an unmarked Dikwa connected with a stunning overhead kick shot on goal from 9 yards out. Fordah spoiled the bicycle kick effort with his own sprawling stop for the highlight reels, and no Hounds effort from that point came nearly as close to tying the match.
Hounds Man of the Match
Louis Pérez gets the nod for his first goal with the Hounds after finishing his college career at UCF. In addition to the clinical finish, Pérez also led the team with six crosses working from his left midfield position, and he played a season-high 61 minutes in his second start of the season.
What’s next?
With Loudoun picking off the Hounds for the first time, the Hounds now get a chance to pull the same feat against the Charlotte Independence at 7 p.m. Saturday at Highmark Stadium. The Hounds are 0-7-5 all-time against the Independence (5-4-0), who also sit just behind the Hounds in third place in the Atlantic Division standings.
Riverhounds SC lineup (5-2-2-1) — Jake Leeker; Louis Pérez (Alex Dixon 61’), Preston Kilwien, Jalen Robinson, Shane Wiedt, Dani Rovira; Danny Griffin, Todd Wharton (Kenardo Forbes 61’); Anthony Velarde, Russell Cicerone; Tommy Williamson (Albert Dikwa 61’)
Loudoun United FC lineup (3-4-3) — Jermaine Fordah; Timmy Mehl, Micael DeShields (Robby Dambrot 64’), Jacob Greene (Logan Pinchot 64’); Jeremy Garay, Gaoussou Samake, Ted Ku-DiPietro, Kimarni Smith (Nicky Downs 64’); Darius Paz (Abdellatif Aboukoura 68’), Jovanny Bolivar, Kairou Amoustapha (Houssou Landry 90’)
Scoring summary
LDN — Ted KuDiPietro 42’ (Jeremy Garay)
PIT — Louis Pérez 48’ (Anthony Velarde)
LDN — Jovanny Bolivar 75’ (Abdellatif Aboukoura)
Discipline summary
LDN — Micael DeShields 15’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
LDN — head coach Ryan Martin 28’ (caution – dissent)
LDN — Jovanny Bolivar 46’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
PIT — Todd Wharton 54’ (caution – dissent)
LDN — Jacob Greene 57’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
LDN — Timmy Mehl 81’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
LDN — Jermaine Fordah 84’ (caution – delaying restart)
LDN — Kairou Amoustapha 89’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
LDN — Ted Ku-DiPietro 90+9’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
