PITTSBURGH (Aug. 18, 2021) — The third clash of the year between the Atlantic Division leaders had a playoff feel, and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies finished 90 minutes deadlocked with a 0-0 draw at Highmark Stadium.
The match saw the Riverhounds (10-6-4) hold 66 percent of possession, but the Rowdies (11-6-1) came out ahead in the shot count, 8-3, and the corner kick total, 4-3.
Danny Vitiello made three saves to record his fourth shutout of the season for the Hounds, while Tampa Bay goalie Evan Louro did not record a save while picking up the clean sheet.
First half
The match started with both teams taking a cautious approach, underlining the importance of the game to the two teams that began the day tied with 33 points in the standings.
Tampa tried their luck with shots from distance, but their best effort by far was a volley hit well by Laurence Wyke in the 37th minute. Wyke’s shot had power, but it was straight to the feet of Vitiello, who dropped down to hold the shot.
The Hounds didn’t create much going forward with only two shots in the first 45 minutes, but they did establish themselves as the team on the ball — the Hounds finished the game with 628 passes to Tampa Bay’s 324.
Second half
The Hounds looked much more dangerous after the break, and Alex Dixon made a nice 1-on-1 move before flashing a shot across the front of the goal in the 50th minute.
Vitiello made his biggest save of the day in the 61st minute, diving to his left to push away a redirection by former Hounds forward Steevan Dos Santos on the end of a Lewis Hilton free kick.
Both teams went to their benches looking for a spark in the final half-hour, and it was the Hounds who came closest when Louis Pérez entered the game in the final 10 minutes.
Pérez found space 30 yards from goal after a poor clearance by the Rowdies and teed up a left-footed shot. His 85th-minute effort got over a leaping Louro, but it struck the crossbar and bounced away, leaving the match scoreless.
Hounds Man of the Match
Shane Wiedt gets the recognition on a back line with multiple candidates Wednesday. The center back battled in a team-leading 17 duels, including winning 5 of 8 aerial battles. He also completed 85 of 101 passes, recorded five clearances and four interceptions, all of which led the Hounds.
What’s next?
With a crucial point in hand and the first losing streak of the season behind them, the Hounds prepare for an out-of-division clash with Atlanta United 2 at 7 p.m. Sunday at Highmark Stadium. Atlanta (6-7-7) is locked in a standings battle in the Central Division, where the teams placed third through seventh are separated by four points.
Riverhounds SC lineup (5-1-3-1) — Danny Vitiello; Ezra Armstrong (Tommy Williamson 66’), Jelani Peters (Preston Kilwien 83’), Mekeil Williams (Louis Pérez 83’), Shane Wiedt, Alex Dixon; Danny Griffin; Anthony Velarde (Todd Wharton 66’), Dani Rovira, Kenardo Forbes; Russell Cicerone
Tampa Bay Rowdies lineup (3-4-3) — Evan Louro; Aarón Guillén, Forrest Lasso, Jordan Scarlett; Sebastian Dalgaard, Laurence Wyke (Jordan Doherty 89’), Conner Antley, Lewis Hilton; Steevan Dos Santos (Lucky Mkosana 72’), Zach Steinberger (Yann Ekra 57’), Jordan Adebayo-Smith (Sebastián Guenzatti 57’)
Scoring summary
None
Discipline summary
TBR — Forrest Lasso 31’ (caution – persistent infringement)
PIT — Anthony Velarde 58’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
TBR — Lucky Mkosana 90+3’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
