PITTSBURGH (May 20, 2023) — Edward Kizza netted a pair of first-half goals, and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Las Vegas Lights tonight at Highmark Stadium.
Arturo Ordóñez and Danny Griffin also found the net for the Hounds (4-2-5), who remain undefeated at Highmark Stadium in 2023. Marcelo Lage scored a late goal from a corner kick for the Lights (0-4-6).
The Hounds also had their third consecutive league match with a sellout crowd with a paid attendance of 5,184 at Highmark Stadium.
First half
The Hounds came out the aggressors in the match, holding 59 percent of possession in the first half.
In the 21st minute, the game’s first shot on goal put the Hounds in front. Langston Blackstock chipped in a cross from the left side that goalkeeper Leo Diaz could only get one hand to, and the ball dropped to the feet of Kizza for the close-range finish.
Kizza had his second 10 minutes later by elevating at the back post to meet a Burke Fahling cross from the right flank, and the striker put a powerful header past Diaz.
The Hounds had two more golden chances before halftime — a Griffin shot that skipped just wide after he broke alone into the left side of the box, and a Kizza attempt at a hat trick that was saved by a sprawling Diaz.
Second half
It only took four minutes into the second half for the Hounds to add their third goal, as Kenardo Forbes whipped a corner kick to the near post, where Ordóñez met the ball to head in the second career goal for the defender.
Forbes also played a part in the team’s fourth goal, as he wiggled into room atop the penalty area to fire a shot toward goal. The ball hit a Vegas defender and fell for Griffin, who was running to the back post and finished calmly behind the defense.
The Lights ended the Hounds’ bid for a shutout in the 86th minute when substitute Danny Rios took a shot from outside the box after a corner kick. The ball ricocheted through bodies, and defender Lage got the final touch that put the ball softly into the far side of the net.
Heineken Man of the Match
Edward Kizza scored his first two league goals of the season — he had earlier found the net in the team’s Third Round U.S. Open Cup match — and he showed how formidable a strike partnership he and Albert Dikwa can be. In addition to his goals, he had a game-high six touches in the opponent’s box and connected on 22 of 24 passes (91.7 percent).
What’s next?
Riding a win streak, the Hounds turn their attention back to their biggest cup match in more than 20 years, when they host the Columbus Crew of MLS in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 16. The match is Wednesday, May 24, at 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium and will be shown on CBS Sports.
Riverhounds SC lineup (5-2-1-2) — Jahmali Waite; Langston Blackstock, Nate Dossantos, Arturo Ordóñez (Mike DeShields 79’), Pat Hogan, Burke Fahling; Junior Etou (Tola Showunmi 62’), Kenardo Forbes (Robbie Mertz 72’); Danny Griffin (Marc Ybarra 72’); Edward Kizza, Albert Dikwa (Trevor Zwetsloot 62’)
Las Vegas Lights FC lineup (4-3-3) — Leo Diaz; Jordan Ayimbila (Issa Rayyan 61’), Marcelo Lage (Tyler Bagley 89’), Zach Carroll, Lucas Stauffer; Jacob Bushue, Andrés Jiménez (Timothie Zali 46’), Emmanuel Ledesma (Danny Rios 70’); Andrew Carleton, Pato Botello Faz, Erick Torres (Tabort Preston 46’)
Scoring summary
PIT — Edward Kizza 21’
PIT — Edward Kizza 31’ (Burke Fahling)
PIT — Arturo Ordóñez 50’ (Kenardo Forbes)
PIT — Danny Griffin 61’
LV — Marcelo Lage 86’ (Danny Rios)
Discipline summary
LV — Emmanuel Ledesma 2’ (caution – reckless foul)
LV — Timothie Zali 59’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Tola Showunmi 90+3’ (caution – reckless foul)
