PITTSBURGH (Sept. 9, 2023) — Albert Dikwa retook the USL Championship scoring lead with a pair of goals, and Edward Kizza also found the net to give the Pittsburgh Riverhounds a 3-1 win over Loudoun United FC tonight at sold out Highmark Stadium.
Dikwa leads the league with 16 goals after scoring in the 21st and 89th minute, and Kizza’s goal in the 23rd minute gave the Hounds (15-5-9) a 2-0 halftime lead.
Kalil ElMedkhar scored on an excellent shot from distance in the 61st minute for Loudoun (7-19-3), the only shot of the night to beat goalkeeper Christian Garner, who made his third professional start with Jahmali Waite away with the Jamaican National Team.
For the fourth time this season, the Hounds eclipsed the regular-season attendance record with a crowd of 5,512 — the 12th sellout crowd of the season.
First half
The Hounds took the initiative in the first half with 55 percent of possession and 11-2 edge in shots during the first 45 minutes.
The scoring started with Kenardo Forbes receiving a pass on the left side of the field and finding Dikwa running toward goal. The striker controlled the ball on his right foot and put a shot into the bottom right corner for a goal that was his 15th, as well as Forbes’ team-leading seventh assist on the season.
Two minutes later, Forbes sent Kizza toward goal with a pass into the box. A defender’s leg kept Kizza from getting clean contact on his initial shot, but the ball rebounded off Loudoun goalie Dane Jacomen — a Pittsburgh native and former Hounds Academy player — for Kizza to pounce on the rebound.
The Hounds continued to press for a third goal. The best chances came in a sequence in the 37th minute, when Jacomen made two of his five saves to deny Kizza and Dikwa, and the Loudoun defense blocked two more rebounded efforts to prevent a third goal.
Second half
The Hounds didn’t exert the same control in the second half. Though the Hounds continued to have the bulk of the chances — total shots finished 19-5 — Loudoun had 58 percent of the ball after the break.
Things got tighter in the 61st minute, when ElMedkhar had time to tee up a shot nearly 25 yards from goal on the left side and curl it into the top right corner of the net. It was the first time Loudoun had scored in six matches at Highmark Stadium.
The Hounds nearly had a third goal minutes later when Forbes put in the rebound of a shot by Tola Showunmi, but the referee had blown play dead for a head injury to Loudoun’s Bryce Washington, who blocked the initial shot.
Finally, the game was put away with Loudoun pushing players forward for a tying goal. That allowed Luke Biasi to find Dikwa alone behind everyone, and the striker finished on the breakaway around Jacomen.
Heineken Man of the Match
Albert Dikwa continued his career season with his fifth multi-goal game of the year. He totaled five shots in the game, three on net, and also won 2 of 3 tackles and 5 of 11 duels for the ball during his usual high-energy effort.
What’s next?
The Hounds head back on the road next week to face another team battling to stay alive in the playoff race, Miami FC (7-13-8). The teams will meet for the second time this year on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami.
Riverhounds SC lineup (5-3-2) — Christian Garner; Junior Etou, Nate Dossantos, Joe Farrell (Luke Biasi 86’), Arturo Ordóñez, Dani Rovira (Pat Hogan 86’); Kenardo Forbes, Danny Griffin, Marc Ybarra (Robbie Mertz 63’); Edward Kizza (Tola Showunmi 63’), Albert Dikwa (Illal Osumanu 90+1’)
Loudoun United FC (4-4-2) — Dane Jacomen; Jacob Greene (Abdoul Koanda 90+1’), Bryce Washington (Jeremy Garay 72’), Yanis Leerman, Harvey Neville; Cole Turner, Aidan Rocha, Kalil ElMedkhar, Chris Hegardt (Juan Ramirez 90+1’); Tommy Williamson (Wesley Leggett 72’), Zach Ryan (Isaac Espinal 90+1’)
Scoring summary
PIT — Albert Dikwa 21’ (Kenardo Forbes)
PIT — Edward Kizza 23’
LDN — Kalil ElMedkhar 61’ (Jacob Greene)
PIT — Albert Dikwa 89’ (Luke Biasi)
Discipline summary
LDN — Wesley Leggett 74’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Joe Farrell 77’ (caution – tactical foul)
