Match Recaps

LEESBURG, Va. (May 28, 2023) — Arturo Ordóñez scored the game’s only goal from a set piece with 12 minutes remaining, and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds completed an undefeated month of May with their fifth consecutive win by defeating Loudoun United FC tonight at Segra Field.

It was the second goal in as many league matches for Ordóñez, the second-year center back out of Pitt, and it was the second straight shutout for the Hounds (5-2-5) and goalkeeper Jahmali Waite.

The Hounds have now won 11 of 12 all-time meetings with Loudoun (3-8-1).

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First half

As they have done for most of their current win streak, the Hounds came out looking to get the upper hand early, and Danny Griffin’s diving header that missed just wide in the ninth minute was the first good look at goal.

Loudoun posed a threat on the counter-attack with former Hounds forward Tommy Williamson leading the line, but the defense mostly covered the over-the-top threats well, limiting Loudoun to just six total shots.

Waite made two first-half saves, cleanly catching a hard shot from distance by Abdoul Zanne, and then tipping a low shot by Kalil ElMedkhar around the post with five minutes left in the half.

Second half

Chances were hard to come by on Loudoun goalkeeper Dane Jacomen, a Pittsburgh native and former Hounds Academy player, but the Hounds took control with the game entering its final 20 minutes.

Robbie Mertz nearly set up Edward Kizza for a tap-in opening goal with a low cross from the left in the 69th minute, but a sliding, last-ditch defensive effort by the Loudoun defense blocked away the opportunity.

Moments later, Tola Showunmi got to the goal line along the right side and chipped a ball to the back post, but Mertz’s header barely missed over the goal.

A corner kick in the 78th minute provided the breakthrough, as Kenardo Forbes played a short pass to Marc Ybarra, just inside the penalty area. Ybarra was able to turn and pick out the feet of Ordóñez in the middle of the box, and the center back was able to power a shot into the net from 8 yards out.

Loudoun pressed forward for a tying goal, but the Hounds sealed the road victory as a light rain began to fall in the final five minutes.

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Heineken Man of the Match

Arturo Ordóñez had an excellent two-way effort, highlighted by his game-winning goal, the third of his professional career. The Spanish center back won all three of his tackles, 7 of 8 duels overall and led all players with six clearances.

What’s next?

The Hounds will return to Highmark Stadium to begin the new month, as they host Phoenix Rising FC (4-4-3) for the first time in nine years on Saturday, June 3, for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (5-4-1) — Jahmali Waite; Luke Biasi, Nate Dossantos, Joe Farrell, Arturo Ordóñez, DZ Harmon (Robbie Mertz 46’); Langston Blackstock (Marc Ybarra 58’), Junior Etou (Tola Showunmi 58’), Danny Griffin, Kenardo Forbes (Mike DeShields 85’); Edward Kizza (Trevor Zwetsloot 80’)

Loudoun United FC lineup (3-5-2) — Dane Jacomen; Yanis Leerman (Daniel Chica 90’), Bryce Washington, Hayden Sargis (Abdoul Koanda 46’); Kalil ElMedkhar (Wesley Leggett 78’), Aidan Rocha, Jeremy Garay (Juan Ramirez 78’), Koa Santos; Panos Armenakas (Jackson Hopkins 55’), Tommy Williamson

Scoring summary

PIT — Arturo Ordóñez 78’ (Marc Ybarra)

Discipline summary

LDN — Kalil ElMedkhar 47’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Luke Biasi 86’ (caution – tactical foul)

PITTSBURGH (May 24, 2023) — History was made at Highmark Stadium, as Albert Dikwa scored the game’s only goal to give the Pittsburgh Riverhounds a 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew of MLS in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 16 tonight.

A stadium-record crowd of 6,107, nearly all clad in white to match the Hounds’ new alternate jerseys debuting for the match, erupted at the sound of the final whistle, which secured the Hounds’ first berth in the Open Cup Quarterfinals since 2001 and puts them three wins away from winning U.S. Soccer’s biggest prize.

In the quarterfinals, the Hounds will go on the road to face FC Cincinnati — the team that eliminated them from last year’s tournament — in a match that will be played June 6 or 7.

Goalkeeper Jahmali Waite made three saves to record his fourth shutout of the year in all competitions, and the Hounds have yet to concede a goal in the Open Cup, including the past two matches against MLS opponents.

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First half

The Crew fielded a rotated lineup from their weekend loss to rival FC Cincinnati, but their tactics remained the same, holding 75 percent of possession. The Hounds looked the more dangerous team, however, outshooting them 4-3 in the first half and 9-7 overall.

The decisive goal game in the 22nd minute, after the Hounds forced a turnover inside the Crew half of the field. Robbie Mertz got the ball at his feet and picked out Dikwa, who stayed onside before breaking behind the defense and passing the ball calmly into the right side of the net.

The Crew’s best chance of the half came just after the half-hour mark, but the Hounds defense recovered well as Nate Dossantos blocked away a chance from 10 yards by Jacen Russell-Rowe.

Second half

Waite made his biggest stop of the match early in the half, meeting a hard, low shot from just outside the box by Thomas Roberts and parrying it wide of his near post.

The Crew began to push forward more, and the Hounds defended soundly, conceding eight corners — five after halftime — but clearing each one away from danger.

A second goal nearly came in the 74th minute when Tola Showunmi met a ball chipped to the front of goal, but his shot sailed high over the net.

Things got chippy in the six minutes of stoppage time, as Hounds players came to Waite’s defense after Keegan Hughes barrelled into the goalkeeper after a catch, drawing a yellow card. At the other end of the field, Edward Kizza was sent off with a minute to play after getting tangled with Crew defenders while trying to run out the clock.

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Hounds Man of the Match

Jahmali Waite made three total saves for his fourth overall shutout — two in cup play and two in USL matches — but his biggest value was his command of the goal box, catching and punching the ball effectively facing eight corners and a handful of set pieces from the Crew. 

What’s next?

The Hounds will return to USL Championship play at 6 p.m. Sunday, when they travel to face Loudoun United FC (3-7-1) at Segra Field in Leesburg, Va.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (5-4-1) — Jahmali Waite; Luke Biasi, Mike DeShields (Pat Hogan 87’), Nate Dossantos, Arturo Ordóñez, DZ Harmon (Trevor Zwetsloot 74’); Danny Griffin, Marc Ybarra, Albert Dikwa (Kenardo Forbes 57’), Robbie Mertz (Junior Etou 74’); Tola Showunmi (Edward Kizza 87’, sent off 90+5’)

Columbus Crew lineup (3-4-3) — Evan Bush; Keegan Hughes, Philip Quinton (Mohamed Farsi 77’), Gustavo Vallecilla (Malte Amundsen 59’); Jimmy Medranda (Aidan Morris 77’), Sean Zawadzki, Isaiah Parente, Thomas Roberts (Gibran Rayo 60’); Christian Ramirez, Jaces Russell-Rowe, Max Arfsten (Taha Habroune 90+3’)

Scoring summary

PIT — Albert Dikwa 22’ (Robbie Mertz)

Discipline summary 

PIT — Danny Griffin 62’ (caution – reckless foul)
CLB — Keegan Hughes 90+3’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Edward Kizza 90+5’ (sent off – violent conduct)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

PITTSBURGH (May 13, 2023) — Albert Dikwa scored twice to race out to the USL Championship scoring lead, and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC picked up a 2-1 win over Birmingham Legion FC in a rematch of last season’s playoffs tonight at Highmark Stadium.

Dikwa opened the scoring in the 11th minute and headed in the game-winner for the Hounds (3-2-5) in the 70th minute to keep to team undefeated at home this season in front of a sellout crowd of 5,123. Matthew Corcoran, Birmingham’s 17-year-old academy product in the midfield, scored a free kick from 20 yards out in the 35th minute for the Legion (5-5-1).

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First half

The Hounds wasted little time opening the scoring, getting the game’s first goal for the fifth consecutive match — three league games and two in the U.S. Open Cup.

Danny Griffin swung a cross from the left side to the back post, where Kenardo Forbes struck a return pass behind the defense and across the top of the six-yard box for Dikwa to turn the ball into the net.

Two former Hounds appeared in the match for the Legion — Neco Brett and Tyler Pasher — but Brett’s return was cut short, as the Robert Morris product was replaced in the 28th minute due to injury.

The Legion found their goal shortly after, however, as Corcoran curled a free kick from the left side over the Hounds wall and into the open side of the net, leveling the score on the first of only two shots on goal for Birmingham.

Second half

The Hounds appeared to have gone back in front in the 63rd minute when Griffin headed in a cross served from the left side. The crowd’s celebration was cut short with Griffin already amongst the fans, as the goal was disallowed for a push by Griffin against Legion defender Jake Rufe.

Seven minutes later, Dikwa put in a goal that was a no-doubter. He deftly redirected the ball with a glancing header from a curling pass served in by Langston Blackstock, giving the first-year pro out of Clayton State (Ga.) his first career assist.

The Hounds bottled up the Legion for the final 20 minutes as they had done all game, limiting the second-place team in the Eastern Conference to four total shots and only six touches inside the Hounds’ penalty area for the entire match.

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Heineken Man of the Match

Albert Dikwa’s torrid scoring run continued with the striker’s second straight two-goal game in league play. He now has five goals in the past three USL Championship matches, and his nine goals this season are just two off his career high of 11 set last year.

What’s next?

After jetting cross-country last week from California to Boston and back to Pittsburgh, the Hounds finally get to stay at home with another 7 p.m. Saturday league match coming on May 20, when the Las Vegas Lights (0-3-5) make their first visit to Highmark Stadium.

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Riverhounds SC Lineup (5-4-1) — Jahmali Waite; DZ Harmon (Luke Biasi 65’), Arturo Ordóñez, Pat Hogan, Nate Dossantos, Langston Blackstock (Junior Etou 74’); Danny Griffin, Trevor Zwetsloot (Marc Ybarra 45’), Robbie Mertz (Edward Kizza 65’), Kenardo Forbes (Michael Deshields 84’); Albert Dikwa

Birmingham Legion FC (4-2-3-1) — Matt Van Oekel; Jacob Rufe (Gabriel Alves 76’), Moses Mensah (Collin Smith 76’), Alex Crongale, Ben Reveno; Matthew Corcoran, Mikey Lopez (Anderson Asiedu 45’); Tyler Pasher, Diba Nwegbo (Enzo Martinez 58’), Prosper Kasim; Neco Brett (Juan Agudelo 28’)

Scoring summary

PIT — Albert Dikwa 11’ (Kenardo Forbes)
BHM — Matthew Corcoran 35’
PIT — Albert Dikwa 70’ (Langston Blackstock)

Discipline summary

PIT — Nate Dossantos 53’ (caution – dissent)
BHM — Matthew Corcoran 63’ (caution – tactical foul)
BHM — Moses Mensah 69’ (caution – reckless foul)
BHM — Gabriel Alves 83’ (caution – reckless foul)
BHM — Ben Reveno 90+3’ (caution – reckless foul)

SEASIDE, Calif. (May 5, 2023) — A late goal cost Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC for the second road game in a row, and the team was held to a 2-2 draw in their first-ever meeting with Monterey Bay FC tonight at Cardinale Stadium.

Albert Dikwa scored twice for the Hounds (2-2-5) to pull into a tie for the USL Championship scoring lead with seven goals. Two former Hounds scored for Monterey Bay (3-2-4), Alex Dixon in the first half and Christian Volesky with the tying goal in stoppage time.

The match was the Hounds seventh on the road in the first nine matches to start the USL Championship season.

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First half

Dikwa got the scoring started with a calm finish in the 16th minute, but it was the work of Kenardo Forbes that set him up. The Hounds’ captain pounced quickly in midfield to force a turnover and drove at the defense before slipping a ball wide for Dikwa’s finish. It was the first assist of the season for Forbes, the Hounds and league’s all-time assists leader.

Dixon thought he had tied the game by getting on the end of a long pass just three minutes later, but the offside flag negated the scoring chance for Monterey Bay.

Dikwa nearly went on a breakaway by forcing a turnover of his own in the 36th minute, but Alex Lara committed a foul and took the tactical yellow card to snuff out the chance.

Dixon tied the game in the 44th minute by getting inside the box to receive a pass from Volesky, and his right-footed finish sent the game to halftime level.

Second half

Luke Biasi gave the Hounds a chance to go back in front in the 56th minute when he got inside the box on the right side of the end line and was tripped by Max Glasser, winning a penalty kick. But Union goalkeeper Antony Siaha read Dikwa’s penalty kick correctly, diving low and to his left to smother the shot.

Dikwa wouldn’t be denied on a corner kick in the 74th minute, however, as the striker slid to slam the ball into the net after Arturo Ordóñez’s initial header was blocked in traffic.

The Hounds tried to hold on for the three points, but Adrian Rebollar got free along the goal line for Monterey Bay and fired a low, hard pass into the box that allowed Volesky to redirect into the net for a tying goal just seconds into stoppage time.

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Hounds Man of the Match

Albert Dikwa moved into a share of the league lead with his sixth and seventh goals of the season, though a saved penalty prevented him from reaching his second hat trick of the season. Dikwa also was second on the team with five touches in the opponent’s box and won a match-high four fouls.

What’s next?

For the second straight year, the Hounds take their crack at an MLS opponent in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup when they visit the New England Revolution. The Round of 32 match will be played on Tuesday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (5-4-1) — Jahmali Waite; Langston Blackstock (Mike DeShields 78’), Nate Dossantos (Marc Ybarra 59’), Arturo Ordóñez, Pat Hogan, Luke Biasi; Danny Griffin, Trevor Zwetsloot (Joe Farrell 83’), Robbie Mertz (Edward Kizza 78’), Kenardo Forbes; Albert Dikwa

Monterey Bay FC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Antony Siaha; Grant Robinson (Max Glasser 27’), Alex Lara (Jesús Enriquez 38’), Kai Greene, Morey Doner; James Murphy, Mobi Fehr; Jason Johnson (Walker Martinez 46’), Alex Dixon (Sean Okoli 68’), Adrian Rebollar; Christian Volesky

Scoring summary

PIT — Albert Dikwa 16’ (Kenardo Forbes)
MB — Alex Dixon 44’ (Christian Volesky)
PIT — Albert Dikwa 74’
MB — Christian Volesky 90+1’ (Adrian Rebollar)

Discipline summary

MB — Alex Lara 36’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Nate Dossantos 57’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — HC Bob Lilley 57’ (caution – dissent) 

(April 29, 2023) — Jack Blake scored with nine minutes remaining for Indy Eleven, which forced Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC to settle for a 1-1 draw tonight at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Hounds (2-2-4) led for most of the match after Albert Dikwa put the team ahead in the 18th minute. Indy (1-3-3) got their late goal when Blake chipped the ball into the net after a clearance attempt only reached just outside of the Hounds’ box.

It was the sixth road game in eight USL Championship matches for the Hounds in 2023, and the 10th time in 12 all-time matches with Indy that the game has been settled by one goal or fewer.

First half

The Hounds started off with more of the ball in the early stages of the game, and it paid off with an early goal.

Luke Biasi hit a big diagonal ball from the back line that just dropped in over the Indy defense. Dikwa received it in stride, and Indy goalkeeper Yannik Oettl stumbled just enough off his line to allow the striker to hit the ball into the open net. It was Dikwa’s fifth goal of the year, which leads the Hounds and moves him one off the USL Championship lead, and it was the second assist of the season for Biasi.

Robbie Mertz had a chance to double the lead six minutes later when Edward Kizza found him alone in the right side of the box, but Oettl held his ground to make the save on that chance.

Indy, which entered the game leading the league in possession, began to get more of the ball and finished the match with 62 percent — still 2 percent below their average. But the Hounds limited chances. They blocked three shots in the final 10 minutes of the half, and the only one that got through — off the foot of Solomon Asante — was saved well by Jahmali Waite with a dive to his left.

Second half

The Hounds again had the first good chance of the half, as Dikwa was tripped up in a one-on-one situation with his defender. The ball stayed alive for the Hounds, and Robbie Mertz slid a pass across to Kenardo Forbes for a curling shot saved by Oettl.

Indy would only record one shot in the second half, but they made it count after some sustained pressure.

Former Hounds defender Robby Dambrot played a cross into the Hounds box, and Waite came off his line to punch it away. The ball made it just beyond the edge of the box, where Blake lofted a one-touch finish over all the traffic in the box and into the net.

Neither team could break the deadlock, but Hounds substitute Tola Showunmi came closest with a curling shot from 20 yards that was beyond the reach of Oettl but spun just wide of the right post.

Heineken Man of the Match

Albert Dikwa put in an exhausting 90 minutes shift, netting the early goal and working until the final whistle. The striker was active throughout, winning four fouls, taking 7 of 12 duels and leading all players with four touches in the opponent’s box. 

What’s next?

The Hounds will finally complete their stretch of seven road games in their first nine USL Championship matches with a first-ever meeting against Monterey Bay FC on Friday, May 5 at 10 p.m. Monterey Bay (3-2-2) entered the weekend as the league’s highest-scoring team (15), but also tied for the most goals allowed (12).

Riverhounds SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Jahmali Waite; Nate Dossantos, Joe Farrell, Arturo Ordóñez, Luke Biasi; Marc Ybarra (Burke Fahling 87’), Kenardo Forbes; Langston Blackstock (Trevor Zwetsloot 46’), Edward Kizza (Pat Hogan 67’), Robbie Mertz (Tola Showunmi 67’); Albert Dikwa

Indy Eleven lineup (4-3-3) — Yannik Oettl; Bryam Rebellón (Douglas Martinez 63’), Robby Dambrot, Jesús Vázquez (Gustavo Rissi 90’), Younes Boudadi; Aodhan Quinn, Cam Lindley (Jack Blake 63’), Adrián Diz Pe; Harrison Robledo (Juan Tejada 72’), Sebastián Guenzatti, Solomon Asante

Scoring summary

PIT — Albert Dikwa 18’ (Luke Biasi)
IND — Jack Blake 81’

Discipline summary

IND — Younes Boudadi 20’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Langston Blackstock 24’ (caution – reckless foul)
IND — Cam Lindley 24’ (caution – dissent)
PIT — Nate Dossantos 79’ (caution – tactical foul)
IND — Adrian Diz Pe 87’ (caution – tactical foul)

PITTSBURGH (April 25, 2023) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is through to the Fourth Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after defeating NISA team Maryland Bobcats FC, 2-0, in a Third Round match tonight at Highmark Stadium.

Edward Kizza broke the deadlock with an 81st-minute goal, and Burke Fahling added the insurance goal in stoppage time to put the Hounds into the final 32 of the nation’s oldest national soccer competition. Goalkeeper Christian Garner recorded his first pro shutout in his second career start.

Riverhounds Academy product Anders Bordoy, whose saved shot led to Fahling’s goal, entered the game in the 89th minute to become the second-youngest player ever to appear in a competitive match for the Hounds at 18 years, 4 months and 9 days.

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First half

The Hounds entered the match with a handful of players making their first starts for the club, and the team put out a strong performance with 58 percent of possession and a 22-6 edge in shots.

The team struggled to hit the target with their first-half chances, however, as Fahling was the first to force saves by Bobcats goalie Alex Sutton with consecutive shots in the 36th and 38th minute.

Second half

The Bobcats threatened early in the second half, and their leading scorer, Darwin Espinal, weaved into the penalty area to force one of three saves by Garner in the 57th minute.

The Hounds then went to the bench with 20 minutes to play, and one of the fresh faces into the game was Kizza, whose last two goals for the club came as a substitute in last year’s playoff win over Birmingham.

Luke Biasi chipped a ball from the right side to the back post, where Tola Showunmi rose to head the ball back to the front of the goal for Kizza to power it into the net with nine minutes left to play.

As the game entered stoppage time, Bordoy found himself with room to shoot from the top of the box and drilled a low shot toward the back post. Sutton made the initial save, but Fahling was in the right spot to put home the rebound.

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Hounds Man of the Match

Burke Fahling put in a strong 90-minute shift, racking up 25 touches in the opponents’ final third, putting 3 of 6 shots on goal and winning 11 of 20 duels playing his central midfield role.

What’s next?

The Hounds will find out their Fourth Round opponent in the draw scheduled for Thursday, but before the next cup match will be a return to USL Championship play when they visit Indy Eleven on Saturday, April 29 at 7 p.m.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Christian Garner; Langston Blackstock (Anders Bordoy 89’), Mike DeShields, Pat Hogan, Luke Biasi; Trevor Zwetsloot, Robbie Mertz (Marc Ybarra 84’); Tony Lopez (Nate Dossantos 69’), Burke Fahling, DZ Harmon (Edward Kizza 69’); Tola Showunmi (Arturo Ordóñez 84’)

Maryland Bobcats FC lineup (4-4-2) — Alex Sutton; James Filerman, Abdul Kooistra (Karl Mbouombouo 89’), Abdellah Mansour, Phillip Brown (Nicolas Likulia 71’); Darwin Espinal, Manny Gonzales, Josselin Possian, Andrew Wivell (Mohamed Conteh 82’); Akingbolahan Akinkoye (Abdulrahmane Madad 82’), Caleb Pritchett (Samuel Solomon 82’)

Scoring summary

PIT — Edward Kizza 81’ (Tola Showunmi)
PIT — Burke Fahling 90+1’

Discipline summary

MD — Josselin Possian 39’ (caution – tactical foul)
MD — Manny Gonzalez 45’ (caution – dissent)
PIT — Langston Blackstock 57’ (caution – tactical foul)

(April 22, 2023) — A goal in each half sent Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC to only its second defeat of the season, a 2-0 loss to El Paso Locomotive FC tonight at Southwest University Park in El Paso, Texas.

Petar Petrovic and Luis Solignac scored, and Benny Diaz made four saves for the Locomotive (3-3-1), who are now unbeaten in their past four matches. 

The Hounds (2-2-3) outshot their opponents 9-7 and had 51 percent of possession, but they were unable to create many quality chances in a choppy game with 32 fouls — 21 called against the Hounds.

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First half

Though the first half played out slowly with each team feeling its way into the match, Solignac did get one dangerous chance early and pressed Hounds goalkeeper Jahmali Waite into a kick save at the near post.

The El Paso defense frustrated the visitors out wide, as the Hounds were able to get the ball down the flanks but hand numerous crosses blocked away before reaching a dangerous ares.

The Locomotive got their first goal in the 39th minute, when Denys Kostyshyn hit a long, diagonal ball from the midway line that picked out Petrovic in stride. The El Paso player took just two touches, firing quickly from just inside the box and picking out the bottom right corner of the net.

Second half

The Hounds were more dedicated going forward after the break, as in the first five minutes, Albert Dikwa recorded an contested header shot off target and put the ball in the net on a play ruled offside in the build-up.

Pat Hogan got into the box on a give-and-go from his center back position just a few minutes later, but the defender was unable to get enough on the shot to beat Diaz.

Though the Hounds had the better of territory, the Locomotive converted by hitting them on the counter attack. In the 69th minute, substitute defender Marc Navarro hit a long ball out of the back, and Solignac timed his run to get behind the defense. The bouncing ball left Waite in no-man’s land outside of his box, and the Locomotive striker was able to walk the ball into the goal.

The Hounds kept pressing, and Dikwa had a great chance getting behind his defender in the 85th minute, but he was stopped by a flailing Diaz at the top of the box, which snuffed out the last great chance of the match.

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Heineken Man of the Match

Robbie Mertz returned from a one-match suspension and was strong on the ball working between the El Paso lines. Mertz completed 30 of 32 passes in the match for a team-leading 93.8 percent clip, while he also led the Hounds with four crosses and had three touches in the Locomotive box, tied for the team’s high.

What’s next?

The Hounds will finally kick their first ball in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, as they host Maryland Bobcats FC of third-division NISA on Tuesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium. The Third Round matchup is a rematch of last year’s Second Round, when the Hounds defeated the Bobcats to advance, 2-0.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (5-3-2) — Jahmali Waite; Nate Dossantos (Langston Blackstock 79’), Arturo Ordóñez, Joe Farrell, Pat Hogan (DZ Harmon 61’, Burke Fahling 79’), Luke Biasi (Trevor Zwetsloot 61’); Robbie Mertz, Marc Ybarra, Kenardo Forbes; Edward Kizza (Tola Showunmi 61’), Albert Dikwa

El Paso Locomotive FC lineup (4-4-2) — Benny Diaz; Éder Borelli (Nick Hinds 90+4’), Yuma, Bence Pávkovics, Miles Lyons; Petar Petrovic (Marc Navarro 58’), Eric Calvillo, Liam Rose, Denys Kostyshyn (Louis Herrera 72’); Luis Solignac, Ricardo Zacarias (Josué Gomez 72’)

Scoring summary

ELP — Petar Petrovic 39’ (Denys Kostyshyn)
ELP — Luis Solignac 69’ (Marc Navarro)

Discipline summary

PIT — Luke Biasi 11’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — DZ Harmon 63’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Joe Farrell 66’ (caution – tactical foul)
ELP — Denys Kostyshyn 80’ (caution – delaying restart)
ELP — Eric Calvillo 86’ (caution – reckless foul)
ELP — Luis Solignac 90’ (caution – dissent)
PIT — Arturo Ordóñez 90+2’ (caution – tactical foul)
ELP — Louis Herrera 90+4’ (caution – reckless foul)

PITTSBURGH (April 15, 2023) — Backed by a sellout crowd of 5,092, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC got second-half goals from Albert Dikwa and Kenardo Forbes to pick up a 2-0 win over the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros tonight at Highmark Stadium.

Dikwa netted his team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 49th minute, which made him the 11th player in Riverhounds history to score 20 goals for the team. Forbes added the second for the Hounds (2-1-3) in the 64th minute, and the team saw out the match without allowing a shot on goal for the visiting Toros (1-1-3). 

It was the team’s second shutout of the season, and the second for goalkeeper Jahmali Waite, who was sound controlling his box without having to make an official save.

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First half

The game began slowly, as the two teams meeting for only the second time ever tried to figure out one another. Dikwa had the game’s first great chance in the 19th minute, when he broke into the right side of the box and shot low to force a diving save by RGV’s Tyler Deric.

Just before halftime, the Hounds nearly broke the deadlock again when a free kick by Tony Lopez struck the crossbar from 20 yards away. Dani Rovira was first to the rebound, but his second effort slid all the way across the face of goal and just wide of the left post.

Second half

The Hounds stayed on the front foot to begin the second half and got their goal from Dikwa after a good play by Luke Biasi on the left side. 

The wing back maintained possession all the way to the goal line before sending a hard cross to the front of goal, which Dikwa needed only to redirect into the goal with his chest. A milestone goal for Dikwa, it was also Biasi first professional assist in two years with the Hounds.

Forbes doubled the Hounds advantage by finding space in the box to receive a cross from Rovira on the right side, ending a long spell of attacking possession. The Hounds’ captain met the cross for a headed finish, which was only the second headed goal in USL Championship play for the league’s all-time assists leader.

The Hounds finished the night keeping the pressure on. Dikwa was denied a second goal by the offside flag in the 74th minute, and Forbes nearly bagged a second in the game’s final 10 minutes, ripping a shot from outside the box that rang the crossbar for the second time.

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Heineken Man of the Match

Kenardo Forbes was at his best in this match, and not only because of the goal and near-miss on a second. The midfielder whipped in five crosses — tied for the team lead — was second on the side with 59 touches on the ball and won possession a match-high 10 times.

What’s next?

The Hounds head back on the road next Saturday, April 22, when they visit El Paso Locomotive FC (2-3-1) for a 9:30 p.m. kickoff against their second straight Lone Star State opponent.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (5-2-3) — Jahmali Waite; Nate Dossantos, Joe Farrell, Illal Osumanu; Dani Rovira (Trevor Zwetsloot 88’), Marc Ybarra, Kenardo Forbes, Luke Biasi (Tola Showumni 67’); Tony Lopez (Pat Hogan 67’), Albert Dikwa (Mike DeShields 88’), Edward Kizza (Langston Blackstock 67′)

Rio Grande Valley FC lineup (3-4-3) — Tyler Deric; Frank Nodarse, Juan Cabezas, Wahab Ackwei; Jonathan Ricketts (Robert Coronado 71’), Gabriel Benítez, Taylor Davila, José Torres (Ian Cerro 90’); Ricky Ruiz (Tomás Ritondale 90’), Christiano François (Duilio Herrera 76’), Wilmer Cabrera (Jose Luna 90’)

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Scoring summary

PIT — Albert Dikwa 49’ (Luke Biasi)
PIT — Kenardo Forbes 64’ (Dani Rovira)

Discipline summary

PIT — Luke Biasi 21’ (caution – reckless foul)
RGV — Juan Cabezas 29’ (caution – reckless foul)
RGV — Jonathan Ricketts 43’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Nate Dossantos 90’ (caution – reckless foul)