News

Neco Brett picked up possession at midfield. Without hesitation, the midfielder lofted a pass upfield, playing a perfect ball to the charging Steevan Dos Santos. 

Dos Santos fielded the pass from Brett, and chipped the chance over the goalkeeper to put his club on the board in the 13th minute of last Saturday’s 4-1 win over Birmingham Legion FC.

Just a week before the duo put together a nearly identical sequence against New York Red Bulls II. This time, roles were reversed, and it was Dos Santos winning possession at the halfway line. Dos Santos hit Brett on a run with a pass, and Brett lofted a shot past the goalkeeper to give the Hounds a 1-0 lead. 

“Nowadays, before I even get the ball I know exactly where he’s at,” Brett said. “I know the type of runs he likes to make, and vice-versa. He knows exactly what I like to do. It’s coming on, the chemistry, and we’re just trying to make things better.”

The combo of Brett and Dos Santos have now linked up to score in three consecutive matches, and the club has earned victories in each of those contests. Months of training and playing together have the pair on the same page, and the results are finally starting to show.

“It’s good for me and it’s good for him to be on this three-game streak,” Dos Santos said. “The last game, he didn’t score but he assisted for me. If I don’t score, I assist to him. It’s the same way. When you play together, at some point the chemistry is going to grow. Even in training, we’re getting better. We’re moving that to the games and it’s helping us score goals.”

Brett and Dos Santos aren’t the only ones revving up their offensive production. The Black and Gold’s attack as a whole has been deadly in the last three games, stringing a total of 12 goals together in that period. 

Twelve tallies over a three match span is always impressive, but is especially noteworthy considering the slow start the Hounds’ attack had at the beginning of the season. The unit up top made necessary adjustments, and to see their efforts paying off has been a rewarding feeling for the group. 

“It’s not just weight off my shoulders, but the whole team’s as well,” Brett said. “It’s a team sport, and we just want to get into the top five [of the Eastern Conference]. We want to make sure we can get a home playoff game. So we’re working toward that.”

Just three points separate Pittsburgh RIverhounds SC and  Bethlehem Steel FC in the Eastern Conference standings. With Bethlehem taking the cross-state trip this Thursday to Highmark Stadium, Brett and Dos Santos know they have to keep the ball rolling.

“We just have to be focused,” Dos Santos said. “We know that Bethlehem is a good team. We tied them at the beginning of the season. They have some young guys, some talent.”

Brett echoed Dos Santos’ thoughts, explaining that the club just wants to continue to make progress on the Eastern Conference leaderboard.

“We’re just trying to keep the momentum going. Rivalry game. We need three points. Most important thing is, whichever way, we need to get three points.”

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (5-2-7) is set to face in-state rival Bethlehem Steel FC (5-8-4) in an Independence Day showdown at 7 p.m. this Thursday night at Highmark Stadium. This will mark their second meeting this season, as the clubs earlier tied, 2-2, at Talen Energy Stadium.

Hounds on the Prowl

The Riverhounds come into Thursday’s matchup as one of the hottest teams in all of the USL Championship. Winners of three straight games, Pittsburgh has outscored its opponents 14-1 during the stretch, moving the Hounds into ninth place in the playoff bracket. Pittsburgh will need to continue its recent hot streak with the Fourth of July matchup against Bethlehem.

Bombs Bursting in Net

Forward Steevan Dos Santos has scored for the Riverhounds in all three matches during the winning streak. Midfielders Robbie Mertz and Thomas Vancaeyezeele have scored in two of the three matches during this stretch as well. As the Hounds add more players into the mix, it will be difficult to contain Pittsburgh forwards and midfielders down the pitch.

Bethlehem Inconsistency

Steel FC has had problems putting together long stretches of sustained success on the pitch this season. Bethlehem’s longest winning streak has been two games this year, coming in early April for the club. Collecting points in the standings has been a challenge for Bethlehem, losing eight of its 17 matches this season.

Last Year Is Not Forgotten

The Hounds have not forgotten what happened a season ago when Bethlehem defeated them in the first round of the USL Championship playoffs at Highmark Stadium. The Hounds were the higher-ranked seed in the playoff bracket, but fell in penalty kicks. Pittsburgh will attempt to avenge last year’s early-round exit and make a statement against Steel FC.

By the Numbers: 3-2-1

The Hounds hold a winning record of 3-2-1 on July 4 since hosting a game every season after they moved into Highmark Stadium in 2013. Last season, Pittsburgh captured a victory against North Carolina FC, 2-0, in front of an energized crowd along “The Mon.” Pittsburgh will look to grab a victory, improving its overall record in front of another exhilarated Independence Day crowd Thursday night.

Key to Victory: Goalkeeping

Pittsburgh goalkeeper Kyle Morton has only allowed one goal in the recent three-game winning streak. During this stretch, the West Chester, Pennsylvania native has posted 11 saves. If Morton’s and the defense’s trend continues, Pittsburgh fans will have an enjoyable night watching fireworks light up the sky after the match.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (5-2-7) hosts Bethlehem Steel FC (5-8-4) at 7 p.m. this Thursday at Highmark Stadium. The Black and Gold have put together three straight victories, and are coming off of a 4-1 win over Birmingham Legion FC. Bethlehem grabbed a win in its last time out, with a 3-0 result over Hartford Athletic.

The Season So Far

It’s been a year of ups and downs for Bethlehem Steel FC thus far.  Though the club has managed five victories, it has struggled to find any sort of consistency during the 2019 slate. A 2-6-3 record on home turf has hindered the team’s ability to make any real progress on the Eastern Conference leaderboard.

However, the cross-state rival has found success on the road with a 3-2-1 away record.

With 19 total points, Bethlehem is currently ranked 11th in the conference and one point out of a playoff spot.

Players to Watch

19-year-old striker Faris Pemi Moumbagna leads the club in scoring with five goals in 13 appearances. Moumbagna also holds the team high in shots, having fired 26 so far this season. 

Carlos Miguel Coronel has logged the majority of minutes in net for Bethlehem. Carlos has stopped 36 of 53 shots that he’s faced this season. Goalkeepers Matt Freese and Tomás Romero have also seen time in net, with each recording one clean sheet in limited action.

Strength: Burying Opportunities

While Steel FC ranks in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference in shots, it has the second-highest conversion rate (19 percent). It’s been tough for the club to create chances at points throughout the year, but when an opportunity arises, there’s a good chance it could find the back of the net. 

Weakness: Goals Conceded

Heading into Thursday’s match, the opposition has struck 33 times against Bethlehem Steel FC. Only two teams in the Eastern Conference have allowed a higher number of goals. Steel FC’s defense has been suspect at times season, but has seen a recent upward trend, allowing just three goals in the last three games.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (5-2-7) and its offense stayed hot this past weekend, posting four tallies in a 4-1 victory against Birmingham Legion FC (3-10-4) on Saturday at Highmark Stadium.

In the match, Robbie Mertz posted the team’s first brace of this regular season whereas Steevan Dos Santos and Christian Volesky also jumped in the scoring action. Here is how the Hounds earned three points at home.

13’ Steevan Dos Santos assisted by Neco Brett

Dos Santos assisted Brett on a breakaway last week. Now, it was Brett’s turn to return the favor.

Seen above, Brett (yellow arrow) spots a streaking Dos Santos (green arrow), who times a run up the field. The striker plays a great ball into the attacking field, leading the Cape Verde native toward the goal. With Birmingham goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel coming out to challenge the opportunity, Dos Santos uses touch to place the ball by him and give the Hounds a 1-0 lead.

25’ Robbie Mertz assisted by Kevin Kerr

For the Hounds’ second goal of the match, Mertz took to the sky.

Off a cross into the penalty area by midfielder Kevin Kerr (yellow arrow), Mertz (green arrow) found himself one-on-one with Birmingham defender Tyler Turner. Ultimately, Mertz (5 feet 7 inches) wins the ball over Turner (5 feet 11 inches) to provide the Black and Gold with a 2-0 advantage.

39’ Robbie Mertz assisted by Kevin Kerr

The duo of Mertz and Kerr made an encore performance 14 minutes later.

Just like the first go around, Kerr (yellow arrow) sends a ball into the penalty box that the rookie chases down. Depicted above via a blue line, Mertz (green arrow) will fill a space that is cleared out by a couple Pittsburgh strikers. The midfielder will then follow through to blast a shot into the net, placing the Hounds ahead by three goals.

75’ Christian Volesky assisted by Anthony Velarde

The fourth goal stemmed from yet another cross across the goalmouth. This time, Anthony Velarde and Volesky hooked up for the tally.

After shaking free of a defender, Velarde (yellow arrow) boots a ball toward Volesky (green arrow). Uncovered by the Birmingham backline, the striker takes advantage of the opportunity and cashes in with a header for the team’s final goal of the night.

Tale of the Tape

On the offensive end, the Hounds were catalyzed by their conversion rate. Already leading the Eastern Conference with a 21 percent conversion rate heading into the match, Pittsburgh scored goals on all four of its shots on target. Seven of the Black and Gold’s nine shots came from close range – inside of the penalty box.

Although logging two more shots on target (6-to-4) than Pittsburgh, Birmingham could only convert on one of these chances. This is partly because two of these chances were blocked by Hounds defenders and another three shots on target occurred from outside of the 18-yard box.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has won two consecutive shutout matches behind goalkeeper Kyle Morton. Morton’s recent success on the pitch has been a driving force for the Hounds’ turnaround, but he stated he doesn’t look at it that way.

“I haven’t had to do too much in the last two games,” Morton said. “The boys in front of me did a really good job in the last two games, in Atlanta and then against the Red Bulls.”

Over the course of these two games, Morton has made seven saves. Five of these stops came last time out against New York Red Bulls II, including a great stop on a second-half rocket shot.

“As a team, I thought we played pretty well,” Morton said. “It was probably one of our best performances of the year. In the first 20 minutes when they played really well, we were able to shut them down, not giving them too many clearcut chances and I thought it was a really good performance.”

This consistency is something goalkeeping coach and former Hound Hunter Gilstrap has hoped to instill this season. Gilstrap mentioned the ultimate goal in teaching some of the younger Riverhounds goalkeepers is to find a consistent approach in their own game and concentrate mentally on being better for themselves.

Morton had a rocky start to begin the season, allowing a couple goals in each of his first couple appearances after injury derailed his campaign last season. Gilstrap was not concerned with the past, instead looking to the future to assist Morton in improving his game.

“I think he gave up a couple of goals in his first couple games that he felt he should’ve saved, and we felt he should’ve saved,” Gilstrap said. “He had to put his head down, go to work and focus on his performance and being consistent every day, and he did that. Because of that, he’s been sharp in training and that sharpness has translated over into the games. Now the challenge becomes staying on him.”

The challenge continues this Saturday night against Birmingham Legion FC at Highmark Stadium. Birmingham has not won a USL Championship match since April 27, most recently losing to Indy Eleven 3-0 this past Wednesday. If Morton is in the starting lineup, it will be an opportunity for the goalkeeper to prove himself once again.

“We just need to keep playing together,” Morton said. “I think these last two games we’ve really come in and have just been focused on the opponent and not let anything slip. Our concentration has been really good.”

This marks the second match of a three-game homestand at a time where the Riverhounds are playing some of their best soccer all season thus far. Riverhounds SC takes on Birmingham Legion FC at 7 p.m. this Saturday night at Highmark Stadium. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+.