The Howler

For the first 87 minutes of last Saturday’s match against Atlanta United 2, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC looked fully in control, just moments away from clinching a 1-0 win on Fan Appreciation Night and locking up a home playoff game in the first round of the upcoming USL Championship playoffs. 

Minutes later, everything had changed. A late header from Wesly Decas evened the score at 1-1, forcing Pittsburgh to settle for one point and the draw. The win and a secured home game in the playoffs would have to wait at least one more week.

In the moment, it was one of the most frustrating outcomes for the Hounds all season. But for a team with championship aspirations, that frustration is already being channeled into motivation for Saturday’s showdown against Saint Louis FC.

“Championship teams have to do that,” midfielder Robbie Mertz said. “You’re going to have setbacks. We’ve had our setbacks throughout the year within games and across the course of the season, so championship teams, you’ve got to show some character and be able to be mentally tough enough to bounce back and go on the road for the last couple games to get the three points. I think this is something we really care about, finishing strong.”

For all the sour feelings floating around Highmark Stadium after that game, there is still tons of reason for optimism going into the final stretch of the regular season.

One point up on Nashville SC for first overall in the Eastern Conference table and five points clear of fourth-place New York Red Bulls II, Pittsburgh will have another opportunity to lock up a home playoff game this weekend in Fenton, Missouri.

The Hounds are still very much in control of their own destiny.  

“Obviously we were a bit disappointed with the result on Saturday night, but we know we have the season in our hands still,” defender Tobi Adewole said. “We know we have a couple more games left and we know the importance of those games and even playoffs, so our focus is closing out the season strong and going to playoffs even stronger.” 

This is a team still brimming with confidence, filled with the belief that it’s playing its best soccer of the season at the best time of the year. After a quick look at the numbers, it’s hard to argue against it.

Undefeated in their last nine and outscoring opponents 13-2 in that span, the Black and Gold are poised to put Saturday’s disappointing result behind them.

“Every game is a learning experience, so different things you can take from every game that can make us a better team,” Adewole said. “We’re constantly improving. We’re not the best team in the world, so there’s obviously room for improvement. We’re just going to keep getting better and better, learn from our mistakes and hopefully not let the past re-occur.”

The Hounds have earned four ties in their last 15 matches, and each time they’ve followed up the draw with a win.

“Bob Lilley breaks down the game for us,” Mertz said. “He has ideas on what could have changed the outcome on Saturday for us, and we’re just focusing on improving those things. If we can tighten those things up, we’re confident in our abilities to put together an overall good performance.”

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (17-4-11) heads to Missouri to take on Saint Louis FC (11-11-9) at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday at West Community Stadium. The two clubs met on April 20 and played to a 0-0 draw at Highmark Stadium. 

Defenders of the Arch

Saint Louis FC has dominated its home slate of games this season. The club has posted an 8-2-6 record at West Community Stadium. 

Offensive Depth

Both teams have four players that have scored five or more goals so far this season. Neco Brett and Steevan Dos Santos lead the Hounds in scoring, with 13 and nine goals, respectively. 

Kyle Greig and Sam Fink have posted a team-high seven goals for Saint Louis FC. Greig has also recorded four assists on the year, which marks the second most on the team.

Backline Brilliance

Pittsburgh and Saint Louis have played an impressive brand of soccer this season. Saint Louis has only allowed 35 goals in 2019, which is tied for seventh as the least amount of goals.

Pittsburgh has conceded just 30 tallies, tied for the third fewest in the league.

By the Numbers: 9

Riverhounds SC has not dropped a result in the last nine matches. The club has buried 13 goals over that stretch.

Playoff Picture

With 62 points, the Hounds currently hold the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Nashville SC is second in the table, one point behind the Black and Gold. Indy Eleven sits in third place, three points behind Riverhounds SC.

Saint Louis FC is still battling for a postseason position. The club is currently No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference, with a two-point lead  over Birmingham Legion FC.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (17-4-11) heads out on the road Saturday night to take on Saint Louis FC (11-11-9) at 8:30 p.m. at West Community Stadium in Fenton, Missouri. The squads played to a 0-0 draw in their most recent meeting at Highmark Stadium back on April 20.

The Season So Far

It’s been a bit of an up and down season in 2019 for Saint Louis, which is currently clinging to a playoff spot in ninth-place overall with 42 points. 

With a record of 0-2-1 in its last three matches, Saint Louis has been almost a different team at home, owning a remarkable 8-2-6 form at West Community Stadium compared to just 3-9-3 on the road. 

The team has struggled offensively at times this year, and currently ranks tied for 29th overall in the USL Championship in goals scored with 37 in 31 matches. They’ve scored two or more goals in a match just 10 times this season, and have been shut out 10 times on the year. 

Saint Louis will first play at Loudoun United FC on Wednesday before its matchup against the Hounds.

Players to Watch

Saint Louis is led by the striking duo of Kyle Greig and Sam Fink, who are tied for the team lead in goals with seven apiece, and have four players who have scored at least five goals so far this season. 

Midfielder Lewis Hilton ranks in the top 30 in the USL Championship in chances created at 50 on the year.  Hilton also leads the team in assists with five total, and has figured in on seven of Saint Louis’ 37 goals, nearly 19 percent of its total output.  

Goalkeeper Jake Fenlason is tied for 11th overall in clean sheets this season at 11. 

Strength: Defense

Saint Louis presents one of the tougher, more structured defenses Pittsburgh has played this season. They are tied for the seventh-fewest goals allowed this season, conceding 35 in 31 matches. Their 12 team clean sheets also ranks in the top 10 overall, tied for sixth place.

They’ve also held their opponents to one goal or fewer in 19 of 31 games this season.

They are also one of the most disciplined teams in the league, having been assessed just 48 yellow cards and three red cards on the year.

Weakness: Finishing 

Saint Louis ranks 25th overall in shots at 387 and 29th in goals scored at 37. 

Though they have solid depth and four players that have scored at least five goals, they lack a true game breaker on offense and currently do not have a single player with double-digit goals.

A lot has gone into Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s current eight-game unbeaten streak. 

A solid defense and spectacular play in net, which recently posted the USL Championship’s second-longest all-time shoutout streak at 698 minutes and leads the league in clean sheets at 15, has certainly been a significant factor in Pittsburgh’s current run up to first overall in the table. 

So too has been their incredible discipline. The Hounds rank 17th in fouls conceded at 384, and have been assessed the fewest yellow cards of anyone in the league with just 38 in 31 matches. 

However, perhaps nothing is more impressive than the incredible amount of offensive depth that the Hounds have at their disposal. 

Led by one of the most balanced attacks in the entire league, the Black and Gold have proven to be a handful to deal with for opposing defenses all season long. 

“It’s not like it is only me or Neco [Brett] who has to score goals, we have a lot of guys,” forward Steevan Dos Santos said. “We have Volesky with a couple goals and Robbie with a couple, Kevin, even Joe our center back has a couple goals. It’s good knowing that when you’re not scoring, someone else can score.”

So far this season, Pittsburgh has gotten goals from 12 different players The team currently boasts four players who have scored at least five times, second only to North Carolina and Ottawa who each have six. 

Furthermore, they have eight different players who have scored at least three markers on the year. Only New York Red Bulls II has more with nine total.

And while Brett is the only member of the squad to crack the double-digit goal threshold so far this season, their balanced and relentless attack has made them one of the hardest clubs to contain.

“We have multiple players who could come in and make a difference by scoring a goal,” midfielder Anthony Velarde said.  “I think we have key players on our team, but I don’t think we have one certain player who we have to go to and rely on so much. I think that just speaks to the team, we have a lot of depth and many players who can fill any position and know we can perform at a high level.” 

This depth of talent has given head coach Bob Lilley the flexibility to field any number of different offensive formations so far this season. At times, Dos Santos and Brett have played together in a striking duo, while on other occasions one has been a solo striker with the other hanging back in more of an attacking midfielder role. 

Surrounded by support from the likes of Velarde, Volesky, and Kevin Kerr in different spots, the Riverhounds can effectively mold their attack into whatever formation needed to break down opposing defenses. 

“Coach has the right tactics for the right game,” Velarde said.  “He’s very detailed in what he wants us to do every game, and credit to us as well that we’re able to perform and play those tactics that he wants us to use effectively.” 

It takes a full team effort to win at this level, and if Pittsburgh wants to keep its title hopes alive, it is going to need a full effort from all three thirds of the pitch in every match from here on out. 

And finding someone to step up offensively shouldn’t be much of a concern.

“This squad is very talented,” Dos Santos said.  “Coach has been rotating the guys through and we are still winning. That’s good because if you’ve been getting the most minutes, you know if you get a day off whoever steps in is going to do a good job as well.”

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (17-4-10) takes on Atlanta United 2 (8-16-7) at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Highmark Stadium. Saturday will be the second matchup between the two teams, as the Hounds grabbed a 5-0 road win in the first meeting.

Forbes in on Fire

Opposing teams haven’t been able to slow down Kenardo Forbes as of late. The reigning USL Championship Player of the week netted two goals in the club’s last home game against Indy Eleven, and recorded an assist earlier this week against Loudoun United FC.

Young Talent

Atlanta’s 19-year-old midfielder Bienvenue Kanakimana has a buried a team-high six goals through 14 appearances. Kanakimana has posted a 22 percent conversion rate on shots this season, with five of his six goals coming from inside the penalty area.

Midfielder Andrew Carleton and striker Jackson Conway are right behind Kanakimana with five goals each.

On the Rise?

Atlanta’s season as a whole has been a bumpy ride, but the club has found success in its recent games. While United 2 has only earned 31 points on the year, they are 3-0-2 in their last five outings. 

In that five game stretch, United 2 has buried 10 goals while allowing just five.

By the Numbers: 4

With his fourth goal of the season on Tuesday against Loudoun United FC, Joe Greenspan notched a new career high in tallies.

Playoff Picture

Now with 61 points, the Hounds stand at the top of the Eastern Conference leaderboard. Nashville SC is three points behind the Black and Gold, with New York Red Bulls II and the Tampa Bay Rowdies trailing by four points.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (17-4-10) battles Atlanta United 2 (8-16-7) at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Highmark Stadium. The two clubs first played on June 15, when the Hounds won 5-0.

The Season So Far

Although not eliminated, Atlanta currently does not hold a spot in the playoffs. The team is three spots below the playoff line.

Atlanta did not fare well in its first meeting with the Hounds, losing 5-0 on its home pitch. The team fell behind by three goals by the 13th minute and could not recover.

Currently, Atlanta holds a 3-0-2 record in its last five games.

Players To Watch

The player to keep eyes on during the game is Bienvenue Kanakimana. He has made 14 appearances this season and has scored six goals.

Dylan Castanheira, the goalkeeper for Atlanta, has 78 saves this season. This is the fourth-most saves in the Eastern Conference.

Strength: Passing Accuracy

Atlanta United 2 holds an 82 percent passing accuracy rate. This is the second best mark in the Eastern Conference. The team has made a total of 14,138 passes so far this season.

Weakness: Discipline

Atlanta has 79 yellow cards which is the most in the Eastern Conference. Laurence Wyke has accumulated 11 yellow cards this season.

Three points were earned and the top spot in the Eastern Conference claimed this past Tuesday at Segra Field, as Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (17-4-10) defeated Loudoun United FC (7-17-6), 2-1.

The Hounds fell behind 1-0, but it took them just 10 minutes to reclaim the lead. Here’s how the club took three points on the road.

57’ Neco Brett assisted by Anthony Velarde

From the middle third to the attacking third, Kenardo Forbes led the break.

When the midfielder approached the 18-yard box, Loudoun finally stopped his path, so Forbes (orange arrow) differed to an open Anthony Velarde (yellow arrow), who was positioned to his left.

While Velarde collects the ball, Neco Brett (green arrow) continues his run at the net. The rookie sees this and sends a ball across the box, which the striker hits home to knot the score at 1-1.

62’ Joe Greenspan assisted by Kenardo Forbes

Winning a corner kick in the 62nd minute, the Hounds would soon cash in and take the lead.

As Forbes sends a ball across the penalty box, he finds a large target. Unlike many times before when he’s used his head, this time 6-foot-6-inch Joe Greenspan (green arrow) shoots the ball into the back of the net using his left foot.

Permitting the center back to open up space is first a well-timed run that allows him to slip behind a Loudoun defender. As a result, he cleans up a missed block from goalkeeper Calle Brown for the match’s game-winning tally.

Tale of the Tape

When the Hounds fell behind 1-0 in the 52nd minute, head coach Bob Lilley elected to insert Forbes into the match. Being the team’s leader in assists and chances created for the season, it did not take long for the Kingston, Jamaica native to make his presence felt.

Forbes led the break for the squad’s equalizer and later assisted Greenspan off a corner kick. Both of these plays occurred in just nine minutes of Forbes stepping foot onto the pitch.

On the defensive end, Pittsburgh shut down the Loudoun attack. The USL Championship newcomer had only one shot on target, which came on its goal from Kyle Murphy in the 52nd minute. Besides this take, Loudoun could not fire a shot on frame. This also was the team’s lone shot from inside of the penalty box for the match.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (16-4-10) head to Leesburg, Virginia this Tuesday evening for a clash with Loudoun United FC (7-16-6) at Segra Field. As the Hounds ramp up for the final stretch of the regular season, here are a few things to keep in mind ahead of Tuesday’s match. 

Shutout Streak 

Riverhounds SC is undefeated in its last seven matches, thanks in large part to some tough defensive play and outstanding goalkeeping that has not surrendered a goal against since the 74th minute against North Carolina FC back on Aug. 17.

The current shutout streak of 646 minutes is the longest scoreless stretch for the club in its history. Keeper Kyle Morton has earned six of his 11 clean sheets this season during the current unbeaten streak, turning aside all 14 shots on target he has faced in that stretch.  

Austin Pack has also contributed to the streak, posting a two-save shutout against Memphis on Sept. 24.

The Black and Gold are 5-0-2 and have outscored their opponents 10-0 during this current shutout streak.

Playoff Seeding 

After earning a 3-0 win over Indy Eleven Saturday at Highmark Stadium, Riverhounds SC shot up to second place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings with 58 points. Despite having an identical number of points as Nashville SC, the foe owns the tiebreaker and first place by virtue of having one more win than the Hounds.  

Nevertheless, Pittsburgh still has a conceivable path to earning the No. 1 overall seed, as it currently has a game in hand over every other team in the top four. Additionally, sixth-place Louisville City FC is the only other club in a playoff position that is unbeaten in their last five, as Pittsburgh appears to be firing on all cylinders at the perfect time.

With the top four seeds all earning homefield advantage for the first round, the Hounds have an excellent opportunity to take their unbeatable form at Highmark Stadium into the postseason. However, with just two points separating the top-five teams in the table, nothing is guaranteed yet.

Explosive Offense

Following Saturday’s win over Indy, the Riverhounds have now scored three or more goals in a match nine times this season, an improvement from last season’s total of five and triple 2017’s total of just three.

In the USL Championship, the Hounds are tied for 11th in total goals scored this season with 53, just one off from the four teams tied for seventh overall with 54 goals.

And while Neco Brett is the only Hound in the top 30 of the USL Championship individual goal-scorers, Pittsburgh boasts one of the most balanced attacks in the league.

The Black and Gold have gotten goals from 11 different players this season, led by Brett with 11. Four players have scored at least five goals, and eight players have scored at least three times. Steevan Dos Santos places second on the club with nine, while Robbie Mertz rounds out the top three with six.

At this point in the season, there are few surprises left for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC when it comes to its opponents. 

With five matches left in the regular season, the Black and Gold have already played every opponent left on their schedule at least once, including Saturday’s matchup against Indy Eleven. 

The Hounds are 1-1 this season against Indy, including a 2-1 loss at Lucas Oil Stadium back on June 1 in their most recent matchup.  That familiarity will go a long way in helping the squad prepare for its third matchup of the season come Saturday. 

“We’ve played twice against them already, both games were really hot,” midfielder Thomas Vancaeyezeele said. “They have a lot of team experience and they’re really strong as well, so that’s not going to be easy and we already know that.”

And while the teams are more than familiar with each other at this point, Saturday’s matchup at Highmark Stadium figures to be anything but predictable. 

Although the two squads faced off twice in the span of three days back in late May and early June, there have been significant changes to both clubs since then, including new additions in player personnel as well as a recent run of hot play from the Black and Gold that has helped catapult them to within two points of first place in the table after a middling start to the season.

“The higher you finish the more home games you get, so we try to finish first,” midfielder Kenardo Forbes said.  “After a slow start, we have a chance to finish first, so we’re going for that, and I think that’s the goal for the whole team.”

The potential to clinch home field advantage for the playoffs looms even larger for the Hounds this season.  

Pittsburgh has been literally unbeatable at Highmark Stadium, owning a 23-game regular-season unbeaten streak at home going back to the 2018 campaign, and is unbeaten in its last six. Indy, on the other hand, is looking to end a two-game skid.

Despite this incredible form, the Hounds know that records mean little once the game begins.  

“We can’t use that for anything,” Forbes said.  “Maybe they’re in a bad spot right now, but it’s a big game. I know they have experienced guys, a lot of guys who have been around the league. They know it’s a big game for them too, and it’s a big game for us. Whatever the past six games for us or two for them, it doesn’t matter. We just have to go out there and do the business on Saturday.”

As the season winds down into the final stretch, teams are clawing for top seeding, desperate to secure a better spot in the few games that remain. 

So while the familiarity of the two squads will probably not present any major tactical surprises, the emotion and intensity of Saturday’s matchup will certainly have a different feel to it, a playoff feel.

Coming away with a “W” will come down to whom does more with that energy.

“I don’t think there’s any surprises left at this point,” Vancaeyezeele said.  “Those two games we played them were a while ago, back in early June so that was a while ago. They have new players, and I feel like the emotion and everything is different. Now we’re rolling. We’ve been winning games and they’ve lost twice, so the mentality is going to be a bit different. We’re really close to them [in the standings] and there’s that first spot at the finish line, so there’s going to be a different pressure and intensity.”

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (15-4-10) sets up shop along the Monongahela River for a showdown with Indy Eleven (17-7-5) at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Highmark Stadium.

This marks the third meeting between the clubs this season. The Riverhounds defeated the Eleven 1-0 in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play on May 29 at Highmark Stadium whereas Indy bested the Black and Gold, 2-1, on June 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in league play.

Sore Legs

Neither team will have the luxury of rest as both Pittsburgh and Indy dueled in midweek showdowns prior to this Saturday’s meeting. The Hounds defeated Memphis 901 FC, 1-0, Tuesday night on a lone goal from defender Joe Greenspan. On the other hand, the Eleven dropped their match against Atlanta United 2, 2-1, Wednesday night in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Tight Race to the Finish

Currently, one point separates five teams at the top of the table in the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings. The Riverhounds sit fifth place in the rankings, one spot out of a home playoff match in the playoffs. Indy Eleven currently reside second in the standings, a prime position for the club to make a considerable push for the title. This matchup will play a key part in determining the final standings in the Eastern Conference.

Control Pasher

Midfielder Tyler Pasher leads Indy Eleven with 10 goals in league play, including one goal scored against the Riverhounds in May. Pasher’s presence on the attack will be a significant focus for Pittsburgh defenders.

By the Numbers: 6

The Hounds collected a team-record six consecutive clean sheets after Tuesday’s victory in Memphis. Sensational goalkeeping from Kyle Morton and Austin Pack contributed to the Hounds’ success this season, collecting 12 clean sheets between the two keepers.

Key to Victory: Home Sweet Home

It has been a long time since the Riverhounds dropped a match at Highmark Stadium, a 23-game consecutive streak in regular season play dating back to the 2018 campaign. Highmark Stadium is a difficult venue to succeed in, as most of the Eastern Conference has been a victim to this vicious trend. The Hounds will need to use the home environment to their advantage.