The Howler

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (6-3-8) looks to get back in the win column this weekend, hosting North Carolina FC (8-3-7) at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Highmark Stadium. The match will be the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. 

Tired Legs

North Carolina FC will play two games this week. The club hosts Loudon United FC at 7 p.m. on Wednesday before heading to Pittsburgh for Saturday’s contest. With the quick turnaround it is likely that North Carolina will have to alter its usual starting lineup, or put fatigued players on the pitch against the Black and Gold.

Terrific Tambakis

Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis has recorded an Eastern Conference leading 52 saves for North Carolina this season. The 26-year-old has also recorded five clean sheets so far. North Carolina has put together a pretty impressive 2019 campaign thus far, and Tambakis’ remarkable save percentage (.800) has a lot to do with that success. 

Highmark Stadium Heroics

The Hounds are unbeaten at home this season, carrying a 4-0-5 home record at Highmark Stadium heading into Saturday. North Carolina has had trouble on the road at times this season, and that combined with the Black and Gold’s ability to defend home turf might put them at a disadvantage. 

By the Numbers: 29

With 29 career league goals in the Black and Gold, Kevin Kerr is just one tally short of tying Thiago Martins for the second-most career league goals in club history. Kerr notched his fifth goal of the season last weekend on a penalty kick attempt. 

Key to Victory: Shot Volume

North Carolina’s defense does not provide their opposition with a lot of offensive opportunities. The club has only allowed a total of 15 goals, the third fewest in the Eastern Conference. With that being said, it’s crucial that the Black and Gold can come out firing on Saturday night. North Carolina shuts down the vast majority of the opportunities that other teams earn, so the Hounds will likely need to rattle off a ton of shots to grab a victory.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (6-3-8) hosts southern foe North Carolina FC (8-3-7) at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Highmark Stadium. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

The Season So Far

North Carolina FC has been one of the most successful teams in the USL Championship Eastern Conference this season, currently positioned in fourth place coming into this weekend’s match. NCFC came into the season securing points in five of its first six matches, catapulting them near the top of the table. Before its lost to Birmingham Legion FC last Saturday night, North Carolina FC had recorded points in its last eight matches, including a win over Eastern Conference leader Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The club will first play Loudoun United FC on Wednesday before capping off a two-game week against the Hounds on Saturday.

Players to Watch

Forward Marios Lomis will be a threat for the Hounds’ defense as he has collected the most goals this season for NCFC with six, but more impressively two of those goals have been strikes from outside the 18-yard box.

Production has not just been from the forwards for North Carolina FC. Midfielder Steven Miller leads the team in shots and shots on target with 38 and 21, respectively. Miller is also second on NCFC with five total goals, so look for his play on Saturday night.

Goalkeeping has been a major attribute for North Carolina FC this season. With a save percentage of .800, goalkeeper Alex Tambakis has only allowed 13 goals this entire season.

Strength: Goals Conceded

North Carolina FC has been extremely successful this season in keeping opponents off the scoreboard. NCFC is only averaging 0.8 goals given up this season in part to stellar goalkeeping and stringent defenders on the backline.

Weakness: On the Road Again

One weakness this season for NCFC has been its troubles on the road. Of its three losses this season, all three have been away from its home pitch in Cary, North Carolina. Furthermore, the Hounds have yet to lose a match at home this season, posting a record of 4-0-5.

Kevin Kerr’s penalty kick blast in Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s (6-3-8) 1-1 tie against the Tampa Bay Rowdies (11-1-7) propelled him further up the all-time goals charts. Now in all competitions, the midfielder ranks No. 2, breaking a tie previously held with Thiago Martins. Here is how the longest-tenured Hound posted his 32nd goal in Black and Gold.

52’ Kevin Kerr (penalty)

Before Kerr potted home the penalty kick, the Hounds flipped the field in the blink of an eye. 

Sitting inside of Pittsburgh’s defensive third, Ryan James (orange arrow) booted a ball upfield toward the team’s frontline. Striker Steevan Dos Santos (yellow arrow) makes an effort to just get his head on the sphere, pushing it between a couple of Rowdies defenders. The rest is left to Neco Brett (green arrow), who showcases his speed to track the ball in behind the Tampa Bay backline.

As Tampa Bay cannot recover, it forces a foul inside of the penalty area. Following suit, Kerr elected to beat Rowdies goalkeeper John McCarthy to the right side of the goal, which gave the Hounds a 1-0 lead at the time.

Tale of the Tape

The Hounds and Rowdies played an even match across the board. Pittsburgh held slight advantages in shots (8-to-6), shots on goal (5-to-3) and possession (53-to-47 percent).

In the 84th minute, Tampa Bay broke through onto the scoresheet with a goal from second-half substitute Lucky Mkosana. His right-footed shot from in close ultimately brought the score to its 1-1 result.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (6-3-7) will take on a challenging foe in the Tampa Bay Rowdies (11-1-6) at 7 p.m. this upcoming Saturday at Highmark Stadium. The Riverhounds lost their first matchup against Tampa Bay earlier this season, 2-0, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Coming off their first loss in league play since June 1, the Hounds will look to rebound.

Climbing in the Standings

The Riverhounds have climbed into the eighth position in the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings since their recent winning streak began back in June. After the quick turnaround from the Fourth of July matchup against Bethlehem, the Hounds were defeated by Charlotte, 1-0, on Sunday. Pittsburgh will need to protect its home field to continue the assent up the standings with a full week’s rest.

Net Protection

Both keepers for Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay have been stellar in recent play for their respective clubs. Tampa Bay’s goalkeeper John McCarthy has only allowed 10 total goals this season, with a save percentage of .811 percent. For Pittsburgh, Kyle Morton has turned his season around, allowing just one goal in his last four starts. Look for the performance of these two probable starters to be a key for both teams’ success.

Some Record Has to Give

The Rowdies have yet to lose on the road in USL Championship league play this season with a combined record of 6-0-2. However, Pittsburgh has yet to lose at home in USL Championship league play this season with a combined record of 4-0-4. Unless the match ends in a draw, one team will have a one in the loss category.

Refinding the Scoresheet

With the Riverhounds’ recent winning streak, scoring was at a premium for the boys in Black and Gold. During the recent four-game winning stretch, Pittsburgh had 13 total goals. However, since entering July, Pittsburgh has only scored one goal in two matches this month. Look for Pittsburgh to return to its scoring ways if they seek to be successful against Tampa Bay.

By the Numbers: 7

This marks the seventh all-time matchup between the Riverhounds and Rowdies. Tampa Bay was not a part of the USL Championship until 2017, when it made the jump from the North American Soccer League. The Rowdies will be looking for their first-ever victory against Pittsburgh in the Steel City.

Key to Victory: Production in Front

Tampa Bay is averaging 0.6 goals allowed per game this season, one of the lowest marks in the entire league. On the other hand, 24 of 28 Riverhounds’ goals scored this season have come within the 18-yard box. Pittsburgh will need to create traffic in front to execute on scoring opportunities against the Rowdies.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (6-3-7) is set to host a tough test against the first-place Tampa Bay Rowdies (11-1-6) at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Highmark Stadium. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.

The Season So Far

Tampa Bay arguably has been the most dominant team in the USL Championship this season, collecting 39 total points and securing points in 17 of 18 games. The Rowdies are currently on a three-game winning streak, defeating Swope Park Rangers, 3-1, in their previous matchup last Sunday in Kansas City, Kansas. The Rowdies defeated the Riverhounds, 2-0, in Pittsburgh’s season opener earlier this season.

Players to Watch

Forward Sebastián Guenzatti has been a force this season for the Rowdies. Guenzatti leads Tampa Bay with 10 goals, 37 shots and 30 chances created, outpacing his fellow Tampa Bay teammates by a significant gap.

Tampa Bay goalkeeper John McCarthy success in net has been in tangible in the Rowdies’ success. McCarthy has collected 43 saves in 17 appearances this season, while maintaining a save success rate of 81.1 percent in net.

Also, look for Tampa Bay’s Andrew Tinari and Leo Fernandes to be key contributors to the attack. Both players are tied for the team lead with four assists this season. Look for Pittsburgh defenders to attempt to stop crosses into the box from these two Tampa Bay players.

Strength: Clean Sheets

The Rowdies are currently tied for the USL Championship lead with nine clean sheets this season. The clean sheets can be attributed to the success of McCarthy in net, as he has only allowed 10 goals this season. Pittsburgh forwards and midfielders could have a tough time placing one past McCarthy in net Saturday night.

Weakness: Road Woes

The Rowdies may currently have the best record in all of the USL Championship, however they have never won a match along “The Mon.” All-time, Tampa Bay holds a record of 0-2-1 at Highmark Stadium.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (6-2-7) will look to earn its fifth straight victory, playing the Charlotte Independence (3-7-8) at 7 p.m. this Sunday at Sportsplex at Matthews. This will be their second meeting this season. The clubs earlier played to a 0-0 result on May 25 at Highmark Stadium.

The Win Column 

Since tying seven of their first 11 games, the Hounds have outscored the opposition 13-1 in their past four matches, posting four wins as a result. Climbing up to eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, the team now has its eyes on a top-five position.

Staying Clean

Goalkeeper Kyle Morton has come on strong for the Hounds. Over the course of the team’s four-game winning streak, he has started all four matches and posted three clean sheets. Look for Morton to continue to play a key role in the team’s defensive success.

Round Two 

This will be the Hounds’ second chance to crack the Independence. Historically, the squad has not fared well against the Eastern Conference foe, logging a 0-5-5 all-time record against Charlotte. The Black and Gold has been hot, and will look to use that to its advantage on Sunday.

By the Numbers: 22

The Hounds have the highest conversion rate in the Eastern Conference at 22 percent.

Key to Victory: Team Effort

Many contributors have propelled Pittsburgh to its recent success. From lockdown defensive performances to offensive outbursts, the club has shown multiple ways it can come away with three points. This will be something that will be key to the Hounds’ success moving forward.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (6-2-7) will battle the Charlotte Independence (3-7-8) at 7 p.m. on Sunday at Sportsplex at Matthews. The match can be streamed live on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.

The Season So Far

After a rough start, Charlotte has built momentum as of late. The squad is unbeaten in its last five games (2-0-3). At home this year, the club holds a 3-4-1 record.

This is the second time Pittsburgh will play Charlotte this season. The teams tied their first meeting, 0-0, on May 25 at Highmark Stadium.

Players To Watch

Dominic Oduro is the Independence’s main offensive threat. He leads the club with six goals. The player with the next most goals is Jorge Herrera and he has four tallies.

Strength: Shot totals

Charlotte ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 220 total shots.

Weakness: Fouling

Charlotte has the seventh-most fouls (210) in the Eastern Conference.

On a night capped with an array of fireworks over Highmark Stadium, it was a SportsCenter Top 10 worthy burst from Kenardo Forbes that propelled Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (6-2-7) to a 1-0 win against Bethlehem Steel FC (5-9-4) on Thursday at the venue.

The shot that earned the midfielder a spot on ESPN’s renown countdown (No. 10) came from just outside of the penalty area in the 57th minute. The Hounds were awarded a free kick following a Bethlehem foul, and the rest was left in Forbes’ right foot.

“In the first half, I crossed the first one and tricked the goalkeeper,” Forbes said. “He was looking for the cross, and I just surprised him.”

The Kingston, Jamaica native elected for the shot on net and tucked it just inside the crossbar, ultimately putting Bethlehem to bed. The take was as accurate as they come. And the celebration afterward was a lucid display of many colors.

“That is a celebration,” Forbes said. “That was a celebration. As soon as I hit it, I knew it was in.”

To pair with Forbes’ game-winning goal, the Hounds played lockdown defense for the entire match. The backline held Steel FC without a shot on target and just five total shots over the 90 minutes.

Next up for Pittsburgh is a match at the Charlotte Independence (3-7-8), taking place at 7 p.m. on Sunday at Sportsplex at Matthews. The Hounds are riding a four-game winning streak into this weekend’s road showdown.

“It is a great feeling,” Forbes said. “Three games at home, and won all three games. The guys are confident going into Charlotte. I hope we can keep it going on the road.”

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.”