FINAL – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 0, Charlotte Independence 0
Recap
After more than an hour weather delay, then losing one of its top defenders for being sent off in the 36th minute, the Riverhounds SC pushed relentlessly for a go-ahead goal, but ultimately settled for a scoreless draw against Charlotte Independence at Highmark Stadium on Saturday.
The first 24 minutes played out with Pittsburgh dominating in most areas. The Hounds out-possessed the Independence 59%-41%, posted 4-0 (1-0 on target) shots and 7-0 crosses advantages, and were knocking on the door numerous times.
Then the sky darkened, lightning struck and then the hard rain followed. The teams would have to sit through a one-hour and twenty five minute weather delay. For the Hounds, it was the second consecutive week they’ve sat through a long delay.
This time around, they actually completed a match that didn’t go according to plan for the Hounds.
“It’s a credit to the players, they were very good at the beginning of the game. We try to stay prepared in these delays, we had Memphis and never had a chance to go back,” Bob Lilley, Riverhounds head coach, said. “Typically that’s the mentality you want from your players.”
LIlley came out with a familiar formation (5-4-1), but always looking to come up with tactical adjustments, tweaked things a bit. He moved Greenspan into the middle of the back line, with Thomas Vancaeyezeele to his right, and Tobi Adewole to his left.
“In wide areas, they are much more explosive in one-v-one areas. Very good servers of the ball, to keep Joe a little more central for those header moments, although they didn’t generate a lot today. Also, to cover out flank areas, that’s a little bit more Thomas’ and Tobi’s alley,” Lilley explained after the match.
Ten minutes after the match resumed, Hounds center back Joe Greenspan was sent off in the 36th minute after a second yellow card, when he slipped at midfield — then had an intentional handball to prevent a Charlotte breakaway.
Here's another look at sequence that led to Greenspan's second yellow card#PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/z460Qc8g3z
— John Krysinsky (@PghSoccerScribe) May 26, 2019
A closer look at the game’s final result, conventional wisdom might be that the Hounds would have been content to sit back after Greenspan was sent off.
“It is not easy when you go a man down especially when it is Joe. He is so keen on the backline,” Vancaeyezeele said “I feel like the energy of the team went up and stayed focused on the ball. We had a lot of energy because we were pressing super high. I felt like we didn’t feel like we were a man down. We had a lot of chances and opportunities to score. I think we should have won the game. I think it is still a decent result to tie the game.”
To Vancaeyezeele’s point, the Hounds brought continued pressure, ending the match with significant edges in crosses (17-7), corners (11-3) and shots (15-6, 3-1 on target).
Post match with @RiverhoundsSC Thomas Vancaeyezeele on what it was like playing a man down…
#PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/fUwbBvijV2
— John Krysinsky (@PghSoccerScribe) May 26, 2019
Kenardo Forbes dropped deeper, and for stretches, dropped into the middle of the back line, while the Hounds asked three midfielders to cover a lot of space.
But the veteran midfielder, along with Kevin Kerr and Robbie Mertz, were instrumental in keeping numerous possessions going.
“We asked the midfielders to cover a lot of ground — and to their credit — they kept playing hard, kept possessions and were on the front foot,” Lilley said,as the Hounds morphed into a proactive 5-3-1 for the remainder of the match.
The hosts continued to push the envelope despite playing a man down as efforts by Forbes (a few dangerous free kicks including one in the 48th minute that nearly went in) and substitute Steevan Dos Santos were both saved by the 18-year-old Charlotte keeper Curtis Anderson, who kept his first clean sheet of the season in the draw.
As the match approached the 90th minute, outside back Jordan Dover took a boot in the head from Charlotte’s forward Niki Jackson. Dover remained on the ground as he needed medical attention, and eventually came off the field on his own, but was walking gingerly. Uchenna Uzo replaced Dover.
In the closing seconds of stoppage time, the Hounds earned a corner kick opportunity. Robbie Mertz took the honors, but lofted a ball just over the head of Ryan James and it sailed out of play right before the final whistle.
It was the Riverhounds SC’s (2-1-6, 12 points) sixth draw of the season.
When asked in the post-game meet-up with the media, if he would look at this as a moral victory for the Hounds, Lilley elaborated on his team’s valiant effort, but didn’t mince his words.
“I think they’ll probably be disappointed. I’m only disappointed because I thought we did enough that we could have won tonight. I’m certainly not disappointed in how we played or the effort of the guys,” Lilley added. “It’s not morals, it’s progress.”
Riverhounds SC takes on Indy Eleven in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Highmark Stadium.
Look for more post-game analysis, player grades and more on Sunday and Monday here on Pittsburgh Soccer Now.
FULL TIME: 0-0 | #PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/qEOCoegh8f
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) May 26, 2019
Gameday Updates
10:08 – FINAL – 0-0
10:05 – four minutes of stoppage time added.
10:05 – Charlotte’s Niki Jackson issued a yellow card for the knock to Dover, who’s coming off the field but looks pretty groggy. Uchenna Uzo is going to come in for Dover. 90′
10:01 – Jordan Dover defending in box takes a kick to head and is down. Training staff rushes out to the field immediately.
9:57 – 85′ – Vancaeyezeele feeds Dos Santos to the right side of box — and the big guy fires a rocket but Anderson with the save!!
9:54 – 81′ –
9:49 – 76′ – Pittsburgh subs:
Anthony Velarde and Steevan Dos Santos IN
Kevin Kerr and Neco Brett OUT
9:46 – 73′ – Charlotte sub: Jorge Herrera IN. Zyen Jones OUT
9:44 – Martinez gets a clear opening from 30 yds — and sends it right at Pack. Save for the Hounds keeper. 70′
9:44 -All that energy Hounds had in first 10 mins of 2nd half has dissipated a bit. They’ve been sitting back a bit more.
9:39 – 66′ – Hounds Ryan James comes up awfully high to try to win ball just on edge of box, and now Charlotte with free kick from 20 yards…
9:35 – Joel Johnson with prime chance on edge of box with all kinds of time and room for Charlotte but tries to get fancy, and chip it over Pack, but it goes over bar.
9:32 – another pair of corners for Pittsburgh — but again ending with Ryan James shot over bar that was deflected. Third corner cleared away.
9:29 – another free kick — Forbes finds Adewole but header goes wide.
9:24 – Hounds with pair of corners — bringing everyone — but to no avail.
9:22 – Free kick for Forbes afte Brett is fouled about 23 yards out.
And it’s saved by Curtis Anderson!
9:19 – second half has started
9:19 – Key Halftime stats:
A look at the first half. #PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/HbDjDWj0bW
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) May 26, 2019
9:02 – HALFTIME – remains scoreless.
8:54 – after Charlotte free kick blocked, Hounds get into box — Dover this time shot completely off target.
Here's another look at sequence that led to Greenspan's second yellow card#PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/z460Qc8g3z
— John Krysinsky (@PghSoccerScribe) May 26, 2019
8:52 – YELLOW CARD – Greenspan booked again!!!
Double yellow — that means he’s being sent off. He slipped at midfield — then handball to prevent attacker from getting solid touch.
now playing down a man 37′ 0-0
8:43 – YELLOW CARD – Joe Greenspan
The Hounds big center back knocks Enzo Martinez to the ground after the midfielder makes a quick move after receiving ball.
8:39 – Play has resumed!
8:33 – the game is set to resume at 8:39 p.m. (in the 24th minute of the match)
8:25 –
And the players are back on the field…#PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/6Ozsi6JdH5
— John Krysinsky (@PghSoccerScribe) May 26, 2019
8:15 – announcement that players will be back on field at 8:22, and fans permitted to return to seats then too.
8:09 – still under delay, but skies are clearing.
7:39 – some key stats thus far after 24 minutes as I am sure you can tell which has been the better team.
- Possession: PGH (59%) / CLT (41%)
- Shots: PGH 4-0, 1-0 on target
- Passing Accuracy: PGH 76%, CLT 67%
- Crosses 7-0
7:33 – WEATHER DELAY! 24′
DELAY — We made it 24 minutes with lightning visible in the distance, but referee Alejandro Mariscal finally saw something that made him say enough and order everyone back to the locker rooms.@RiverhoundsSC 0, @Independence 0. #PITvCLT @USLChampionship
— Matt Grubba (@Matt_Grubba) May 25, 2019
7:27 – quick restart by Forbes leads to Dover getting forward and into box, but cross attempt blocked. Sets up second Hounds corner which was cleared away by former Hound Hugh Roberts
7:22 – another decent build-up — Forbes stopped as he gets into box but ball comes out to Dover who sends rolling shot just wide of right post. 14′
7:16 – Hounds with lot of patience, knocking it around, then Kerr and Forbes play it back and forth and Kerr leads Volesky with nice ball but it deflects off heel of defender 9′
7:10 – Interesting adjustment to Hounds back line tonight. Joe Greenspan anchoring in the middle with Adewole to left, and Vancaeyezeele on right.
7:08 pm – game has kicked off
6:56 pm – Bit cloudy in distance, but looks like storms are holding off, for now.
6:30 pm
RIVERHOUNDS SC STARTING IX
GK – Austin Pack
D – Joe Greenspan, Tobi Adewole, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Jordan Dover, Ryan James
MF – Kevin Kerr, Kenardo Forbes, Robbie Mertz, Neco Brett
F – Christian Volesky
Available reserves:
Kyle Morton (G), Unchenna Uzo, Dani Rovira, Sammy Kahsai, Anthony Velarde, Noah Franke, Steevan Dos Santos
Starting line-ups will be posted here at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Charlotte’s Starting XI
GK – Curtis Anderson
D – Hugh Roberts, Steven Trirot, Andrew Gutman, Aaron Macind,
MF – Maria Michel, Enzo Martinez, Joel Johnson, Afrim Taku,
F – Dom Oduro, Zyen Jones
Available reserves:
GK – Brandon Miller, Najam Hassan, Jake Areman, Kevan George, Abdoule Mansally, Niki Jackson, Jorge Herrera
Soccer Scribe’s projected Hounds Starting XI:
GK – Austin Pack
D – Joe Greenspan, Tobi Adewole, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Jordan Dover, Ryan James
MF – Kevin Kerr, Kenardo Forbes, Robbie Mertz, Christian Volesky
F – Steevan Dos Santos
Hounds Injury Report
- Mouhamed Dabo – Out (hamstring)
- Prosper Figbe – Out (knee)
- Ben Lundgaard – Questionable (back)
- Caleb Smith – Out (groin)
Soccer Rabbi’s Game Preview and Charlotte Scouting Report
Game Details:
Saturday, May 25 | 7 p.m.
Highmark Stadium
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Statistics: USL Championship Match Center
Live Updates: Twitter at @pghsoccerscribe and #PITvCLT
Riverhounds SC Media Game Notes
Riverhounds coverage this week on PSN
Hugh Roberts excited to return to Pittsburgh to battle with former teammates
New abandoned match rules worked against Hounds on Saturday in Memphis
More on PITvCLT
#HoundsTV talked to Christian Volesky and @TobiAdewole95 about the Charlotte Independence coming to town this weekend. #UNLEASH #PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/roE8UHkY9z
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) May 21, 2019
Rise and shine! It's a game day and @justashcraft caught up with the @TalkinJacks crew to preview this evening's @RiverhoundsSC and @Independence matchup! Get ready, go listen! #PITvCLThttps://t.co/nkyCw9EC7O pic.twitter.com/f9GWvn71fl
— Mon Goals (@mongoals) May 25, 2019