FINAL: Riverhounds SC 3, Phoenix Rising FC 1
Match Stats: USL Championship Match Center
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC finally found their scoring rhythm in earning their first win of the season, by defeating the defending USL Champions, Phoenix Rising FC, 3-1, at Rising Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona late Saturday.
The Hounds saw goals from three forwards, with Kazaiah Sterling giving the Hounds the lead in the first half, then Edward Kizza and Babacar Diene answered with second half tallies which pushed Pittsburgh past Phoenix, despite being on the short end of possession (60/40) and shots (19-10) totals. Kizza and Junior Etou also added assists, as the Hounds tripled their goal output from the first five matches.
Phoenix was on the front foot for large stretches, but the Hounds were more efficient — for the first time all season where it mattered most — in the final third. Pittsburgh made the most of 10 shot attempts, with five on frame and three in the back of the net, while Phoenix landed four shots on frame.
Though they were under heavy pressure for the first 25 minutes, the Hounds took the lead when Kazaiah Sterling scored his first goal with Pittsburgh in the 26th minute, after receiving a clever backheel pass from Kizza.
Welcome to Pittsburgh, @ksterling_98!
The former @USLLeagueOne standout bags his first goal for @RiverhoundsSC 🐾 pic.twitter.com/wwIeB92TaZ
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) April 21, 2024
Only moments after taking their first lead of the season, the Hounds gave one back. Phoenix’s Rémi Cabral hit a left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom left corner, following an assist from Pape Boye.
Early in the second half, with the teams deadlocked at 1-1, Sterling nearly got the lead back, after Pape Boye was called for a handball in the box while extending his elbow to make himself bigger to deny Junior Etou’s shot attempt. This resulted in a penalty call in favor of Pittsburgh. However, the former Tottenham Hotspur tried to get cute with his PK attempt, with a long run-up, then delayed shot which sailed over the right corner.
Pittsburgh continued to press forward into spaces when the opportunities presented — with the next solid chance coming in the 62nd minute, as Kizza put the Hounds in front with a quick reaction to ball played over his way on the far post side, thanks to sharp, low pass across the box from Junior Etou.
Created the 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 goal and scores the 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 💰@edwardk_19 puts @RiverhoundsSC in front! pic.twitter.com/HzXQ3qHjuu
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) April 21, 2024
The Hounds grew more confident as the match evolved, keeping Phoenix attack in check, while still pushing for a goal that would put the match away.
That goal would come in the 89th minute, when sub Babacar Diene capitalized on another build-up that started on the left side, once again from Etou, who sent a ball into the box that forced an attempted clearance, but Diene was the man on the spot, and converted on a close range chance.
Put a bow on this one! 🎁
Former @USLLeagueTwo forward Babacar Diene's first pro goal has locked up the points for @RiverhoundsSC 🔒 pic.twitter.com/jjg1w9Orcw
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) April 21, 2024
For Pittsburgh (1-3-2, 5 points) it was their first win in Pacific or Mountain time zone since 2021, as they were on a streak of 10 straight Western trip matches without a win.
The Hounds return home next Saturday, when they face the only team in USL Championship, that picked up all three points at home on Saturday, Detroit City FC, in what will be a rematch of the USL Championship Eastern Conference Quarterfinal playoff, where the Hounds were eliminated, 1-0, from the 2023 USL Cup Playoff tournament.
FULL HIGHLIGHTS:
Kazaiah Sterling, Edward Kizza and Babacar Diene each found the back of the net to give @RiverhoundsSC three points in Phoenix 📹
📊 https://t.co/PBwjUk623s pic.twitter.com/Cn6Cr7J23u
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) April 21, 2024
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Match Updates
Follow along here for the latest from Phoenix…
FINAL — PITTSBURGH 3, PHOENIX 1
FINAL@RiverhoundsSC 3@PHXRisingFC 1
First win of season for Hounds, who looked better as match evolved
Goals finally came from 3 difference scorers thanks to some solid build-up & execution in final third on 'big chances'
⚽️Sterling 26',⚽️Kizza 58', Diene '89@pghsoccernow
— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) April 21, 2024
A phenomenal time for the Hounds to piece things together. Three goals, solid defense, and they come home from Phoenix with the first win of the year. Onwards and upwards!#HOUNDTAHN | @pghsoccernow
— Colton Coreschi (@cjcoreschi) April 21, 2024
89′ — GOAL — PITTSBURGH — Babacar Diene
Babacar Diene buries his first goal as a Hound! Nice work from Junior Etou on width to get into box. Hounds go up 3-1 on defending league champs on road.
Goal Hounds! The floodgates are open and it's resulted in three tonight and will mean three points for the first time this year! Diene gets his first of the season!#HOUNDTAHN | @pghsoccernow
— Colton Coreschi (@cjcoreschi) April 21, 2024
88′ – Hounds SUBS
Aidan O’Toole replaces Bradley Sample
84′ — PHX Goal waved off — after hard collision — loose ball is put through — but foul called on Rémi Cabral
74′ — Hounds SUBS
- IN: Forbes, Blackstock, Diene
- OUT: Sterling, Mertz, Suber
67′ — SUB – PHX — Panos Armenakas replaces Federico Varela.
63′ — PITTSBURGH GOAL! 2-1 HOUNDS LEAD
Created the 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 goal and scores the 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 💰@edwardk_19 puts @RiverhoundsSC in front! pic.twitter.com/HzXQ3qHjuu
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) April 21, 2024
Edward Kizza with his second of the season Junior Etou sends short ball across box — and Kizza with clever quick redirect to give Hounds 2-1 lead.
And the Hounds, despite the ref's best efforts, get their second goal! A clever ball into the box finds Etou, who plays it horizontally across goal to Kizza, who finishes it easily! 2-1 Hounds!#HOUNDTAHN | @pghsoccernow
— Colton Coreschi (@cjcoreschi) April 21, 2024
58′ — Nice build up from Hounds — Kizza with nice ball wide to Sterling. Looking for goal number two — Sterling moves into box and unleashes low turf burner that forces save.
55′ — Couple chances for PHX — First Hernandez with golden chance, but misses. THen after Luke Biasi foul on Gallardo — PHX short free kick from right edge of box ends up with Gallardo with ball at near post but one-time effort goes over bar as Hounds scramble to cover post line.
48′ — Good start to half for Hounds ends up earning a PENALTY KICK thanks to a handball from Moye on a Junior Etou shot deflection.
However — Hounds miss penalty from Kazaiah Sterling — who does the long run up — and tries to get cute with pause and bending shot to top right but it goes over!
Additionally, if I'm Bob, Sterling is off penalty duty until he gets that nonsense take out of his repertoire. That's simply an unacceptable take.#HOUNDTAHN | @pghsoccernow
— Colton Coreschi (@cjcoreschi) April 21, 2024
HALF — PITTSBURGH 1, PHOENIX 1
Hounds definitely on the back foot that first half, but not drastically outplayed. Really unfortunate mental lapse after that first goal – need to improve there. But there's been chances that'll need to be taken.#HOUNDTAHN | @pghsoccernow
— Colton Coreschi (@cjcoreschi) April 21, 2024
41′ — YELLOW CARD — PHX – Gallardo clips Danny Griffin in midfield.
38′ – Attempt missed. Dariusz Formella (Phoenix Rising) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Erickson Gallardo with a cross
28′ – PHOENIX GOAL — 1-1
Attempt missed. Dariusz Formella (Phoenix Rising) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Erickson Gallardo with a crossRémi Cabral left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Pape Boye.
He's clearly found his shooting boots 😊 🥾
Rémi Cabral's third goal in as many matches equalizes for @PHXRisingFC! pic.twitter.com/6rCHupTN1e
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) April 21, 2024
26′ — PITTSBURGH GOAL – 1-0
Kazaiah Sterling with his first goal as a Hound.
Welcome to Pittsburgh, @ksterling_98!
The former @USLLeagueOne standout bags his first goal for @RiverhoundsSC 🐾 pic.twitter.com/wwIeB92TaZ
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) April 21, 2024
Hounds with brilliant build-up ending up to Kizza in space on right side of box, but backheels it to center of box for Sterling — who buries it. First lead of season for Hounds!
24′ – Hounds get in transition — build up through middle of field — ends up with Sterling building up steam through middle — finds Kizza breaking run on right — but shot chance goes wide.
20′ — Rising chance again! Dick extends to push away a Cabral low chance that almost found its way inside left post
17′ — RIsing chance — Torres cross into back post — Mar Boye with the header attempt saved by Eric Dick!
15′ — YELLOW CARD — Cabral is tugged down by Osumani. Hounds defender goes in the book.
10′ — Both teams feeling each other out.
PHX with two shot attempts — one from distance and another on quick cross. Neither were dangerous.
Hounds appear to be using Griffin/Sample as double holding mids in more of 4-2-3-1 shape — with Kizza center of attacking MF line with Etou and Mertz. Kazaiah Sterling at top of attack.
10:35 p.m. — 1′ — Kickoff!
10:20 p.m. (ET) — Starting Lineup notes
First start for Sean Suber, who will likely find himself out on the flank. Additionally, Bradley Sample is also getting his first start too — in place of Kenardo Forbes, who needs 70 minutes to become the USL Championship’s all-time minutes leader.
Otherwise, the Hounds lineup looks pretty similar to the last few weeks.
🌄 Everyone getting loose as the sun sets out West.
You can catch tonight's match live on @SNPittsburgh! Coverage starts at 10:30.#PHXvPIT #HOUNDTAHN pic.twitter.com/f7h5AkSDnr
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) April 21, 2024
Riverhounds Starting XI
Glad to see Sample get a start, I do question leaving Blackstock off. Everything good we've done offensively lately has come via him. Where's it coming from tonight? https://t.co/oRqyWm3EER
— Colton Coreschi (@cjcoreschi) April 21, 2024
Phoenix Rising Starters
PSN Pre-Match Coverage
Analysis: Struggling Riverhounds failing to convert on ‘big chances’ early in season