RIVERHOUNDS DEFENSE CRUMBLES IN 4-2 DEFEAT AT MONTREAL

BOX SCORE –  F.C. Montreal 4  Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2

Courtesy USL/Pittsburgh Riverhounds Reports
July 12, 2015  
MONTREAL, CANADA – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds back line had tightened up in recent weeks with only one penalty kick goal being conceded in the past four games.
That form unraveled Sunday afternoon amid sweltering temperatures at Montreal Impact’s Stade Saputo training field as F.C. Montreal earned a 4-2 win over the Hounds.
Boris Zivanovic and Rob Vincent were on target for Pittsburgh to pull the Hounds level twice after conceding early goals in each half. Drew Russell had a half-chance to notch a late equalizer before the hosts scored on a decisive counter attack in the waning minutes.
The loss drops fifth-placed Pittsburgh to a 7-6-4 record (25 points) in the USL’s Eastern Conference. Bottom side Montreal climbs to 2-11-2 (eight points).
Head coach Mark Steffens shook up his starting 11 after Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Toronto F.C. II. Serbian winger Zivanovic was handed his first league start with Matt Dallman replacing Kevin Kerr on the right of midfield.
Vini Dantas and Lebo Moloto returned after sitting in midweek. Canadian forward Miro Cabrilo and Mike Green dropped to the substitutes’ bench.
The Hounds started the game positively with captain Danny Earls firing the first shot over the bar after cute set-up play inside the penalty area by Zivanovic and Dantas.
Montreal jumped ahead though via a sharp counter attack on seven minutes. Romario Williams carried the ball at a shorthanded Hounds back line before slipping Anthony Jackson-Hamel through on the left of the 18-yard box for a cool finish into Calle Brown’s far corner.
Pittsburgh bounced back on 14 minutes when Zivanovic notched his first Hounds goal to complete an excellent, lengthy passing sequence.
Space arose for Willie Hunt to advance on the right side after the Hounds had recycled possession. He found Dantas in the clear further up the wing. The Brazilian forward drove in a low cross that Zivanovic converted at the back post on the slide.
Fabio Morelli carved out a great chance for the hosts to retake the lead three minutes later with his dangerous inswinging cross. Alessandro Riggi bailed the Hounds out by sending his header over Brown’s crossbar.
Moloto forced Montreal goalkeeper Eric Kronberg to tip his shot away three minutes before halftime after another impressive move from the visitors.
The Hounds fell behind again two minutes after the interval when Montreal left-back Zachary Sukunda pushed forward before finding Marco Dominguez at the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder thumped a scorching drive off the underside of Brown’s crossbar that landed over the goal line before bouncing out.
Pittsburgh again responded quickly to draw level. Fejiro Okiomah’s long cross-field switch on 56 minutes found Vincent in a 1-vs-1 against Janouk Charbonneau. The Englishman cut inside the penalty area and drew a foul that gave him the chance to net a penalty kick against the Canadians for the second time in three weeks.
Vincent stroked his kick low to the goalkeeper’s left during Pittsburgh’s 1-0 win at Highmark Stadium on June 20. He found the same spot to tie the game at 2-2.
Montreal took the lead for the third time on 72 minutes after a scramble in the Hounds penalty that was not cleared. Brown made a superb save from an early effort before Riggi tucked the ball away inside the near post.
Brown kept the Hounds alive on 86 minutes with a great stop to deny Jackson-Hamel on a breakaway. Kronberg came up big at the other end two minutes later when substitute Russell closed in on goal.
That proved to be a decisive play. Montreal broke up field with two minutes remaining and Jackson-Hamel stroked home his second goal of the afternoon to complete the scoring.
The Hounds return to Highmark Stadium next Saturday, July 18, to face Louisville City F.C. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Scoring Summary:
MTL – Anthony Jackson-Hamel 7′ (Romario Williams)
PGH – Boris Zivanovic 14′ (Willie Hunt, Vini Dantas)
MTL – Marco Dominguez-Ramirez 47′ (Zachary Sukunda)
PGH – Rob Vincent 57′ (penalty kick)
MTL – Alessandro Riggi 72′
MTL – Anthony Jackson-Hamel 88′
Misconduct Summary:
MTL – Alessandro Riggi 72′ (caution)
MTL – Jems Geffrard 90+’ (caution)
Line-ups:
Riverhounds – Calle Brown, Sterling Flunder, Anthony Arena, Fejiro Okiomah, Willie Hunt (Stephen Okai 46′), Danny Earls, Rob Vincent, Boris Zivanovic (Kevin Kerr 46′), Matt Dallman (Mike Green 86′), Lebo Moloto (Drew Russell 77′), Vini Dantas (Miro Cabrilo 60′)
F.C. Montreal – Eric Kronberg, Zachary Sukunda, Mele Temguia, Wandrille Lefevre (Hassoun Camara 61′), Janouk Charbonneau (Jems Geffrard 61′), Masta Kacher, Marco Dominguez-Ramirez, Alessandro Riggi (Zakaria Messoudi 90+’), Fabio Morelli (Frederic Lajoie-Gravelle 70′), Romario Williams (Charles Joly 70′), Anthony Jackson-Hamel

John Krysinsky

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).