New Coach, Same Story For Riverhounds, Blanked 1-0 By NY Red Bulls II

While the Pittsburgh Riverhounds new coach Dave Brandt appears to bring a different approach to the team after an in-season coaching change this past week, the result of his first game was a familiar one for the struggling team, losing 1-0 to New York Red Bulls II late Saturday night at Red Bull Arena.
In the eighth minute, Red Bulls II midfielder Junior Flemmings was played a well-placed thru ball, and beat Riverhounds goalkeeper Mauricio Vargas, as he came off his line just a bit too far.

The 1-0 lead would be enough for the Red Bulls II as they were in control for much of the match.
The best chance of the game for the Hounds came in the opening minute of the second half, when Corey Hertzog had an uncontested breakaway chance that was stopped by NYRBII goalkeeper Ryan Meara, and then the subsequent rebound was also denied.

The Hounds showed some life in the early stages of the second half, but Hertzog’s chance would be the closest they would come to scoring.  The Hounds were outshot 17-5, and were not able to generate a corner kick, while the Red Bulls had nine.   It was a physical, but mostly clean match in the first game played between the two since the Romeo Parkes kicking incident (14-13 in fouls in favor of NYRBII — all in the second half).
Pittsburgh Soccer Report’s John Krysinsky will have more on this match with his takeaways later this weekend.
Pittsburgh (1-5-3, 6 pts) returns home on Saturday, June 4, as they take on Charleston Battery, who lost 2-0 to FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Former Riverhounds leading scorer Rob Vincent will rejoin the team on a one-game loan as his current team, DC United are on break for COPA America tournament.
Here was the first Starting XI penciled in by Brandt:

In addition, James Bissue, Zak Boggs, Isaiah Schafer and Conor Branson were used as Second half subs.

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).