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Pittsburgh Riverhounds

FINAL: Riverhounds SC 2, Rowdies 2

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2, Tampa Bay Rowdies 2

USL Match Center

The Riverhounds SC sure know how to play entertaining draws on the road.

For the third time this season, Pittsburgh came away with a tie on the road in a back-and-forth match with plenty of excitement, ending level 2-2 against a desperate Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The result kept the Hounds without a loss after 10 games (4-0-6), while the Rowdies snapped a three game losing streak to earn a point.

Pittsburgh responds after falling behind early in the contest thanks to two goals that came from the foot of Romeo Parkes.

The Rowdies desperate for a win after losing four straight road games — made its first chance count. After a short corner, Lance Roseboom flicked a shot past Hounds keeper Dan Lynd who may have been caught a little out of position on the play.

Rozeboom had enough from his right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner. The assist came from Alex Morrell with a cross after receiving a short pass.

On the first Hounds goal, in the 21st minute, Parkes had some help after a hard low shot on frame forced Rowdies goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald to knock the shot away. The ball deflected high into the air toward the far post area — and Rowdies defender Max Lachowecki botched an attempt to clear it out. The play started from a pinpoint through ball from Christiano François to Parkes in open space to set it up.

Then the Hounds, who were out-possessed by a 60-40 margin in the first half, took the lead on a quick counter goal — creating a turnover at midfield. They moved swiftly into the final third, where Kenardo Forbes cut back a ball toward the near post area for Parkes. This time Parkes made sure he would get credit for his first goal of the season, with a nice finishing touch to sneak it inside right post and past a diving Fitzgerald to give the Hounds 2-1 lead.

 

 

FOLLOW THE GAME HERE

2nd half

46′ – no half time subs yet

49′ – Joe Cole comes close to driving one into the goal with a dangerous ball through the crowded box — but a few deflections later and it misses left. Rowdies with corner chance, but Hounds clear it away.

52′ – Hounds are keeping the Rowdies, who continue to possess, outside of the box and limiting any chances deep.

60′ – GOAL – Rowdies. 2-2.

Joe Cole free kick stunner! Wraps shot around three man wall — and right in line with Hounds keeper Dan Lynd. But Lynd completely misses it.

Lots of time left. Lynd was right in position – but that one got through. Yikes.

Here’s another look at it…

 

63′ – Lynd comes up with a save on a redirected header.

64′ – Hounds’ Jordan Dover moves into box — and after couple nice touches — shot for upper left corner just misses.

66′ – Hounds get a corner — and Ben Zemanski does a nice job to redirect a ball that came back out of the box back over the top to Hugh Roberts. With all kinds of space and time, Roberts hesitates, then shoots but Fitzgerald with the save.

69′ – Ray Lee fouls Junior Flemmings in corner. Free kick for Rowdies.

71′ – nice cross from left side for Rowdies — and Flemmings has header chance that’s saved by Lynd.

80′ – Lilley with sweeping changes all at once!

Tobi Adewole, Neco Brett, Joe Holland all IN

Kerr, Parkes, Zemanski all OUT

82′ – Brett with a fabulous chance — but Fitzgerald extends to make a great save — and ball sits on the line but doesn’t cross over.

85′ – Rowdies off side a few times trying to get behind the Hounds back line.

88′ – Dan Lynd stepping it up now! Great save late in match stopping Collins’ attempt from close range.

90′ – we’ve got three minutes of extra time

if you’re a Hounds fan — you have to like that they’re pushing for that go-ahead goal and opening things up late in match, on the road, against a quality opponent.

 

Halftime summary

Pittsburgh responds after falling behind early in the contest thanks to two goals that came from the foot of Romeo Parkes.

The Rowdies desperate for a win after losing four straight road games — made its first chance count. After a short corner, Lance Roseboom flicked a shot past Hounds keeper Dan Lynd who may have been caught a little out of position on the play.

Rozeboom had enough from his right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner. The assist came from Alex Morrell with a cross after receiving a short pass.

On the first Hounds goal, in the 21st minute, Parkes had some help after a hard low shot on frame forced Rowdies goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald to knock the shot away. The ball deflected high into the air toward the far post area — and Rowdies defender Max Lachowecki botched an attempt to clear it out. The play started from a pinpoint through ball from Christiano François to Parkes in open space to set it up.

Then the Hounds, who were out-possessed by a 60-40 margin in the first half, took the lead on a quick counter goal — creating a turnover at midfield. They moved swiftly into the final third, where Kenardo Forbes cut back a ball toward the near post area for Parkes. This time Parkes made sure he would get credit for his first goal of the season, with a nice finishing touch to sneak it inside right post and past a diving Fitzgerald to give the Hounds 2-1 lead.

Hounds coach Bob Lilley in halftime interview

“Romeo’s got pace, so if we have a chance to get it behind Tampa, we will. We had a good response. We’re fortunate to be up 2-1, but we’re going to have to tighten up defensively. And we’re going to have to pass the ball better.”

First half

2′ – GOAL – Rowdies score!

After a short corner, Lance Roseboom flicks past Hounds keeper Dan Lynd who may have been caught a little out of position

Rozeboom had enough from his right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner. The assist came from Alex Morrell with a cross after receiving a short pass.

First time all year the Hounds have trailed. Will be interesting to see how they handle it.

10′ – Hounds with plenty of possession, and set up first corner of match.

14′ – Tampa’s back line having trouble playing ball out beyond Hounds back line which is pressing high, but not agressively. Couple giveaways in the past few minutes.

16′ – Kerr booked after losing ball to Joe Cole at midfield. Cole limping after the nick from Kerr.

21′ – GOAL – Romeo Parkes shot from right side of box deflects off goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald, goes up way in the air toward far post area — and Rowdies defender Max Lachowecki botches an attempt to clear it out. Nice through ball from Christiano François to  Parkes in open space to set it up. That’s where Parkes can be so dangerous in those open spaces.

24′ – Parkes’ right footed shot from outside the box is very high and very wide to the right after recieving a pass from Kerr.

30′ – GOAL – Romeo Parkes.

Quick counter goal — as Hounds create a turnover at midfield — then Kenardo Forbes takes it into the box — then finds Parkes. This time credit will go to Parkes as he puts a nice finishing touch to sneak it inside right post and past a diving Fitzgerald — and the Hounds are up 2-1.

32′ – Rowdies finish after a through ball — but Hounds stop playing and with hands up — set up the off side call. No goal.

39′ – Hounds have done a nice job to keep possession and winning balls at midfield. It’s been a little sloppy at times, but they been even in battles for 50-50 balls.

45′ – Kerr with a decent chance — but one-time volley goes way over bar.

 

Starting XI

Riverhounds SC

Dan Lynd (G),

D – Todd Pratzner, Hugh Roberts, Tommy Vancaeyezeele

MF – Ray Lee, Jordan Dover, Ben Zemanski, Kenardo Forbes, 

F – Christiano François, Romeo Parkes, Kevin Kerr 

Available subs:

Mike Kirk (G), Tobi Adewole, Neco Brett, Noah Franke, Bakie Goodman, Joe Holland, Andy Lubahn 

Tampa Bay

Media preview

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Stats: USL Match Center

TEAM TRENDS 
Tampa Bay home record: 3-0-0
STREAK: L3 (not including Open Cup loss to Jacksonville on Wed)

Pittsburgh road record: 1-0-2
STREAK: T1 (not including Open Cup win at Erie on Wed)

ALL TIME SERIES

Hounds lead 2-1 (including 1-0 win in 2015 U.S. Open Cup when Tampa was in NASL)

KEY STORYLINES

• The Hounds will attempt to extend its best start in team history — an eight game unbeaten streak — against a talented club in a tailspin that’s returning home after three straight league losses. They’re now in the midst of a difficult stretch of games every Saturday and Wednesday for the next three weeks. In three of their next four games, including Open Cup, will feature clubs currently in playoff position in the East table – Tampa Bay, FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC.

• Desperate times have called for desperate measures for the Rowdies, who announced on Thursday the mutual parting of the ways with head coach Stuart Campbell.  Despite a horrible 1-6-0 record on the road, the Rowdies are 3-0-0 at home. In the interim, the Rowdies have appointed center back Neill Collins as its head coach for this week’s game.  The Hounds made a similar move in 2014, when after the sacking of Justin Evans, defender Niko Katic became the team’s head coach for the remainder of that season.

• In three league road contests this season, the Hounds have held serve with two draws played before very large crowds in Nashville and Cincinnati — and were in command in its 2-1 win over Toronto FC II.  In each match — they came out playing with a three-man back line. It’s hard to argue with Hounds coach Bob Lilley‘s tactics through much of this season, as they’ve been mostly stout defensively — having gone through eight full games without ever trailing and surrendering only three goals.

• With five players on the pregame injury report (see full list below), the Hounds will likely be rolling out a very similar 18 for Lilley to pencil into the line-up that were in there for last Friday’s scoreless draw vs Indy Eleven — and the Open Cup win at Erie. Regulars who didn’t play at all against Erie, that should be fresher for this match against Tampa Bay include Ben Zemanski, Kenardo Forbes, Todd Pratzner. With the Hounds holding the lead, Romeo Parkes didn’t play at all at Erie and it appears that they’ll be going with Mike Kirk and Dan Lynd as the two keepers that have made the trip south.

MORE ON THE ROWDIES 

You could say Tampa has been extremely ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ since entering USL in 2017, and especially so this season. They’re unbeatable at home (3-0), but apparently beatable on the road (1-5), as its three-game losing streak – four if including its loss on Wednesday in the Open Cup at Jacksonville would indicate. Still, with a roster largely unchanged from last season’s third-place finish in the East, the Rowdies are talented and have yet to allow a goal on home turf this
season and hold an overall home record of 13-5-1 since joining the USL in 2017.

Both MonGoals and Riverhounds Rabbi took in-depth looks at the Rowdies this week.

Riverhounds Rabbi Scouting Report: Tampa Bay to provide test for Hounds

Preview Pod: Rowdies vs Riverhounds 

HOUNDS INJURY REPORT

Kay Banjo – Doubtful (Hamstring)
Mouhamed Dabo – Out (Lower-body)

Ben Fitzpatrick – Out (Lower-body)
Joe Greenspan – Out (Calf)
Kyle Morton – Out (Knee)

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

 

 

 

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).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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