Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2, NY RBII 0, 2nd
2nd half
Few dangerous moments for Red Bulls in early going, but shot into box from right side by Ben Mines rolls through and out.
Again, in the 53rd minute, Mines has a great look in front of right post, but shot is deflected by Hugh Roberts hugging the post, then flicked away by Ray Lee.
54′ – GOAL Riverhounds, 2-0, Neco Brett
Hounds immediately countered after the Red Bulls missed chance. Kenardo Forbes made a run to the edge of the box, then sliced a nice, short through ball to Neco Brett, who tallied his second goal of the night with a clinical finish.
60′ – More pressure from Red Bulls, but again, Hounds defenders clear ball away before any thing dangerous develops in box.
62′ – With 2-0 lead, Hounds dropping into more of a 5-4-1 — as Brett dropping down to left midfield side — and Vancaeyezeele drops in middle of back line
64′ – GOAL, Riverhounds, 3-0. Romeo Parkes.
Parkes got on the end of a nice ball into the center of the box from Ray Lee. Hounds making the most of their chances tonight.
70′ – Joe Greenspan comes in for Neco Brett as Hounds look to shore up defending and closing out this one.
74′ – final sub of game for Pittsburgh as Kay Banjo enters for Parkes.
1st half
6′ – first six minutes of action mostly seeing the Hounds — decked out in all white kits tonight — with most of possession
9′ – Romeo Parkes gets inside defender on right side of box — finds Neco Brett right in front of goal but Brett’s low shot saved by GK Scott Levene.
Parkes was definitely feeling some contact from RBII defender, but he stayed on his feet and no call was made.
20′ – Zemanski went down with injury. Came out — and now looks like Kevin Kerr is getting instructions from coach Lilley and will be coming in for him.
27′ – GOAL Riverhounds, 1-0
Neco Brett is right there to head it in — after original cross comes in from left side from Christiano François — misses Romeo Parkes, who overruns the ball. Kevin Kerr collected the ball on the right side, whipped it back in to Brett right in the center of the box.
Yet another goal this year where first cross in goes through or over, but then Kerr is there to makes sure the next one gets on target.
31′ – Jordan Dover issued a yellow card
34′ – Thomas Vancaeyezeele now picks up yellow card after
35′ – RBII’s Andrew Tinari gets a solid look from top of box, but Dan Lynd is there to make his second save of night.
Shots: Pgh 8-3
SOG: Pgh 5-2
Possession: NY 55-45
Goals: 1-0 ????
Hounds Starting XI
GK – Dan Lynd D – Todd Pratzner, Hugh Roberts, Jordan Dover, Ray Lee, Thomas Vancaeyezeele M – Kenardo Forbes, Ben Zemanski, Christiano François, Neco Brett F – Romeo Parkes
Available subs:
Mike Kirk (GK), Tobi Adewole, Joe Greenspan, Andy Lubahn, Joe Holland, Kevin Kerr, Kay Banjo
NYRBII Starting XI
GK – Scott Levene
Niko DeVera, Kevin Politz, Wahab, Ackwei, Lucas Stauffer, Chris Lema, Cristian Casseres, Andrew Tinari, Amando Moreno, Brian White, Ben Mines
Available subs:
Sam Illin (GK), Tommy Redding, Jordan Scarlett, Stevie Echevarria, Jared Stroud, Stefano Bonomo, Tom Barlow
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (5-1-6, 21 points) vs. New York Red Bulls II (5-3-5, 20 points)
Saturday, June 16 – 7 p.m. | Highmark Stadium
WATCH
Pittsburgh’s CW | ESPN+
FOLLOW
Twitter: @Pghsoccerscribe – #PGHvNY | USL Match Center
TEAM RECORDS & FORM
New York’s overall record: 5-3-5, road record: 0-2-4, Streak: W1
Pittsburgh’s overall record: 5-1-6, Pittsburgh’s home record: 3-1-3, Streak: W1
KEY STORYLINES
• After a two week break between games, the Hounds return to host a familiar nemesis in recent years — NY Red Bulls II – in its only home game of the month.
• As the case many times before — this will be a clash of styles between the Hounds, now coached by Bob Lilley and the Baby Bulls, who are coached by John Wolyniec. Both Lilley and Wolyniec have won USL titles in recent years. Lilley did so at Rochester with his no-nonsense approach that strangled opponents (allowed only 15 goals in 2015), while Wolyniec carries out an aggressive, high-pressing style that the Red Bulls organization is known for imploring. Although Lilley’s Rhinos dominated NYRBII (3-0-1 including a 2-0 playoff win) in 2015, the Red Bulls II were the only team to score twice against them that season. They played each other five times in 2016 — with all three regular season games finishing in draws (1-1 and two scoreless draws). But the Red Bulls beat Lilley’s Rhinos both in Open Cup (1-0) and in a memorable playoff duel (3-3, 5-4 on PKs). The teams split a pair of 2-1 contests in 2017.
• The Hounds have also built an interesting history since the Red Bulls II entered USL play in 2015. This will be the first meeting between the Hounds and Red Bulls II this season. Pittsburgh holds a 1-1-1 all-time record against New York in games at Highmark Stadium. The last time the Hounds reached the playoffs, they fell 4-2 to the RBII in a match that featured four goals scored in extra time. Since that playoff year, it’s been all NYRBII owning this series, winning twice in 2016, including the infamous Romeo Parkes kicking Karl Ouimette game, and a NYRBII 1-0 win in Dave Brandt’s Hounds coaching debut. Last year they opened the season with a highly entertaining 3-3 draw, but by season’s end, the playoff bound Red Bulls dismantled the floundering Hounds, 3-0 at Montclair State University.
• The Hounds have been solid, but not unbeatable at Highmark Stadium this year, holding a 3-1-3 home record to date. Riverhounds SC notched a shutout in six of these seven games and has conceded only one goal at home in 2018. Meanwhile, New York has struggled on the road. Red Bulls II holds a 0-2-4 record away from its home venue — Red Bull Arena and has been shut out in its past three road matches in league play.
• Despite its recent road numbers, Red Bulls II have been an explosive unit, leading the league in total shots (224) and second in goals (25). Something will have to give as the Hounds feature a stout backline, allowing only 0.58 goals per game to date, on pace for the best mark in club history.
• With extra time off, most every Hounds field player on the roster was fully training with the team this week, with the exception of Mouhamed Dabo (lower body). Lilley said that he will be looking at fielding his ‘strongest’ 11 on Saturday, after stating that he wasn’t able to do so for the team’s very busy seven games in 22 day stretch in May and early June when he was down to 16 or 17 players. Defender Joe Greenspan is among the Hounds players who is ready to return for the first time since suffering a calf injury that has sidelined him for all of April and May. Lilley said he wasn’t certain of Greenspan’s full match fitness, so he may have his minutes limited in the first few matches back.
• This may be the biggest crowd of the season at Highmark. For one thing, it will be WQED Neighborhood Night, and as part of the 50th Anniversary of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” the Hounds will be hosting a number of fun activities to celebrate the occasion.
MORE ON NYRBII
We’ll leave this space for PSN’s contributors Riverhounds Rabbi, Mark Goodman, and the Mon Goals Preview Pod, with excellent scouting report and Justin sits down with Joe, who covers NYRBII for Raising Bulls.
Riverhounds Rabbi Scouting report: RBII are terrifying
Preview Pod: Red Bulls II
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING | #PGHvNY | RIVERHOUNDS
It’s should be a beautiful day in the South Side neighborhood…
.@RiverhoundsSC and @wqed are hosting Mister Rogers Night this Saturday, and members of the @SteelArmy are ready. #USL #UNLEASH #PGHvNY https://t.co/QF194ztZG6
— Nicholas Murray (@NJEMurray) June 14, 2018
They never meant to cause you any sorrow
They never meant to cause you any pain
We only wanted to one time to see you laughing
We only wanted to see you
laughing at the Hounds Gameday#UNLEASH #PRINCE— Steel Army (@SteelArmy) June 16, 2018
HOUNDS INJURY REPORT
Mouhamed Dabo – Doubtful (Lower-body)
Kyle Morton – Out (Knee)
RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD
Sept. 30, 2017, at MSU Soccer Park
New York 2, Pittsburgh 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
NY – 25’ Abuchi Obinwa (own goal)
NY – 90+’ Florian Valot (Dilly Duka)
March 25, 2017, at Highmark Stadium
Pittsburgh 3, New York 3
SCORING SUMMARY:
NY – Florian Valot 6’ (Arun Basuljevic)
PGH – Corey Hertzog 9’ (Taylor Washington)
NY – Vincent Bezecourt 16’ (Andrew Tinari)
PGH – Kevin Kerr 39’ (Marshall Hollingsworth)
NY – Vincent Bezecourt 76’ (penalty)
PGH – Corey Hertzog 81’
SEASON LEADERS
Pittsburgh
Goals: Neco Brett (6)
Assists: Neco Brett and Kevin Kerr (3)
Points: Neco Brett (15)
Saves: Dan Lynd (15)
Save %: Kyle Morton (1.000)
GAA: Kyle Morton (0.00)
New York
Goals: Amando Moreno (6)
Assists: Jared Stroud (5)
Points: Amando Moreno (13)
Saves: Evan Louro (28)
Save %: Evan Louro (.700)
GAA: Evan Louro (1.11)
LAST TIME OUT…
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh 2, Richmond 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
RIC – Luiz Fernando 53’ (Brian Shriver)
PGH – Neco Brett 72’ (Kevin Kerr)
PGH – Romeo Parkes 79’ (Neco Brett)
LINEUP: Dan Lynd – Ray Lee, Todd Pratzner (Neco Brett 66’), Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Hugh Roberts, Jordan Dover – Ben Zemanski, Kenardo Forbes – Kevin Kerr (Andrew Lubahn 90+1’), Romeo Parkes (Tobi Adewole 83’), Christiano François
New York
New York 4, Charlotte 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
CLT – Cordell Cato 23’ (Samuel Vines)
NY – Amando Moreno 25’
NY – Cristian Cásseres Jr. 60’ (penalty)
NY – Andrew Tinari 62’ (Jared Stroud)
NY – Lucas Stauffer 74’
CLT – Jorge Herrera 86’ (penalty)
LINEUP:
Evan Louro – Niko De Vera, Kevin Politz, Wahab Ackwei (Jordan Scarlett 79’), Jordan Bailon (Lucas Stauffer 72’) – Chris Lema, Cristian Cásseres Jr. – Amando Moreno, José Aguinaga (Andrew Tinari 61’), Jared Stroud – Brian White