USL Championship Atlantic Division
FINAL: Riverhounds SC 3, NY Red Bulls II 0
Match Summary
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s attack got the jump start it needed after struggling early in the season, converting on its opportunities to beat the New York Red Bulls II, 3-0, for its first win of the season on a rainy Friday evening at Montclair State University Soccer Park in New Jersey.
The Hounds stretched out the high pressing Red Bulls II enough by using the width and forcing them into trying to play the ball out of the back, eventually capitalizing on a few key mistakes.
Pittsburgh scored twice in a five-minute span in the first half, with Danny Griffin and Alex Dixon scoring their first goals of the season, then Russell Cicerone added another in the second half after a brilliant bout of short passes. Goalkeeper Danny Vitiello had four saves in earning his first clean sheet of the season. Dixon also picked up an assist with a clever highlight reel back heel that set up Cicerone’s finish.
With the win, the Hounds improve its overall record to 1-2-1 (4 points). The win is the 50th in all competitions for Bob Lilley as the Hounds’ head coach, becoming the first in club history to hit that number, and the 301st win in his career.
Each goal came on an assist, with forward Albert Dikwa setting up Griffin in the 22nd minute with a pinpoint cross from the left side that gave the Hounds the early lead in the 23rd minute.
In the 28th minute, the Hounds high press forced a giveaway deep in the final third, as Dani Rovira seized the moment by taking possession, then sliding a low cross to the middle of the box for Dixon, who delivered a quick shot into the left side of goal to beat Red Bulls II’s keeper AJ Marcucci.
In total, the Hounds sent 14 crosses into the box in the first half, which saw each team with six shots — and three on target for each side.
The Red Bulls owned the possession battle on the wet surface and also looked very dangerous in countering transition moments on three occasions in a 10 minute stretch in the first half, but each time, Vitiello stood firm to come up with vital saves.
The Hounds put the match further out of reach early in the second half when they built up a few passes from the right side to the edge of the box, ending up with Cicerone and Dixon connecting on a 1-2, as Dixon slid a clever back pass through to Cicerone, who smashed a hard shot from eight yards into the back of the net.
.@alexdixon19 adds a clever back heel assist to his electric performance in rainy Jersey. 👠#NYvPIT | @R_Cicerone7 pic.twitter.com/TW3uzeFAzH
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) May 29, 2021
Look for a more detailed recap and post match reaction later in the evening — and Analysis & Player Grades to be posted over the weekend.
Gameday Updates
+3😤great team performance tonight @RiverhoundsSC https://t.co/zFF8xst7WW
— Danny Vitiello (@dannyvitiello_) May 29, 2021
FINAL — PITTSBURGH 3, NY Red Bulls II 0
78′ — Red Bulls II get behind Hounds — as Mitchell has a chance but his low shot is saved by Vitello who comes off his line.
77′ — SUB — HOUNDS — Todd Wharton in for Dani Rovira
69′ — SUB — HOUNDS — Jalen Robinson makes his debut. Comes in for Jordan Dover
68′ — Attempt missed. Jake LaCava (New York Red Bulls II) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
67‘ — Substitution, New York Red Bulls II. Austin Brummett replaces Daniel Edelman.
62‘ — Attempt missed. Mekeil Williams (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Kenardo Forbes with a cross following a corner.
.@alexdixon19 adds a clever back heel assist to his electric performance in rainy Jersey. 👠#NYvPIT | @R_Cicerone7 pic.twitter.com/TW3uzeFAzH
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) May 29, 2021
50′ – GOAL – RIVERHOUNDS
49′ — Forbes gets forward but can’t convert.
44′ — clever ball from near midfield from Dover that slips through for Dikwa but shot is saved!
40′ — Attempt blocked. Albert Dikwa (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Shane Wiedt.
36‘ — Attempt blocked. Roald Mitchell (New York Red Bulls II) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
36′ — Attempt saved. Jeremy Rafanello (New York Red Bulls II) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Michael Knapp.
35‘– Attempt saved. Omar Sowe (New York Red Bulls II) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jake LaCava.
34‘– Attempt missed. Juan Castillo (New York Red Bulls II) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
33′ — Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls II) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
33′ — Foul by Russell Cicerone (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC).
33‘ — Roald Mitchell (New York Red Bulls II) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
33‘ — Foul by Mekeil Williams (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC).
29′ — Red Bulls almost get one back. Jake LaCava tries a through ball, but Roald Mitchell is caught offside.
*inhales
COME ON YOU HOUNDS#UNLEASH #NYvPIT pic.twitter.com/AFht3opAEd— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) May 28, 2021
PITTSBURGH 2, NY RBII 0
28′ — GOAL — Alex Dixon
.@DannyGriffin04 finishes off the volley from a clean Dikwa feed🏐#NYvPIT | @RiverhoundsSC pic.twitter.com/n8rOE7dBbD
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) May 28, 2021
23′ — GOAL – Danny Griffin
Nice cross in from Albert Dikwa — and Griffin takes it from there with a clinical one-time finish!
18′ — good work by Russell Cicerone to set up corner.
15′ — RB dangerous in transition getting forward and into box quickly. Attempt missed. Jeremy Rafanello right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Roald Mitchell.
14′ — Ensuing corner — Forbes finds Mekiel Willams who heads it just wide left.
13′ – Foul on edge of box! Egbo fouls Dikwa. Free kick chance for Forbes. Hard liner hits wall and sails past far post.
12′ – RBII get forward quickly — and a decent chance deflected shot Hounds GK Danny Vitiello grabs it.
11′ — Hounds high press is working well to generate a few turnovers. Latest ends up with Dover open on right side (edge of box)
8′ — Jordan Dover diagonal cross into box right to NYRBII keeper Anthony Marcucci.
3′ — Both sides with early corners — each time they missed their mark.
7:05 — the match has kicked off — as they’re playing in soggy conditions at MSU Soccer Park.
Here’s Riverhounds SC’s starting XI:
We have boots on the ground in Jersey.
— Steel Army (@SteelArmy) May 28, 2021
FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: New York Red Bulls II 22%, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 53%, Draw 25%
Most Recent Lineups
New York Red Bulls II (4-2-3-1): AJ Marcucci; Joseph Zalinsky, Mandela Egbo, Emir Tombul, Juan Castillo; Dru Yearwood, Daniel Edelman; Roald Mitchell, Jeremy Rafanello, Jake LaCava; Omar Sowe
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (4-1-3-2): Danny Vitiello; Mekeil Williams, Shane Wiedt, Jelani Peters, Preston Kilwien; Todd Wharton; Anthony Velarde, Alex Dixon, Danny Griffin; Russell Cicerone, Albert Dikwa
PSN Riverhounds SC Coverage
Hounds Notebook: Without a win, pressure mounts with another two-game road swing
Analysis & Player Grades: Lots of ‘half-chances’ add up to zero for Hounds
Riverhounds SC Gameday Notes
Game Notes at New York – Friday, May 28
The Hounds seek their first win of the season when it plays New York Red Bulls II at 7 p.m. this Friday, May 28 at MSU Soccer Park. The match will be streamed via ESPN+.
The Hounds (0-2-1) could not find the net in their home opener last Saturday against Charlotte Independence, despite attempting 21 shots. Meanwhile, New York (1-2-2) scored two second-half goals to earn a point at the Charleston Battery on May 23.
The Hounds haven’t failed to earn a win in their first four matches since 2016, but given their recent history against New York Red Bulls II, there is reason for optimism. Dating back to the arrival of Bob Lilley in 2018, the Hounds have won five of seven matchups against New York and didn’t allow more than two goals in any of those matches.