USL Championship: Atlantic Division
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (2-3-1, 7 points) vs Miami FC (3-3-0, 9 points)
Saturday, June 12, 2021 | Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | 7 p.m. kickoff
Broadcast TV: 22 The Point | Live Stream: ESPN+ | PSN Coverage team: Jordan Smith (@JSmith_1187) & Matt Gajtka (@MattGajtka)
Gameday Updates
And we finish level in our first meeting with @TheMiamiFC after @R_Cicerone7 gets his fourth goal of the year.
Only three days until we're back at it in Indianapolis.#UNLEASH #PITvMIA pic.twitter.com/bHHGC9mmTU
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) June 13, 2021
FINAL: Coming back to Miami with a point. pic.twitter.com/j2Ep14fdl2
— The Miami FC (@TheMiamiFC) June 13, 2021
Final – Game ends in a tie 1-1. Dikwa goes down in the box in the final seconds. Fans certainly wanted a free kick to be called. Riverhounds and Miami stay in the same spot in the standings.
89′ – Yellow card given to Lamar Walker. Big free kick opportunity for the Hounds, turns into a corner kick. 5 minutes of stoppage time added.
87′ – Adonijah Reid now on for Anglin, as he’s hurt and walking off with the trainer.
85′ – Dikwa from the left side tries to bend in one back post with his right foot, but another good save from Sparrow.
82′ – Riverhounds pouring it on now. A bit more action as we get close to the end of the game.
77′ – Williamson and Velarde now on. That’s 4/5 subs for the Riverhounds. I’m assuming that’s it on changing the lineup unless someone gets hurt.
75′ – Last hydration break going on. Game is moving much slower in the second half. Fans are loud though. Gajtka and I are rocking back in forth in the press box.
72′ – Finally our first corner kick of the game goes to Miami. Great cross, but Anglin heads it wide. Goal kick, Hounds.
69′ – Lamar Walker in for Miami. Just a reminder that teams are allowed to sub 5 players instead of 3. That rule has carried over from last season.
63′ – Jalen Robinson and Shane Wiedt now on for the Riverhounds.
61′ – Volley shot from Dixon on target but great save from Connor Sparrow.
57′ – Miami makes the first substitutions here. Callum Chapman-page and Billy Forbes are on.
56′ – Cicerone takes a foul and is not happy about it. Long discussion with the refs.
54′ – Wharton goes down and complains for a foul, but doesn’t get it. Miami goes the other way and Ariel Martinez rips a shot just over the net. Still a tie game.
49′ – Luca Anotnelli fouls Cicerone. Looks like no substitutions from either side at half.
45′ – 2nd half is underway! Can the Riverhounds get their first home win of the season? They’re sitting in the standings just behind Miami. Crucial game.
Halftime stats.
Shots 4-1 in favor of the good guys, and nothing in the way of saves or corner kicks either way.#UNLEASH #PITvMIA pic.twitter.com/S9C1yaoJJr
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) June 13, 2021
48' – @Cheetahcf7 TIES THE GAME AT 1! pic.twitter.com/otl5AaH8I8
— The Miami FC (@TheMiamiFC) June 12, 2021
Level at the break after the late Miami goal.
Feels like there will be more goals to come in this one.#UNLEASH #PITvMIA pic.twitter.com/6FfNZcAheM
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) June 12, 2021
Half’ – That’ll do it for the first half. Game is tied 1-1. More urgency and offensive creativity than last game, that’s for sure. But, Hounds still need to clean it up on the backline.
45’+3 – Christiano Francois with a fancy move around Vitiello and slots it in to the empty net. The former Riverhound of 2018 ties the game for Miami FC.
45′ – 5 minutes of stoppage time added. Big free kick chance for Miami but cleared out by Todd Wharton.
40′ – Griffin has a chance in the box but heads it wide. Riverhounds still up 1-0.
Really liking the Hounds play this half.
I am slightly concerned that the midfield is both allowing that 40 yard direct ball and the backline is 1v1 against the wingers when they get it.#PITvMIA #RiverhoundsSC #Hounds
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) June 12, 2021
38′ – Riverhounds taking advantage of the long ball. Miami is pushing their defense high, so Forbes and Griffin are playing a lot of balls in the corner for Dikwa, Cicerone and Dixon to run onto.
30′ – Hydration break at the 30 minute mark here. Game resumes with a foul immediately by Dixon.
27′ – Miami with 60% possession so far, but the Hounds are at least consistently getting chances.
Vitiello bruised up so he needs a minute here, but should be fine.
19′ – Forbes takes a shot from distance that goes wide. Miami also just has a defensive collapse in front of their net, but chipped high over the net by Dikwa.
16′ – Great dribbling from Danny Griffin and Alex Dixon so far. Dixon really creating out here tonight on the left wing. His speed is dangerous.
11′ – Forbes gets taken down and takes the free kick, but it’s cleared out by Miami.
Clinical on the cross & finish.
That's No. 4 on the season for @R_Cicerone7, and a third assist on the year for @alexdixon19. What a start!#UNLEASH #PITvMIA pic.twitter.com/OQDmYbpWzb
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) June 12, 2021
.@R_Cicerone7 has Pittsburgh rollin' by the river. 🌊#PITvMIA | @RiverhoundsSC pic.twitter.com/Yp14aGArwE
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) June 12, 2021
9′ – GOAL FOR THE HOUNDS!! A brilliant setup by Dixon across the box to Cicerone, who hits it in with the outside of his foot. Cicerone’s fourth goal, and Dixon’s third assist on the season. 1-0 Riverhounds
4′ – Hounds coming out determined so far tonight. Possessing well and keeping the opposition on their toes. Still looking for that first home goal.
2′ – Dikwa gets past the goalie, but it’s not going to count. Offsides called on Dixon.
1′ – Game begins! Riverhounds coming out in a 4-3-3 for the first time this season instead of a 3-4-3.
Covering for @pghsoccernow with @JSmith_1187 … @RiverhoundsSC up 1-0 in the 10th minute vs. @TheMiamiFC pic.twitter.com/W2lt2FtZ01
— Matt Gajtka (GITE-kah) (@MattGajtka) June 12, 2021
‘1 | COME ON YOU HOUNDS#UNLEASH #PITvMIA pic.twitter.com/sYFmjiRrKj
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) June 12, 2021
Pregame – Riverhounds game almost underway. First time they’ll be playing Miami FC ever. The Florida team is just ahead in the standings, sitting at 4th in the Atlantic division, Riverhounds in 5th.
Our @HelbizOfficial starting XI for tonight's game in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/rSTtll6nog
— The Miami FC (@TheMiamiFC) June 12, 2021
Here is how we lineup tonight vs @TheMiamiFC #UNLEASH #PITvMIA pic.twitter.com/RiGSyajbkt
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) June 12, 2021
Look for starting line-ups and in-game updates to be posted here.
.@J_dover poised to hit 100 regular-season appearances in @USLChampionship play.#UNLEASH #PITvMIA https://t.co/yQrIdiohtQ
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) June 12, 2021
Preview
These clubs will meet for the first time in their histories on Saturday night at Highmark Stadium with both teams looking to rebound from defeat in their most recent outings.
@RiverhoundsSC (2-3-1, 7pts) suffered a setback after claiming back-to-back wins previously in a 1-0 defeat to Austin Bold FC last Sunday night at Highmark Stadium that saw the hosts finish scoreless for a second consecutive outing on home turf this season. The Hounds held 73.6 percent of possession but recorded only 10 shots and one on target as it tried to battle back from going behind inside the opening minute to its Texas opponent. Pittsburgh had scored six goals in its prior two outings and Russell Cicerone leads the side with three goals this season, while Alex Dixon has recorded a pair of assists, and the side’s underlying numbers are reasonably positive, having posted an Expected Goals mark of 7.76xG compared to six goals scored excluding own goals this season. The Hounds will be hoping that leads to the side opening its attacking account in front of its home fans on Saturday night.
@TheMiamiFC (3-3-0, 9pts) dropped to fourth place in the Atlantic Division last Sunday night as it let a two-goal halftime lead slip in a 4-2 defeat against Rio Grande Valley FC at FIU Stadium. Pierre Da Silva notched a standout finish directly from a corner kick before an own goal staked the hosts to their lead, but after midfielder Bolu Akinyode was sent off early in the second half the Toros built on the momentum they had gained after an early goal after the break to pull away for the win. Miami has split a pair of results on the road so far this season, defeating the New York Red Bulls II before falling to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and should have forward Billy Forbes back available for selection after his return from international duty as it looks to remain ahead of the Hounds in the standings.
Most Recent Lineups
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (3-4-2-1): Danny Vitiello; Mekeil Williams, Shane Wiedt, Preston Kilwien; Jordan Dover, Kenardo Forbes, Danny Griffin, Daniel Rovira; Alex Dixon, Louis Perez; Albert Dikwa
Miami FC (4-3-3): Connor Sparrow; Sean McFarlane, Callum Chapman-Page, Paco Craig; Othello Bah; Junior Palacios, Ariel Martinez, Bolu Akinyode; Adonijah Reid, Pierre Da Silva; Christiano Francois
Discipline
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – None
Miami FC – Suspended: Bolu Akinyode
Most Recent PSN Coverage
Analysis & Player Grades: Lacking tenaciousness, Hounds are shutout at home again