USL Championship – Atlantic Division
FINAL:
Loudoun United 2, Riverhounds SC 1
GAME RECAP
Loudoun United beats the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2-1 in Leesburg, Va.
It was Loudoun’s first win against Pittsburgh since entering the league in 2019 (1-6-0 now all-time).
Theodore Ku-Dipietro and Jovanny Bolivar scored long-distance goals for Loudoun and in his second start for the Hounds, Louis Perez, tallied his first professional goal, from an assist from Anthony Velarde.
The match, which was delayed by 1 hour, 40 minutes due to lightning, saw Loudoun play a physical style, receiving eight yellow cards against just one given to the Hounds. Possession in the match was an even 50/50, while Loudoun outshot Pittsburgh, 14-8.
Loudoun (now 2-7-0) earns their second win of the season, while the Riverhounds (5-4-2) will stay in second place in the Atlantic Division.
After the loss, Pittsburgh Head Coach Bob Lilley kept his players in the locker room for more than an hour.
A longer recap will be posted in the morning.
Gameday Updates:
90+’ – Ku-Dipietro on Loudoun now awarded a yellow card. You get a card! Everyone gets a card! Have a card!!
90+’ – Great passing from the Hounds leads to a good opportunity for Cicerone. His shot slices right but this is what Pittsburgh needed more of. More buildup play before going to net.
90+’ – Another big save from Leeker. Probably the Hounds best player on the field today. This could be a 3-1 game easily.
90′ – Kairou Amoustapha on Loudoun now gets a yellow. I wish we could just play soccer here. Houssou Landry on for Kairou Amoustapha after his yellow card.
9 minutes of stoppage time added. Yes, 9 minutes.
84′ – Loudoun’s goalie Jeremaine Fordah gets a yellow card for “wasting time.” More yellow cards than shots in this game basically.
83′ – Dikwa attempts a bicycle kick!! So close to scoring. Would’ve been all over Twitter if he scored that. A save on the shot gives the Hounds a corner kick.
81′ – Loudoun’s Timmy Mehl now given a yellow card.
78′ – Ku-Dipietro with a cheeky chip over the Hounds backline almost sets up Bolivar again. Score remains 2-1 Loudoun.
76′ – And Loudoun does take back the lead! Just a bullet from Jovanny Bolivar. That’s his fourth goal on the year.
71′ – Logan Panchot hits the post! On a cross he hits one off the volley. Loudoun almost takes the lead again.
67′ – Abdellatif Aboukoura now on for Darluis Paz. Paz is injured. Only 1 sub left for Loudoun.
63′ – Now for Loudoun, Robert Dambrot, Nicky Downs and Logan Panchot on for Michael DeShields, Jacob Greene and Kimarri Smith.
61′ – Albert Dikwa, Alex Dixon and Kenardo Forbes now all in for Tommy Williamson, Louis Perez and Todd Wharton. Hounds still have 2 subs if they want to use them.
57′ – Jacob Greene now on Loudoun gets a yellow for slide tackling from behind.
55′ – Yellow card given to Todd Wharton. As I predicted… a few more yellow’s would be handed out.
52′ – Darluis Paz on a breakaway shoots it right at Leeker. That honestly should’ve been a goal. That’s an opportunity you can’t waste.
Welcome to the score sheet Louis!#UNLEASH #LDNvPIT pic.twitter.com/v7PZmpyuvy
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) July 1, 2021
47’ Holy shmizzoles that Anthony Velarde assist right there was
😍😍😍.Perez finishes and its now 1-1.#LDNvPIT
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) July 1, 2021
48′ – RIVERHOUNDS TIE IT! A beautiful through ball across the box from Velarde onto the left foot of Louis Perez. Both players have been solid tonight and are rewarded.
47′ – Jovanny Bolivar on Loudoun is issued a yellow for a hard tackle on Louis Perez. Didn’t mean to do it, helped Perez get back up.
45′ – Alright, second half here we go. Let’s see if the team implements any of Lilley’s adjustments.
HT The Riverhounds have looked superbad for about 20 minutes.
…
No locker rooms at Segra, but I imagine Bob Lilley will scream loudly anyhow.#LDNvPIT— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) July 1, 2021
Half – Riverhounds are down 1-0 at the half. Not enough emphasis on possession. I see too many players from the midfield constantly running backwards. Can’t always just go out and put 3 goals in the first 20 minutes.
45′ – 3 minutes of stoppage time added.
44′ – Ku-Dipietro almost scores again. In the past few minutes, two big saves from Leeker and one gets by. Hounds giving up too much.
42′ – Theodore Ku-Dipietro scores for Loudoun. Blasts a shot outside the box that takes a redirection into the right corner. 1-0 Loudoun.
38′ – Williamson not happy with a foul called on him. I’m afraid there might be a few more yellow cards in this match.
33′ – Rovira brought down just outside the box after another Louis Perez cross. Perez and Williamson at the free kick… Perez hits one into the Loudoun wall. Home team goes the other way and hits one way over the net.
28′ – Loudoun United bench given a yellow card, arguing that there wasn’t a foul on Preston Kilwien.
27′ – Jake Leeker goes down in a hard collision. Danny Vitiello getting warmed up but looks like Leeker is okay and will stay in. Lilley calls in his team to talk.
23′ – Another dangerous cross in from Loudoun. Bob Lilley isn’t too happy.
21′ – Jake Leeker gets his first touch on the ball. Chris Morrish and Danny Vitiello as subs tonight.
19′ – Riverhounds playing direct right up the middle to the forwards a lot. The center of the field has been so open more than any game I’ve watched this season.
15′ – Michael DeShields gets a yellow card. Rough tackle on Louis Perez.
11′ – A brilliant touch on the run by left winger Gaoussou Samake breezes past Velarde. His cross goes off a Hound and earns Loudoun their first corner.
9′ – Tommy Williamson called offsides. Some good dribbling from him to possess and pass off earlier in the play.
7′ – The @SteelArmy is still hear loud and strong. I count 7 men. Happy to see the support in Virginia!
4′ – Louis Perez sends in a cross hard and low that Michael DeShields clears out backwards just above his net. Almost an own goal. Cicerone now takes two corner kicks but the ref calls a foul on the Hounds both times.
1′ – Game finally begins! Should be a nice night now. Bob Lilley giving Velarde the honor of wearing the captains band for Pittsburgh.
Game should be started back up at 845pm! Players will walk on at 830 to warm up real quick.
Mood: 😕
Current status: pic.twitter.com/LZYWpn4ov9
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) June 30, 2021
🌩️ Lightning Delay 🌩️
The teams came out on the field and were promptly ordered back to shelter by the match officials.
We will update as we get more information.#UNLEASH #LDNvPIT
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) June 30, 2021
WEATHER DELAY – Lightning is nearby. Game is delayed for at least 30 min. Will give updates when the game is close to starting back up again. At least the temperature can go down a bit on the bright side.
Tonight's 🔴 & ⚪️ Starting XI#LetsRide | @LoudounBiz pic.twitter.com/aM7xGD84Pv
— Loudoun United FC (@LoudounUnitedFC) June 30, 2021
Here is our final June Starting XI of the month vs @LoudounUnitedFC #UNLEASH #LDNvPIT pic.twitter.com/a5nKt0m5Xj
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) June 30, 2021
Look for starting lineups and game updates here.
Preview
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will head to face Loudoun United FC at Segra Field on Wednesday night looking to add to a three-game winning streak in the second meeting between the clubs this season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
@LoudounUnitedFC (1-7-0, 3pts) returns to action after suffering a fifth consecutive defeat last Saturday night in a 3-0 loss to the Charleston Battery that saw the side create numerous chances but once again find little fortune in front of goal. United outshot its hosts at Patriots Point 17-13 but recorded only three shots on goal, continuing a trend that has seen the side sit in the top 10 in the Championship in Expected Goals this season (13.80xG per American Soccer Analysis) but record only seven goals. Loudoun suffered a 3-2 defeat when the Hounds visited previously on June 2 as Jovanny Bolivar recorded a goal and assist but the hosts were unable to complete a comeback in the game that began its current losing streak.
@RiverhoundsSC (5-3-2, 17pts) by contrast earned its third consecutive victory this past Friday night in a 2-1 win against the New York Red Bulls II that saw Kenardo Forbes tie the club’s record for assists with his 27th helper in its colors. Forbes has now recorded two assists this season to move to 41 regular season assists in the Championship for his career as he set up Todd Wharton for the opening goal of the game before also playing a role in Albert Dikwa’s finish before halftime that proved the winner. The win moved the Hounds within four points of the Tampa Bay Rowdies at the top of the Atlantic Division. Pittsburgh has won all six prior meetings with United after its victory earlier this month, with four of those wins having come on the road.
PSN Coverage:
Mark Goodman’s recent scouting report of Loudoun United. This one should just be titled Loudoun Midweek, Part Deux
Hounds Notebook: Independence Day tradition continues, sort of, and up close with Russell Cicerone
Most Recent Lineups
Loudoun United FC (3-4-1-2): Jermaine Fordah; Michael DeShields, Timmy Mehl, Robbie Dambrot; Jeremy Garay, Nicky Downs, Ted Ku-DiPietro, Gaoussou Samake; Darluis Paz; Kairou Amoustapha, Kimarni Smith
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (5-4-1): Danny Vitiello; Todd Wharton, Mekeil Williams, Shane Wiedt, Jelani Peters, Danny Rovira; Alex Dixon, Danny Griffin, Kenardo Forbes, Russell Cicerone; Albert Dikwa
Discipline
Loudoun United FC – None
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – None