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Pittsburgh Riverhounds

FINAL: Charleston Battery 3, Riverhounds SC 0

Photo courtesy Charleston Battery / USL Championship

USL Championship Eastern Conference

 Charleston Battery 3, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 0
Match Stats: USL Championship Match Center

 

Match Summary

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC surrendered an early goal, then never recovered, as the Charleston Battery charged forward with three first half goals to cruise to a 3-0 victory at Patriots Point Stadium in Charleston on Saturday night.  

Auggie Williams had the opening strike in the 2nd minute, after a Pittsburgh giveaway, then Andrew Booth and Romario Piggot added to the home side’s goal scoring flurry in the first half.  

The Hounds (7-4-3, 25 points) had one off target shot in the first half, and finished with 12 total shots with just one one frame.  

First half

Things were bad from the start for the Hounds, as Kenardo Forbes was forced into a turnover into his own half in the second minute. The ball went straight to the feet of Williams, and Charleston’s leading scorer had time to turn, shoot and score from 20 yards away. It was the quickest goal allowed by the Hounds since giving up an opening-minute goal on June 6, 2021 to Austin’s Collin Fernandez.

The Hounds didn’t threaten the Battery goal apart from a Dane Kelly counter-attacking shot that went over the bar, and in the 38th minute, the lead was doubled when Booth headed in a corner kick at the near post.

Things got worse in first-half stoppage time, as a low pass slipped under the legs of defender Arturo Ordóñez and allowed Piggott to get behind the defense to make the lead 3-0.

Second half

Coach Bob Lilley made wholesale changes at the break, introducing Angelo Kelly, William Eyang and Albert Dikwa — making his 100th USL Championship appearance — and the trio succeeded in bringing more energy, though not more attacking efficiency.

Angelo Kelly picked out Forbes with a good pass to the left wing, and the Hounds’ captain beat his defender in the box, only to have his shot kicked away by Battery goalkeeper Hugo Fauroux in the 60th minute.

The Hounds continued to press forward for a goal, and Ordóñez came closest twice from corner kicks — once heading the ball down and watching it bounce over the bar, and shortly after hitting the crossbar.

In the end, the Hounds could not find the net and suffered their most lopsided defeat since the 2021 season opener, a 3-0 loss at Tampa Bay.

Look for a more detail recap to follow later in the evening.  

Match Day Updates 

Look for starting lineups, in game updates and post game coverage here on this Match Day Blog.  


FINAL – CHARLESTON 3, PITTSBURGH 0

Embarassing loss for the Hounds tonight in Charleston.  The Battery were charged up and the Hounds couldn’t match their intensity, then didn’t show any desire to fight back either.  

88′ — Only late in the second half, have the Hounds shown some urgency, setting up a number of corner kicks.  But each time, shots and attempts have come up short. 

78′ — Toby Sims does his best to run down a ball played to right endline, then delivers one-time cross over to middle of box. Danny Griffin comes charging in but skies his shot over the bar. 

74′ — SUBS 

  • IN – Mark Ybarra & Toby Sims 
  • OUT – Russell Cicerone & Kenardo Forbes

68′ — Despite some positive energy from subs, the Hounds still have only registered three total shots and one on frame in this match. 68′ 3-0 Charleston still in command

62′ — Save from Jahmali Waite!

Auggie Williams  left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.

60′ – Forbes turns his defender in the box to get a shot away from the left side, but Fauroux makes the kick save in the Charleston goal.

46′ — SUBS for Riverhounds

Wholesale changes for Hounds at start of 2nd half…

  • IN Albert Dikwa William Eyang Angelo Kelly
  • OUT Luis Argudo Dani Rovira Dane Kelly 46′ 3-0 Battery

 

45+++ — GOAL — CHARLESTON 3, PITTSBURGH 0 

Romario Piggot with the goal.

It’s really a salt in wound goal for Hounds… Thru ball right between center back Arturo Ordonez’s legs goes right to Piggot’s foot, and it’s a clinical finish. Everything going Charleston’s way.

39′ — GOAL — CHARLESTON 2, PITTSBURGH 0

Andrew Booth with the redirected header at near post.

36′ — YELLOW CARD — Pittsburgh’s Jelani Peters with the late challenge. 

32′ — YELLOW CARD — Hounds’ Danny Griffin goes in the book. 

30′ — Through 30 minutes, Hounds still traling Charleston, 1-0. Unable to really create opportunities. They look lethargic. No shots on frame and being outpossessed. Coincidence or not, but key playmaker, Alex Dixon, not in starting XI or the 18 tonight. 

15′ – Nice work by Cicerone to set up free kick from left edge.  

Forbes with Curling service just squeezes between the Hounds players and Fauroux, the Charleston goalkeeper, but no one gets a touch.

 

 

2′ — GOAL – CHARLESTON 1, PITTSBURGH 0 

Augie Williams with room to shoot from the top of the box and buries it! 

Ball poked away from Forbes in possession, and it falls right to Augustine Williams who has room to turn & shoot.

Starting Lineups 

Hounds

26 Waite GK
27 Peters DF
15 Ordoñez DF
3 Wiedt DF
4 Rovira MF
2 Dossantos MF
12 Griffin MF
11 Forbes (C) MF
29 Kelly FW
21 Argudo FW
10 Cicerone FW

Battery 

30 Fauroux GK
4 St. Martin DF
13 Sheldon (C) DF
5 Archer DF
23 Kilwien DF
15 Schmidt MF
24 Cichero MF
7 Booth MF
10 Piggott MF
18 Holcomb MF
9 Williams 2‎ FW

Pre Match Blotter

Match notes of interest: 

  • The Battery will be trying to get its first win over the Hounds since 2018 after the Hounds secured two wins and drew with the Battery twice back in 2021.
  • To add to the intrigue around this matchup, there are some familiar faces between the two rosters.
    • Preston Kilwien of the Battery was a member of the Hounds last season, and today will be the first time he faces his former team. On the flip side,
    • Hounds midfielder Angelo Kelly returns to Charleston, where he played the last four seasons.
    • Dane Kelly remains the top scorer for the Battery in the “modern” USL era (2011-present) with 42 goals from 2011-15.
  • The Hounds will battle for their third win on the road this season while they look to snap their three-game winless run (one loss, two draws). As for the Battery, they have not claimed a win since defeating Tulsa, 1-0, in their first match this season, which was the first match under new head coach Conor Casey.
  • Hounds hold a 9-13-15 all-time record against the Battery; the Hounds have faced only the Richmond Kickers, Harrisburg City Islanders/Penn FC and Rochester Rhinos more often in their history.
  • Couple of Hounds in line for milestones tonight… 

 

PSN’s Riverhounds SC Coverage 

Hounds Notebook: Lacking a strong finishing kick

 

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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