Hounds zipped in preseason tilt vs Akron, 0-0

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and Akron Zips played to a scoreless draw in a preseason encounter at Highmark Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Through the first half, the Hounds dominated possession while also disrupting Akron from playing the ball out of the back on numerous occassions.

Still, Pittsburgh kept coming up short in connecting passes in the final third.

The best chance came in the 33rd minute when Robbie Mertz’s short, diagnonal pass found trialist making a run deep into the box redirected his shot into goal.  But the flag was up, as the offside call took the only legit scoring chance off the board for Pittsburgh.

As the Hounds worked in more substitutions at the start of the second half and in the 65th minute, they continued to have trouble trying to solve the well-organized Akron formation.

Team captain Kenardo Forbes, forward Albert Dikwa and outside back Nate Dossantos, did not play in the friendly.

The Hounds will return to action on Tuesday when they take on fellow USL Championship side Detroit City FC in Michigan.

 Here’s a look at the starting lineup and subs for the Riverhounds

Starters 

• Edward Kizza – F
• Trialist (29) – F
• Robbie Mertz – ACM
• Luke Biasi – ORMF
• Dani Rovira – OLMF
• Trialist (8)- CDMF
• Marc Ybarra – CMF
• Arturo Ordonez – CB
• Patrick Hogan – LCB
• Trialist (31) – RCB
• Jahmali Waite – GK

Halftime subs

• Joe Farrell – CB
• Trialist (2) – ROB
• Trialist (22) – CDMF
• Langston Blackstock (16)

65′  Subs 

• Trialist (5)
• Trialist (18)
• Trialist (26)
• Trialist (25)

Look for more from Hounds Head Coach Bob Lilley to come.

Lilley kept the team in the locker room for more than an hour after the match.