Takeaways and Player Grades: Hounds come up short in finishing on transition chances in Tulsa

The Riverhounds SC traveled to the Sooner State for a midweek match vs FC Tulsa, for a match between two teams operating on short rest.

The teams battled to a scoreless draw, one that included some controversy, with goals for both teams being wiped away by the officiating crew.

FINAL: Riverhounds SC 0, FC Tulsa 0

It was a choppy affair, lacking much in the way of either team really having success building up play and knocking the ball around.

The Hounds came away from this Tussle in Tulsa with a point, and a potential major injury to a key new player, as midfielder Junior Etou, who has started in all four matches this season, had to come off the field on a stretcher in the waning moments of the match.  Quite frankly, it was a scary moment if you were watching closely, as he was moving his leg around in apparent pain when the broadcast camera was centered on the training staff attending to Etou, however they cut away quickly while he was being treated.  Here’s hoping that Etou is doing well and will be able to recover quickly.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now has reached out to the Riverhounds SC to find out Etou’s status.  The team landed in Pittsburgh from its trip late Wednesday, and when reached, club officials did not have anything to share. The team will have a few more days off as they don’t return to action until next Saturday, in Colorado.

On the bright side for the club and its fans, after four matches the Hounds remain without a loss (1-0-3 | W-L-T)

Hounds Formation, Tactics, Personnel

With a quick turnaround between matches, Head Coach Bob Lilley and his staff gave five players a chance to get their first start.

Tola Showunmi, Tony Lopez, Burke Fahling, Luke Biasi and Joe Farrell made their first starts as Riverhounds on Tuesday.

If you look at the average positions for the starters, the Hounds kept the 4-2-3-1 shape, with the attacking wide midfielders doing a lot of pressing.

While the Hounds were in a 4-2-3-1, and have shown to be solid in possession this season, Lilley’s intent with this starting group was to use the high energy make-up to press and harass Tulsa’s back line and midfielders throughout the match into making mistakes and look for quick, transition opportunities on the counter.

All three attacking midfielders (Showunmi, Lopez and Fahling spent much of their time on the edge of the attacking third buzzing around and putting initial pressure on the ball,  It was up to Etou, Kenardo Forbes, who started deeper in the midfield, to step into passing lanes attempting to make interceptions and get the transition game going.

At the start of the second half, Robbie Mertz came on for Fahling.  Additional subs followed to provide more energy off the bench, as well as Marc Ybarra, DZ Harmon and Edward Kizza.

The Hounds’ ironmen from the past two games were Albert Dikwa and Arturo Ordonez, who each played full 90 minutes in the two draws against Miami and Tulsa.

High Press Brought Mixed Results 

While the Hounds did a lot to disrupt Tulsa’s possession and ability to build-up play, especially through the middle of the field, the tactics brought mixed results, as the Hounds didn’t quite execute the game plan probably the way Lilley had envisioned.

They created plenty of disruption, but not tons of quality scoring chances.

Some of that credit should go to the Tulsa defenders who were under pressure all night, but often times were right there to scramble back to get behind the ball and deny clear-cut chances for Pittsburgh.  Tulsa had five blocked shots on the night.

While the Hounds conceded possession in a big way (Tulsa had the 70/30 edge with 671 passes to the Hounds’ 273), Pittsburgh still sent 22 crosses, had 18 shots (only three on frame) and won four corner kicks.

A good number of the crosses (actually 43%) connected, but the Hounds couldn’t put their chances away.

Etou forced the best save of the day from Austin Wormell with a rising shot in the 61st minute that the Tulsa keeper could only tip over the bar.

Lopez was the most active attacker for the Hounds, accounting for five shots, with two that forced saves including one in the 40th minute from the top of the box that had lots of pace, but was cleaned up by Wormell.

Ultimately, the Hounds came up short and couldn’t capitalize on the chances and moments they had in getting into transition, sending more than 20 crosses and 18 shots, seeing their conversion rate drop after 90-plus minutes of attrition in this important area.

Controversial Call Denies Dikwa Header

This match may be remembered for the goal that didn’t count.

In the 16th minute, Arturo Ordonez set up Dikwa with a well-placed long ball over the top of the Tulsa back line and into the center of the box.  Dikwa and Michael Nelson came together converging on the ball for a hard collision, as Dikwa did get a header on the ball, which landed in the goal.

Let's take a look back at the Dikwa play. Thought we had our first on this one…#TULvPIT #HOUNDTAHN pic.twitter.com/fUvlkkYLSQ

— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) March 29, 2023

However, main official Melvin Rivas quickly ran in to wave off the goal, and put Dikwa into the book with yellow card, for what was apparently a dangerous play on the keeper.

While in real time, in the moment, it is a very, very difficult call for Rivas, the replay does clearly show DIkwa’s head on the ball before the primary contact.

There was much debate (not among Hounds faithful) about the call.  In the broadcast booth, it was acknowledged that it was a tough call too.

However, a few years back, since this type of play often comes up, I asked a very high level official about the scenario when a goalkeeper collides with an attacker as they’re both going for the ball, and he shared this bit of information from United States Soccer Federation:

1. if both players are clearly (and fairly) playing the ball and not one another and, as a result, they collide, there is NO FOUL. PERIOD. This despite the penchant some referees have for calling this a foul.
2. If one of the players (whether goalkeeper or a field player) is clearly playing his/her opponent, rather than playing the ball, that is a foul. If the act is aggressive, it is serious misconduct, worth of a sending-off (red card). If it is instead reckless, it is unsporting behavior and must be cautioned (yellow card).
3. If the act by the “aggressor” is a foul, interferes with a goal-scoring opportunity (including the actual preventing of a goal), and all “4 Ds” are present, then the “aggressor” should be sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick. However, if the act in and of itself is worthy of a sending-off, then that is the reason to be included in the match report.

It appears that Rivas settled in on number two, in his view, Dikwa was reckless and therefore was assessed a yellow card and the goal did not count.  Clearly, Riverhounds die-hard fan-based groups were quick to offer their displeasure with call, sharing their disgust on Twitter.

HORRIFIC DECISION.

— Steel Army (@SteelArmy) March 29, 2023

Dear @USLChampionship,

You MUST figure out a way to ensure that the refs aren't the talking points of most of your games. It's ruining your league.

Sincerely,
Everyone#TULvPIT

— Mon Goals (@mongoals) March 29, 2023

Later in the match, in the second half, Tulsa had a beef of their own with the linesman, who brought the flag up to takeaway a goal in the run of play due to an offside call.

It was Moses Dyer who hit the back of the net, but the assistant referee deemed the New Zealand substitute offsides.

The closest Tulsa came to getting the go-ahead goal came when Bradley Bourgeois redirected a shot into an open goal, but a goal line clearance from a Riverhounds center-back (will have to check the replay again, but it appeared to be Ordonez), keeping the match deadlocked.

Hounds Player Grades (#TULvPIT)

Luke Biasi – 5 – two tackles, interception, got one cross in — and drew a foul in a full 90 playing the outside right back position.