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Pittsburgh Riverhounds

FINAL: Switchbacks FC 1, Riverhounds SC 0

USL Championship

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1, Riverhounds SC 0

Match Statistics: USL Championship Match Center

Match Summary

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC suffered its first loss of the season on the road at the hands of Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 1-0, in a match that turned following a red card on Hounds midfielder Robbie Mertz early in the second half.

Despite warding off a few dangerous chances, including goalkeeper Jahmali Waite’s save on Maalique Foster’s penalty chance in the 75th minute, the Hounds ultimately surrendered a goal four minutes later when USL Championship veteran forward Romario Williams finished off a low cross into the box from Patrick Seagrist.

The Hounds (now 1-1-3, 6 points) were out-possessed for much of the night (Switchbacks held 67/33 advantage), but were pushing the tempo on counter-attacking chances.  Pittsburgh ended the match with six shots, forcing Colorado Springs goalkeeper Herrera into one save.

Mertz’s unfortunate challenge came in the 48th minute, leaving the Hounds to play the rest of the match down a man.

At the conclusion of the match, Arturo Ordonez was also sent off, after a challenge when he was booked for his second yellow card of the evening. This left Pittsburgh to finish the match with nine men.

First half

The first half was almost completely devoid of scoring chances, as neither team put a shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes.

Most of the shots in the first half were from distance, including an early effort by Williams for the Switchbacks and a long-range chipped effort that went over the bar by the Hounds’ Albert Dikwa.

The Hounds did have the ball in the net just before halftime, when Tony Lopez put the ball home after Marc Ybarra’s shot struck him amongst the traffic in front of the net. The goal was disallowed for handling, however, ending the Hounds’ best chance of the half.

Second half

Things changed dramatically in the early moments, when Mertz was ordered off the field just three minutes into the half for a challenge that caught Jairo Henriquez above the ankle. That increased the intensity of the game dramatically, as a total of eight cards would be shown after having none in the first half.

Despite being down a man, the Hounds held on until Pat Hogan was called for a tug on the jersey of Maalique Foster in the penalty area, giving the Switchbacks a chance to take the lead at the spot in the 75th minute. But Waite stood his ground against the stutter-stepping Foster and reacted to stop the chipped penalty kick with ease.

Five minutes later, the match’s lone goal would be scored by Williams, who got on the end of a low cross from the left by Patrick Seagrist and slotted home the finish on his first touch from 7 yards out.

The Hounds pushed numbers forward to try and get a late tying goal, earning a free kick and two corners in second-half stoppage time. But late in the mayhem created in the Switchbacks’ box, Ordóñez was whistled for a challenge with a high boot, resulting in his second yellow card of the game and his own red card to reduce the Hounds to nine men.

Pittsburgh will return home this coming week, as they’ll host Rio Grande Valley Toros FC, at Highmark Stadium next Saturday, April 15.

Look for a more detailed recap to follow.  

Match Updates 

Look for starting lineups, in-game highlights/updates and a post match wrap to follow to be included on this thread.

Final: Colorado Springs 1, Riverhounds 0

90′ ++++ – Ordonez now sent off after second yellow card.

90′ +++ – Free kick from Jahmali Waite who pushes up — but it sails too wide.

90′ ++ — Back-to-back corners for Pittsburgh, taken by Kenardo Forbes, but they can’t find a solid chance on frame.

90′ — Four minutes of stoppage time

79′ – Two more Hounds substitutions.

  • IN: Illal Osumanu, Joe Farrell
  • OUT: Marc Ybarra, Pat Hogan

79′ — GOAL – COLORADO SPRINGS – Romario Williams buries the low cross!

Hounds draw rematch vs Maryland Bobcats in third round of the US Open Cup

Catching up after the save: Hogan was booked for the foul leading to the PK, and Colorado Springs has inserted Aaron Wheeler into the contest for their second change.

75′ – SAVE!  Actually pretty easy stop for Hounds keeper Jahmali Waite on the PK attempt.  Foster tried to get cute and it didn’t fool anyone.

74′ – Penalty! Foster draws the foul in the box. Looks like a bit of a shirt grab and he goes down. It was Pat Hogan with the shirt tug. Colorado Springs gets the PK opportunity!

63′ – First two changes come into the game for the Hounds. IN: Dani Rovira, Tola Showunmi OUT: Nate Dossantos, Tony Lopez

52′ – Dikwa beats Macauley King around the outside and gets hauled down. That’s the second quick yellow on Colorado Springs after the sending off.

48′ — RED CARD — Robbie Mertz is sent off for studs up challenge into the shins.

HALF — RIVERHOUNDS 0, COLORADO SB 0

Even match through the first 45 minutes. Each team w/ 3 shots (none on frame) As expected, it’s been tough for each side to break through. Total of six goals allowed by both sides this season.

43′ – Dossantos and Beckford get tangled up after going for a ball in the Colorado Springs corner. The referee comes to talk to both, as they’ve been battling all night.

41′ – Another Hounds corner, and Ordóñez gets a header toward goal! Lacroix is there for Colo. Springs to head it wide of the post, and away for another corner.

39′ – Dikwa sees the goalkeeper off his line and tries the half-volley from about 30-35 out. Over the bar, but not by that much… worth a try in a game with few chances.

19′ – Luke Biasi whips a good, low ball into the Switchbacks box, and it’ll get cleared behind for the first Hounds corner of the match.

15′ — Not much to report through the first 15 minutes.

Here’s Riverhounds starting XI:

With Junior Etou out due to arm injury, Trevor Zwetsloot will be making his first ever start in Pittsburgh and in the USL Championship.

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Colorado Springs’ Starting XI:

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PSN Recent Hounds Coverage 

https://pittsburghsoccernow.com/2023/04/08/preview-scouting-report-riverhounds-switchbacks-provide-a-mirror-image-match-up-of-stingy-sides/

Sounding Off on Soccer: Riverhounds SC’s Nate Dossantos on his soccer journey from Canada to Pittsburgh

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

Hounds draw rematch vs Maryland Bobcats in third round of the US Open Cup

Related Topics

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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