Twitter Reaction: FC Cincy knocks Riverhounds out

File photo courtesy Ed Thompson

Riverhounds SC Post Match Coverage on Pittsburgh Soccer Now is presented by The Bulldog Pub

 

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds battled FC Cincinnati, showing plenty of grit and determination, but not enough on the attacking front, as they fell to the MLS club, 3-1, in the Quarterfinal Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at TQL Stadium.

The match remained scoreless at the half, despite the Hounds losing a pair of important attacking players, forward Albert Dikwa, who went down with a pretty painful shoulder injury, and midfielder Robbie Mertz late in the half.

The Riverhounds enjoyed a memorable run in the competition and, as a second-tier club from the USL Championship, upset two MLS clubs but lost to Cincinnati after conceding goals for the first time in three matches.

The first FCC goal came in the 58th minute, and it wasn’t without controversy, as Brandon Vazquez scored on a feed by captain Luciano Acosta, as the Riverhounds defenders pleaded for an offside call.

Big man Vazquez gets it going | @fccincinnati @opencup | #USOC2023 pic.twitter.com/fnvhZxyD6Z

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) June 7, 2023

In the 71^st minute, second-half substitute Alvaro Barreal smashed home a highlight-reel, left-footed volley from about 20 yards out off a corner kick by Acosta.

FC Cincinnati’s Brandon Vazquez scored on a feed by captain Luciano Acosta in the 56^th minute to five FCC the lead it needed.

In second-half added time, Santiago Arias headed in his first FC Cincinnati goal for 3-0. Pittsburgh added a consolation goal quickly after the Arias tally, as second half sub, Tola Showunmi scored his first goal as a Hound.

#CINvPIT Twitter Reaction 

One of the joys of this year’s @opencup has been following this @RiverhoundsSC story. An example of the singular, ebullient local soccer cultures shining bright in this country. Yinz should be proud. 🇺🇸💪❤️ https://t.co/8M3yWhogpY

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 7, 2023

A valiant @opencup run comes to an end for @RiverhoundsSC 🗞️#USOC2023

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) June 7, 2023

As FC Cincy closes in on the semifinal, take a moment to appreciate the team has one loss from 20 competitive games this year (15-1-4).

— Pat Brennan (@PBrennanENQ) June 7, 2023

Oh well. @RiverhoundsSC went in playing with house money, they'll go out that way as well. And they've attracted national attention to the franchise that wasn't there before.

In the immortal words of Coach Lasso, victory is believing you've already won.#UNLEASH #HOUNDTAHN

— Matt Popchock (@PopchockSays) June 7, 2023

3 games against the MLS should, I think, make the Riverhounds a better team.

— Dave Biesecker (@Constipatedoody) June 7, 2023

An amazing cup run, hold your heads high, we look forward now. Tola gets his goal, hopefully more to come. Time to concentrate on the league. I may be in the uk, but I am a proud member of the @SteelArmy and proud of @RiverhoundsSC #UKRiverhound #Riverhounds #HoundTahn #Unleash

— Fez Seagrave (@ukriverhound) June 7, 2023

Sad to lose but what a hell of a run! Hounds took down 2 MLS teams.

Getting to see them take down the Crew at Highmark will go down as one of the most memorable nights in club history.

Also Tola scored! #UNLEASH

— Josh (@CharlieBlix) June 7, 2023

First semis since the magical run that put Cincinnati soccer on the map! 🙌🏻

Kudos to the Riverhounds. I remember how exciting it was to make a big run as a USL team. 👏🏻 #USOC2023

— Jennifer Kaufman (@jnkaufman) June 7, 2023

No shame in how it ends.

All eyes are back on the league, and it's first and second in East squaring off at Highmark on Saturday.#UNLEASH

P.S. Fuck Ohio https://t.co/DGcr9kiLn7

— Steel Army (@SteelArmy) June 7, 2023

Never said die 🐾

We salute your run, @RiverhoundsSC | #USOC2023 pic.twitter.com/hn7uRy8nQ8

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) June 7, 2023

 

Maybe I should keep sitting here to record corners! pic.twitter.com/aR7yzBn1Mo

— Adam (@bied_2) June 7, 2023

Been a good run from the @RiverhoundsSC, but losing maybe your two best players in the first half was probably a bit much to overcome – the awful missed offside call on the first goal didn't help, either. FCC is a good side, good luck to them going forward.

— Soccer Analysis – Americas (@SoccerAmericas1) June 7, 2023

Great night for soccer @RiverhoundsSC pic.twitter.com/lJfAkbLuHk

— Kevin Truman (@footballpastor1) June 6, 2023

Bad result but we gave it our all. Thank you Riverhounds for the good times pic.twitter.com/i1MD4YvsDx

— JayStu412 (@jay_stu412) June 7, 2023

They are very good. So sad Dikwa was injured early.

— Bryan Weigel (@BryanWeigel) June 7, 2023

That first goal most likely shouldn’t have counted but @alvarobarreal00 really said “next one has no doubts” 👀 #CINvPIT @fccincinnati

— Rachel Snowlina (@rachelroo_13) June 7, 2023

He's not kidding. Nothing the Hounds could do about that one; just a moment of brilliance for FC Cincinnati.

2-0 to the Orange and Blue, and Pittsburgh's run in this tournament is likely to end. @PghSoccerNow https://t.co/Kkuc5yAAWL

— Dan Angell (@danangell11) June 7, 2023

Uh that was nuts from Barreal.

Well, it’s been fun.#Houndtahn

— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) June 7, 2023

ladies and gentlemen,
I give you,
ALVARO BARREAL of @fccincinnati#USOC2023pic.twitter.com/eaBmK7HOH3

— Devon Kerr (@DevonKerr9) June 7, 2023

On the go-ahead goal, you see DosSantos sell out from LCB to try and intercept a pass between the lines. He whiffs and can’t get back in time, and it’s 1-0 with Badji and Vazquez getting behind the defense with Acosta creating.

Question the call, but Cincy’s formula is working. pic.twitter.com/HrI9eSEAXK

— john morrissey (@USLTactics) June 7, 2023

A blatant missed call changed this entire game!!! @fccincinnati had no life until a missed offside call changed it all!! And let's not forget Nwobodo's forearm punch that took out the Riverhounds best striker! This game is a sham. The time wasting by Cincy now is ridiculous

— Matt Harkins (@MattyIcePGH) June 7, 2023

this helps? pic.twitter.com/bA7Hi7MgTO

— vallah (@trickser101) June 7, 2023

To be fair, it did look like there might be two offsides for that first goal…

— James Nalton (@JDNalton) June 7, 2023

Wow! Open Cup needs VAR or ref needs to remember there is no VAR to fix this HORRIBLE no call.

— Mike Brown (@bear_brown89) June 7, 2023

Not a real tournament if you don’t have VAR. Offsides. @opencup is a joke.

— Marcus Phillips (@MPP_UD) June 7, 2023

The mesmerizing thing about the Hounds is that they have made bold passes and aggressive runs these past three USOC games.

Not intimidated at all against a higher division team.#Houndtahn #USOC2023

— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) June 6, 2023

.@jahmali_waite came up big for @RiverhoundsSC in the first half! 🛡#USOC2023
pic.twitter.com/JxQPTxKryz

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) June 6, 2023

Luke Biasi looking for a tryout as a DB with the @Steelers? #USOC2023

— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) June 6, 2023

😳 pic.twitter.com/gONSZZKH69

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) June 6, 2023

People arguing about poverty rates in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati on the YouTube stream is the real magic of the Cup

— john morrissey (@USLTactics) June 6, 2023

Dikwa doesn't go down early, this is a totally different game. 3-1 doesn't tell the whole story by any means, but so fucking proud of this team for leaving no MLS team untouched. Now, go win the league.

— conditionally, jewel 💜🖤💍 (@jaeltoretti) June 7, 2023

Tough early blow for the Hounds, as Albert Dikwa takes a shot to the shoulder/arm — and even before he hits ground braces for painful fall.

Separated shoulder?

Ouch.

Marc Ybarra comes on for Hounds leading scorer.

12' #CINvPIT #USOC2023

— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) June 6, 2023

Dikwa warms up the engine 😤 | @RiverhoundsSC

*Damn, that ball from Griffin pic.twitter.com/rCJnGe4WB3

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) June 6, 2023

 

The Magic of The Cup 💫

Christian Pulisic has a special message for @USLChampionship side @RiverhoundsSC ahead of tonight’s @opencup Quarterfinal clash 🤳

Where to watch 📺 » https://t.co/jp3ViH7gTO pic.twitter.com/AKZkzBJgu2

— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) June 6, 2023