Indy Eleven hand hapless Riverhounds humbling home defeat

Indy Eleven 3, Riverhounds 1

Match statistics: USL Championship Match Center

Match Summary 

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds were hit hard from the start for the second consecutive match, as the Indy Eleven raced to an early lead and never looked back in a 3-1 victory at Highmark Stadium on Wednesday night.

It was the first loss of the season for the Hounds (10-4-8) at home and their second straight defeat.

“We need to have a little more fire in our bellies. We’re all accountable. Players. Staff. We can’t live off the unbeaten run. That’s gone now,” Bob Lilley, Riverhounds Head Coach, said.

In the 13th minute, Indy’s Aodhan Quinn stunned the Hounds and the crowd with what had to be the longest strike in a professional match in Highmark Stadium history — with a one-time hit back from the center of the field that sailed under the crossbar, following a weak, lofted clearance effort from Hounds goalkeeper Jahmali Waite, who came way off his line.

𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆!!! 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠!!! 😱

A wonderstrike from @AodhanQuinn gives @IndyEleven the lead at Highmark! 💫#PITvIND pic.twitter.com/83rcqzQvbL

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) July 26, 2023

Indy continued to make the Hounds chase the match following the Quinn tally.

In the 35th minute, they strung together a terrific set of passes through the middle, to the right side, delivering a cross from Cam Lindley that connected with Sebastain Guenzatti.  The former Tampa Bay Rowdies forward scored his first goal of the season, beating Hounds defenders and  Waite to the spot just inside the right post for the put back.

Ironically, Lindley was booked for a hard challenge seconds before.

At the half, Pittsburgh made wholesale substitutions, as Marc Ybarra, JC Orbregon and Kenardo Forbes entered the match to provide fresh legs and spark for it attack, replacing Robbie Mertz, Edward Kizza and Burke Fahling.

Pushing to cut into the Indy lead, with a revamped lineup that saw Danny Griffin drop back into center back spot, with Forbes and Obregon pushing high, they stayed on the front foot for most of the 2nd half.

Obregon had a solid look from the top of box in the 53rd minute, but missed his shot by inches of the right post.

With the Hounds pushing numbers forward, Indy made them pay again in the 72nd minute when Harrison Robledo converted a cross at the far post from Douglas Martinez Jr.

The Hounds were finally rewarded for its second half push when Tola Showunmi made the most of his chance after receiving a well-placed pass from midfielder Marc Ybarra in the 89th minute.

Showunmi’s goal denied the Indy clean sheet but wasn’t nearly enough to close the gap for the Hounds, who have a quick turnaround with Memphis visiting Highmark on Saturday.

“When we fall behind, we have to respond,” Lilley said.

“Tonight, we had an opportunity to respond after the Charleston loss too. Mot sure we figured it out yet. We have 12 games to go. We have to get better.”

Look for a more including post match reaction to come from Highmark Stadium.

Starting Lineups

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Indy Eleven

Match Notes 

• Forbes sits for just the second time in league play this year

• Hogan/Ordóñez/Zwetsloot appear as a CB trio for the first time

• The Hounds are two goals away from 1,000 in club history

#PITvIND Twitter Reaction