FINAL: New Mexico United 1, Riverhounds 0

Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

FINAL: New Mexico United 1, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 0

USL Championship Match Center Stats 

A late first half goal in transition was enough for New Mexico United to hand the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC a season opening 1-0 loss on Saturday afternoon at Isotopes Park.

In the 44th minute, New Mexico’s Greg Hurst broke behind the Hounds back line, cleverly dribbling around a charging goalkeeper Eric Dick and poking the ball through for the goal that was the difference in the match.

Hit’em with the roll-&-poke, Greg 🤘@GregHurst10 scores our first of the year 🙌 VAMOS! #SomosUnidos pic.twitter.com/wkQ3z2Y4Zn

— New Mexico United (@NewMexicoUTD) March 9, 2024

The Riverhounds were outpossessed by 68%-32% margin, as New Mexico also held the shots advantage, 5-3 (5-1 on target), as Dick made four saves in his debut with Pittsburgh.

The Hounds will return to Pittsburgh for the home opener next Saturday, March 16, vs Tulsa (7 p.m. kickoff).

Look for more coverage to follow including reactions and analysis in the coming days.

Match Updates

We will provide key match updates on this thread and look for additional post match recap, reaction and analysis to follow here on Pittsburgh Soccer Now.  

2nd Half

FINAL —

90+5′ – A last-minute corner here for the Hounds, probably the last meaningful chance of the game.

90+1′ – Dayonn Harris picks up the yellow for time-wasting. Nicky Hernandez lucky to avoid a second yellow there for NMU.

90′ – A yellow card for NMU’s Nicky Hernandez after a little knockaround with Eric Dick.

89′ – Another chance for the Riverhounds, with a low shot unfortunately directed right at Tambakis for a relatively easy save.

85′ – Chance for the Hounds just goes begging as a header from Kizza freezes Tambakis but ends up just wide of goal.

84′ – Substitution for the Hounds:  

IN Sean Suber, Pierre Cayet   

OUT  Dani Rovira, Junior Etou

83′ — NM on counter — Hernandez with header chance on frame, but Dick is there.

71′ — Looks like the spark will need to come from EJ Johnson (making his Hounds’ debut) and Langston Blackstock, who enter for Babacar Diene and Kenardo Forbes.

65′ — A bit more possession, a bit stouter defensively, but second verse largely the same as the first for the Hounds this half. No real attacking threat to speak of this afternoon.

60′ — Hounds already brought on Luke Biasi for Mike DeShields to start 2nd half. Back center 3 is now Osumanu-Griffin-Biasi. Not sure who had that one? Nearing 60′ mark, look for some more subs to come soon to give the attack a much-needed spark.

52′ — YELLOW CARD — Babacar Diene

45′ — Bob Lilley makes first sub of season/match — bringing on Luke Biasi for Mike DeShields

HALFTIME NOTES

• Hounds conceding 71 percent possession to New Mexico

Hounds trailing 1-0 at the half.

No reason to panic, but they're getting out played — especially in the middle where they're not connecting passes/linking up at all with the Kizza-Diene front line.

Look for adjustments from Bob Lilley to get sharper on ball & in final 3rd

— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) March 9, 2024

Passing accuracy for Hounds players:

DEF: DeShields (64%), Osumanu (88%), Rovira (36%), Etou (74%)

MID: Forbes (87%), Mertz (82%), Griffin (60%), Walti (75%)#HOUNDTAHN | @pghsoccernow

— Colton Coreschi (@cjcoreschi) March 9, 2024

1. Eric Dick has been best on-field for the Hounds so far, numerous key saves.

2. Forwards totally disconnected, no passing network through midfield.

3. All good things for the Hounds in the first half came from the wings – largely from Etou.#HOUNDTAHN | @pghsoccernow

— Colton Coreschi (@cjcoreschi) March 9, 2024

1st Half

44′ — GOAL — NEW MEXICO 1, PITTSBURGH 0

New Mexico opens the scoring moments before the halftime break. Greg Hurst breaks through the defense, cleverly dribbles around a charging Eric Dick, and finishes in front of the home support. Assist to Jacobo Reyes.

Hit’em with the roll-&-poke, Greg 🤘@GregHurst10 scores our first of the year 🙌 VAMOS! #SomosUnidos pic.twitter.com/wkQ3z2Y4Zn

— New Mexico United (@NewMexicoUTD) March 9, 2024

42′ – YELLOW CARD– handed out to Zico Bailey for stopping a Hounds counter after nervy moments in the box defensively.

35′ — YELLOW CARD — first booking of season goes to Hounds defender Illal Osumanu

31′ – Bit better there as Etou makes a strong run on the left, beats his man, but hits his cross maybe a foot or two too high.

22′ — That’s three saves for Hounds’ keeper Eric Dick in past six minutes or so. Pittsburgh can’t be living this dangerously for 90 minutes.

18′ — Another chance for NM off deflection, but again, Dick punches it over bar

14′ — NM with dangerous chance as Reyes gets a point blank chance from 12 yards — but it’s turned away by quick reflex save by GK Eric Dick.

15' – And the first big save of Eric Dick's Hounds career! Open shot in the box for Reyes, but excellent reaction from the newcomer in net to keep the scoresheet empty.#HOUNDTAHN | @pghsoccernow

— Colton Coreschi (@cjcoreschi) March 9, 2024

11′ — Forbes with another corner service, but again it’s cleared away

2′  — Hounds with three corner kicks in the first two minutes.  After last corner — Danny Griffin with a low shot on target from behind the 18 that forces Tambakis into going down for save.

Starting Lineups

Lineup Notes

Seeing first ever starts for the Hounds will include Babacar Diene at forward, Jackson Walti in midfield and Eric Dick in goal.  Otherwise, the lineup includes plenty of players who have been through their share of battles in Black and Gold.

The only player omission of note from the 18, is forward Kazaiah Sterling, who was recently announced signed to the roster earlier in the week.