FINAL: Riverhounds 1, Sacramento Republic FC 0

Photo courtesy Riverhounds SC

USL Championship 

Riverhounds SC vs Sacramento Republic FC

USL Match Center/Match Stats

Match Summary

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC continued its run of strong first half performances by scoring late in the first half, then hung on by a thread to hold off a Sacramento Republic second half barrage, to win 1-0 in the Golden State on Saturday night.

Edward Kizza scored the lone goal of the match in the 43rd minute, while Hounds keeper Eric Dick stood tall earning every bit of his seventh clean sheet of the season, making seven saves in facing plenty of pressure, especially in the second half of the match.

With the win, Pittsburgh (6w-9l-7d, 25 points) inched a little closer to the playoff line, now trail 7th and 8th place Detroit City FC and Rhode Island FC by four points.  The Hounds will now face Detroit City FC in a critical match on Wednesday night in Michigan.

Kizza broke through late in the first half, making a run into the box after the Hounds’ strong build-up play along the left side, that ended with Danny Griffin leading a ball into the inside left corner of the box that Kizza hit with a one-time strike that smashed the back of the net.

Great goal, great celly 😎@edwardk_19 gives @RiverhoundsSC the lead 👀#USLonESPN pic.twitter.com/WnCRaUN7MU

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) August 4, 2024

Sacramento finished the match with a 14-12 shots edge, with seven of those on target — six of them coming in the second half. But each time, Dick was there to deny the Western Conference’s second place team getting the equalizer.

BACK-TO-BACK ❌❌

Eric Dick keeps @RiverhoundsSC ahead!#USLonESPN pic.twitter.com/rfIvzpo6CP

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) August 4, 2024

A more detailed match recap will follow.  

Match Updates

Earlier in the evening, Loudoun United FC defeated The Miami FC, 2-1, and Detroit City FC and Rhode Island FC drew 1-1, so the Hounds were in desperation mode pushing for full three points on the road.

2nd half 

FINAL!  PITTSBURGH 1, SACRAMENTO 0

Terrific & much needed road win for Hounds (now 6w-9l-7d 25 pts & 4 pts off playoff line) against a quality opponent.  Pittsburgh withstood Sacramento half assult as GK Eric Dick was outstanding with seven saves.

90′ — Kazaiah Sterling with great chance on counter as things open up — but can’t convert missing just left!  That’s second week in a row he missed a stoppage time chance.

84′ — HOUNDS SUB – Final sub for Hounds comes as — Pat Hogan (more defense!) on for Junior Etou as they try to escape Sacramento with three points.

80 — HOUNDS SUB — Pierre Cayet IN ;  Langston Blackstock OUT

79′ — SAVE AGAIN!  Sacramento’s Jack Gurr with an absolute 🚀but Eric Dick makes another really good save (his 6th!) quick reflex grab to his left to deny the equalizing chance.

76′ — HOUNDS SUBS

IN: Babacar Diene, Kenardo Forbes

OUT: Edward Kizza, Robbie Mertz

68′ — SAVE Eric Dick!

The veteran keeper has been busy in second half maintaining the Hounds 1-0 lead, making yet another save, this time taking away a solidly redirected header from newly subbed on Trevor Amann

65′ – Sacramento goes to the bench for their second and third substitutions, and one of them is their top scorer coming on. IN: Trevor Amman, Sebastian Herrera OUT: Kieran Phillips, Cristian Parano

64′ — SAVE Eric Dick!

Across the body shot along 18 from Phillips heading to inside left post but Hounds keeper makes a nice effort to deny the chance!

59′ – Now another Hounds’ chance from a corner, as the ball falls to Griffin’s left foot, but he can’t keep the shot down from the top of the box.

57′ – Kizza at near post for header but Vitiello makes the reflex save to push the ball out for a corner.

49′ – Another sound save by Dick, who gets down to stop and cover the effort from Luis Felipe on the left.

46′ — With three-match week and top forwards covering tons of ground both likely factoring in, Hounds go with sub at the half as EJ Johnson makes way for Kazaiah Sterling.

Halftime stats:

Hounds conceding possession battle (66/34) but have been a bit more dangerous in final third — though Eric Dick did have to make a late save.

The goal was just the 16th allowed by Sacramento all season.

1st half 

45′ (+4) — Nice Save by Eric Dick to extend and deny Kieran Phillips’ chance from 16 yards.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on X: “👀 Check out the stop by @DaBrickWall00 that kept us in front after the first 45! 🧱🧱🧱 #SACvPIT #HOUNDTAHN https://t.co/ospN1lO8Fj” / X

43′ — GOAL — PITTSBURGH — EDWARD KIZZA

Terrific build-up along the left side — Danny Griffin finds Kizza just inside the box — and the former Pitt man beats former Hound Danny Vitiello to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead on the road late in 1st half.

 

Great goal, great celly 😎@edwardk_19 gives @RiverhoundsSC the lead 👀#USLonESPN pic.twitter.com/WnCRaUN7MU

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) August 4, 2024

39′ — Now Sacramento gets forward in space as Phillips finds Gurr in transition and behind Hounds last defender, but GK Eric Dick comes out of goal box to take away angle and forces weak shot wide right.

32′ — Oh boys! Fantastic chance for Hounds, as Kizza feeds Mertz breaking to left edge, then Mertz lays a nice pass toward inside the 18 to Griffin, but the Hounds’ captain pulls a great chance wide right.

25′ — Danny Griffin takes a chance at a shot from distance, following corner kick

THOUGHTS THROUGH 20′ – Hounds bringing waves of pressure, resulting in three shots (two blocked), two corners, six crosses — but nothing to show for it so far through 20 minutes.

19′ – SUB — SAC — Chibuike Ukaegbu replaces former Hound Shane Wiedt because of an injury following hard shoulder to shoulder collision with EJ Johnson.

5′ — Pittsburgh more aggressive side so far, with a few crosses and two EJ Johnson shot attempts, one wide and another blocked in early going

8′ — Sacramento gets 1:1 opportunity into box but Sean Suber’s one-on-one defending is excellent to deny chance.

10′ — Hounds limiting Sac’s attack right now — another shot chance comes from distance — Nick Ross — but it sails way too high over bar.

Starting Lineups

Notes/Thoughts — Hounds not changing a thing from last week, when they played Loudoun to a 1-1 draw.  Keep in mind that Bradley Sample (MF) is unavailable due to red card suspension.

Sacramento posted its inactives, and that includes former Hounds forward, Russell Cicerone, who led Pittsburgh in goals in 2021 and 2022.

 

Tonight's @DeltaDentalins inactive report. #SACvPIT pic.twitter.com/5b3RX0ULkP

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) August 4, 2024