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Riverhounds have to settle for another scoreless draw

Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

FINAL: Riverhounds 0, San Antonio 0

Match Stats 

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds ended a busy stretch of play that included three matches in eight days with a second straight scoreless draw, this time at home against San Antonio FC at Highmark Stadium on Saturday night.

Despite dominating possession and 15-5 shots advantage, the Hounds were only able to put one shot on frame, while goalkeeper Eric Dick picked up his third straight clean sheet and ninth of the season despite not making a single save.

With this result Pittsburgh (6w-9l-10d) inches up another point in the standings, to 28 points overall, but remain behind the teams they need to surpass in the standings.

Pittsburgh and San Antonio played to a scoreless first half, with the Hounds on the front foot for most of the first 45 minutes.

The Hounds best chance in the first half came when Langston Blackstock played a ball through for Emmanuel Johnson, who sent a right footed shot from the right side of the box — but was saved in the bottom right corner by SAFC keeper Pablo Sisniega.

The match — which needed eight minutes of stoppage time — concluded with the Hounds bringing pressure with chances from Bradley Sample, Kenardo Forbes and Danny Griffin that could not materialize.

Match Details

First half
The Hounds were promising early, particularly down the right side where wing back Langston Blackstock and forwardEmmanuel Johnson combined for an early chance. Blackstock sent a low ball behind the defense, and Johnson timed his run to get around the defender, forcing Sisniega to make a save on the ground in the 14th minute.
Johnson created another great chance minutes later, when he again got behind the defense on the right. This time, he sent a low pass across the face of goal, and it went just out of the reach of Robbie Mertz, who would have been able to tap in the ball in front of goal.
Second half
The half began with a scary moment when San Antonio’s Jake LaCava had to leave the field on a stretcher after a non-contact injury. After a six-minute stoppage, play resumed, and Blackstock wiggled his way free at the top of the box to strike a shot that went just left of the far post.
Kazaiah Sterling sent Danny Griffin into the box in the 66th minute with a clever flick that popped the ball in the air, but Griffin’s shot was off target. Shortly afterward, the Hounds’ captain got into the box and was bumped over in traffic, but the contact wasn’t enough to warrant a penalty call.
The match ended with two more late Hounds chances: a header by Kenardo Forbes, who got on the end of a driven Jackson Walti cross, and a shot from the top of the box by Griffin that clipped a defender — possibly on the arm, as some of the Hounds claimed — and went out for a corner.

Next Up: 

Riverhounds will stay home next week, when they’ll host another Western Conference foe, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, on Saturday, August 17 at 7 p.m.

Look for a more detailed recap and reaction from Highmark Stadium with PSN’s Alan Saunders to come later. 

 

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John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

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Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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