Resolute 10-man Riverhounds burnt in stoppage time again, settle for 1-1 draw at Indy

Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

FINAL: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 1, Indy Eleven 1

Match Stats 

Playing down a man through most of the match, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC showed plenty of resolve on the road, but eventually had to settle for a 1-1 draw in a hard-fought battle with Indy Eleven at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis, IN, on Saturday night.

Danny Griffin scored for 10-man Pittsburgh, but also committed the foul that led to Romario Williams’ stoppage time strike which leveled the match.

It was the third time in the last nine matches Pittsburgh allowed a stoppage time goal that robbed them of taking more points.

With the draw, Pittsburgh (32 points) extends its unbeaten streak (4-0-5) to nine matches, but remain (at the moment) three points behind Birmingham (35 points following 2-0 loss to Rhode Island) in the race to jump over the playoff line.

Just four minutes into the match, Riverhounds’ defender Pat Hogan came in for a 50-50 challenge at midfield with Indy’s Sebastian Guenzatti.  Match official Elijio Arreguin originally booked Hogan with a yellow card, but after a few minutes of discussion, changed the call from a yellow to a red card, sending Hogan to the showers early in the match, leaving the Hounds left to play with 10 men.

Pittsburgh held its ground, while being severely out-possessed, limiting Indy to three first half shots, with goalkeeper Eric Dick making two saves.

Both sides would find chances in the second half.

Romario Williams’s header from the center of the box following Aoden Quinn’s corner nearly gave the home side the lead shortly after the break, but he missed to the left.

The Hounds’ nearly scored in the 55th minute when midfielder Jackson Walti clipped one from just outside the box, nearly looping his attempt into the back corner of the net.

Both sides would battle for quality chances, but Pittsburgh found an opportune moment following a long free kick, which they maintained possession, ending with Robbie Mertz sending a long cross from the left sideline that connected with Illal Osumanu.  The Hounds’ defender headed the ball back to the center of the box, where Danny Griffin was there to one-time volley his chance into the back of the net.

𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦 🐾@DannyGriffin04 volleys home to put the 10-man @RiverhoundsSC side in front! pic.twitter.com/RXQslGWugp

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) September 1, 2024

Pittsburgh withstood more pressure, with goalkeeper Eric Dick making a total of five saves.

With four minutes of stoppage time added, the teams battled nearly five more minutes into the extra time portion of the match (as a minute was added on due to a substitution). With Indy pressing for one last chance, Griffin was called for a foul on Malique Foster in the center of the final third, 24 yards from goal.

Indy’s Romario Williams lined up a free kick that sailed over the Hounds’ wall and past the outstretched arm of Dick, hitting the back of the net.

Golazo Romario!#INDvPIT pic.twitter.com/zBbIBmoUCU

— Indy Eleven (@IndyEleven) September 1, 2024

The referee’s whistle blew immediately following the ensuing kickoff.

The Riverhounds were left to ponder what could have been, having to settle for a draw for the third time in the past nine matches where they were on the precipice of picking up a full three points.

Look for a more detailed recap to follow along with more match analysis to come.