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Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Debutant Jacquesson scores, leads Hounds back to playoff position

FINAL: Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2-0 Rhode Island FC

Hounds secure home win over Rhode Island and returning Dikwa

A home crowd of 5,619 enjoyed a cool, but beautiful September evening at Highmark and were treated to an important 2-0 win for the Hounds, with goals from newcomer Bertin Jacquesson and rookie Bradley Sample making the difference.

With the Hounds sporting a slightly different first-half look than in recent games – short one usual wingback, and with Jacquesson in the starting XI for the first time – the first half was a cagey, back-and-forth affair. Both sides played some solid defense, with each keeper forced off their line to interrupt dangerous forward balls numerous times.

Rhode Island had the better of the early chances, forcing a few corners that required intervention from Eric Dick in net. The best chance for the visitors came on a long diagonal from the right wing, finding the head of USL veteran forward J.J. Williams up top. His effort was redirected on-target, but easily covered off by Dick at the near post.

Returning former Hound Albert Dikwa had a scary moment near the half hour mark. He and Hounds defender Illal Osumanu both went up for a header near midfield and appeared to suffer a head-to-head collision, leaving both down for a few minutes. Each would be assisted off the field, checked out, and would return to play moments later.

After a pair of yellows was issued – one to Osumanu for the Hounds, one to Stephen Turnbull of Rhode Island – the Hounds started progressing more aggressively in the final 15 minutes of the half. The first meaningful chance of the game would come in stoppage time on a long diagonal from the left wing, finding Edward Kizza and Jacquesson both centrally in the box. Each would get a swipe at the ball, but neither was able to generate the shot needed, and the flag ultimately came up on one of the rebound efforts.

Just as it seemed we might head to half level at zero, the Hounds found their breakthrough. In the final moments, a brilliant run up the middle from Danny Griffin and a perfectly placed through ball would find the feet of Jacquesson on the right side of goal. The Hounds newcomer would fire a rocket of a right-footed shot beyond Koke Vegas in goal, hitting the crossbar and deflecting down into the net for the lead – securing a brilliant debut goal and a 1-0 lead moments before the halftime whistle.

After suffering late equalizers in several recent matches, the halftime talk for the Hounds surely centered around the need for some breathing room, and it did not take long in the second half for that to materialize.

After a layoff from Jacquesson to Dani Rovira on the left wing, the latter looped a cross in towards Bradley Sample – moving away from goal in the box. Sample, who may have simply been intending to head the ball along, instead nodded it backwards and looping high over everyone, beyond Vegas’ reach and nestling into the back of the net to double the Hounds lead just five minutes into the second half – the first goal of the rookie’s professional career.

As Rhode Island looked to counter quickly, Dikwa received a ball in midfield a few minutes later and threatened with a dangerous run up the center of the pitch. He was brought down professionally by Luke Biasi, earning the Hounds defender a yellow card for his troubles.

Rhode Island would struggle to progress the ball forward for the balance of the second half, generating one good chance in the latter stages. Just prior to stoppage time, a through ball found Zachary Herivaux along the right wing. His run beat his defender, and his cross beat an on-rushing Dick at the near-post, but also blasted beyond his runners at the far post. The ball was collected and cleared, keeping the Hounds ahead late.

They would see out the final minutes of stoppage time without much fuss, and when the final whistle blew, the Hounds found themselves up 2-0, with three points. The win returned the Hounds to 7th in the Eastern Conference standings and into the playoff picture for the first time since their June 8th draw against the Charleston Battery.

They’ll return to action next week on the road at Tampa Bay as they look to make that playoff position more permanent.

Match Events

Pittsburgh Riverhounds Lineup: Eric Dick (GK), Danny Griffin, Dani Rovira, Sean Suber, Luke Biasi, Robbie Mertz, Bradley Sample, Edward Kizza, Illal Osumanu, Jackson Walti, Bertin Jacquesson

Bench: Langston Blackstock, EJ Johnson, Kenardo Forbes, Nate Dragisich, Babacar Diene, Jacob Randolph, Pierre Cayet

Colorado Springs Switchbacks Lineup: Koke Vegas (GK), Stephen Turnbull, Grant Stoneman, Morris Duggan, Jack Panayotou, JJ Williams, Albert Dikwa, Noah Fusion, Clay Holstad, Marc Ybarra, Karifa Yao

Bench: Doyle, Nodarse, Alves, Brito, Herivaux, Lee, McGlynn

Key moments: 

1′ – The players are out to the field and we are underway. Hounds wearing their white third kits, Rhode Island in their all-yellows. It’s a chilly, but pleasant September evening and we are underway at Highmark Stadium.

4′ – Fortunate offsides flag there maybe saves Eric Dick from conceding a penalty. Definitely made contact, but the flag was up early.

10′ – Lots of back and forth long balls, to no avail. Rhode Island gets a corner, cleared, and the second ball into the box is saved by Eric Dick.

12′ – Long free kick into the box for RIFC finds the head of JJ Williams, who directs it softly towards goal – easy save for Dick.

15′ – A won header for Kizza falls to the new man Jacquesson. He plays Biasi out on the left wing, who gets a cross off, but over everybody.

20′ – Another RIFC corner following a quick counter and cross. Taken short, an in-swinger following that, but over everyone.

29′ – A Rhode Island player down after a potential head collision with Illal Osumanu – appears to be former Hound Albert Dikwa. He gets up after a few moments and is walked to the sideline.

35′ – A late foul on Dani Rovira by Stephen Turnbull is deemed overly harsh by the ref and earns the first yellow of the night.

42′ – A yellow now issued to Illal Osumanu for his foul on JJ Williams behind the play.

45′ – Some clever interplay in the box leads to a blocked cross and a Hounds corner here at the end of the first half. Taken by Mertz to the back post, headed away and cleared.

45′ – Best chance of the night so far from the Hounds. A diagonal into the box from the left wing finds both Jacquesson and Kizza centrally, the ball fumbles around but is blocked and cleared, and the flag comes up on one of the rebounds.

45′ – GOAL, RIVERHOUNDS! IT’S A DEBUT, BAR-DOWN BEAUTY FOR BERTIN JACQUESSON! The great through-ball from Danny Griffin is inch-perfect and finished off with aplomb! 1-0 right before the half!

Halftime: Riverhounds 1-0 Rhode Island

47′ – Some very solid play to start for the Hounds, as they get an early shot on-target after a nice bit of movement in the box. Easily saved, but much better out of the gates.

50′ – GOAL, RIVERHOUNDS! BRADLEY SAMPLE WITH THE RAINBOW HEADER WHILE FACING AWAY FROM GOAL! It goes up and over everyone to the far post and the Hounds lead 2-0, assist to Dani Rovira!

55′ – A yellow for the Hounds, Luke Biasi the recipient for the hard foul on Dikwa.

58′ – Rhode Island FC substitution: Off comes former Hound Marc Ybarra, on comes Zachary Herivaux.

61′ – A pair of Hounds subs to match: Jacquesson comes off after a successful debut, replaced by Emmanuel Johnson. Dani Rovira exits with an assist, replaced by Langston Blackstock.

69′ – Rhode Island’s second sub: Alves comes on for JJ Williams.

75′ – Yellow card issued to Danny Griffin.

75′ – Pair of Rhode Island subs: Off go Turnbull and Stoneman. On come Doyle and Nodarse.

77′ – And a pair of matching Hounds subs: Kizza and goal-scorer Bradley Sample come off, replaced by Forbes and Cayet.

80′ – Some pushing and shoving after a foul along the right wing. Yellows are issued to Mertz for the Hounds and Yao for Rhode Island.

88′ – Best chance of the night for RIFC, as Zachary Herivaux beats his defender on the right wing and fires a cross past an on-rushing Dick, but unfortunately past his own teammates. It remains 2-0 Hounds.

Fulltime: Riverhounds 2-0 Rhode Island FC

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