FINAL: Cal 1, Pitt 0
A bit off the pace in its attack and mired by a costly mistake out of the back, No. 1 Pitt Panthers succumbed to Cal Bears for its first ACC loss of the season at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Friday night.
Despite putting a fair amount of pressure on goal, with an 18-4 shots of goal (8-2 on frame) and a 12-1 advantage on corner kicks taken, the Panthers couldn’t find an answer to a first half goal allowed coming while having trouble playing the ball out of the back.
With its first loss since September 1 and first against ACC competition, the Panthers drop to 4-1-0 in conference play.
In the 20th minute, Cal’s Nonso Adimabua took advantage of a careless Pitt effort playing the ball out of the back goalkeeper Cabral Carter, sensing that both of Pitt’s center back who broke out wide were covered by Cal press, played the ball into the dangerous area to the edge of the middle of the box, intended for Josh Veychek, but Adimabua got to the ball first, then slotted the ball into the open goal as Carter scrambled to get back.
A mistake in the back, and Nonso Adimabua pounces to give Cal a 1-0 lead over Pitt, the No. 1 team in the nation! #ACCNetworkExtra #GoBears pic.twitter.com/4WAWn8eKoz
— Cal Men's Soccer (@CalMSoc) October 11, 2024
Despite continuous pressure coming mailing from the width, Pitt’s best chance would come in the 80th minute. Only 30 seconds after coming into the match, Pitt’s Eben McIntyre broke forward for a loose ball in the box, where it was a foot race between the junior from Charleroi and Cal’s keeper, goalkeeper Marco Brougher.
McIntyre got to the ball just before Brougher, and was clipped by the keeper, earning a penalty kick for the Panthers.
Whoa!!
@Eben_McIntyre comes in and draws the foul in box
But Luis Sahmkow is denied on PK chance @Pitt_MSOC still trails 1-0 to @CalMSoc
81’ pic.twitter.com/uKinCPEfuR
— Pittsburgh Soccer Now (@pghsoccernow) October 12, 2024
Pitt’s leading goal scorer, Luis Sahmkow stepped up to take the penalty, but his attempt for the right side didn’t have enough power, giving Brougher a chance as he guessed correctly going to his left to deny the equalizing attempt.
The Bears would continue to dig down in physical match marred by 30 fouls between the two sides to keep Pitt frustrated in the final minutes as they pushed for a tying goal.
Pitt will look to get back to winning ways when they host High Point on Monday (7 p.m.) at Ambrose Urbanic Field to close out a four-match homestand.
Look for a more detailed recap to follow and more Pitt coverage to come.