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‘Tinkering’ Riverhounds manage three points in home opener against Hartford

Photo courtesy Ed Thompson

Bob Lilley is aware that the Pittsburgh Riverhounds are tinkering right now.

Last year, according to Lilley, the Riverhounds were tinkering, but not finding results. This year, with injuries plaguing the team left and right, the Riverhounds are forced to tinker with their lineup. On Saturday night, they moved around some pieces — and they got three points.

“It’s helpful when you’re tinkering to get points,” Lilley said after the Riverhounds 1-0 victory against Hartford Athletic.

“Last year, we were tinkering and not getting results, so it’s just what are you going to do next? It was an important win. I think the players, at halftime, could have tightened up or persevered, and I think they stayed after it.”

Pittsburgh has some injuries — notably Bertin Jacquesson (hamstring) and Charles Ahl (ankle) — and so adjustments need to be made. Per usual with Riverhounds sides, there was also a lot of roster turnover. It’s essentially a new squad, with a lot of young faces.

“It’s going to take time,” Lilley stated. “With the injuries we’ve had so many different combinations, and we’ve been trying to figure out things in the final third. We have to work on that. We have to fix things in the back. But, early on, we were just focusing on the rhythm and playing through the lines. Once you think you have it solved, and you move on to something else, sometimes the equilibrium gets off and you have to go back. We’ll tinker a bit.”

The Riverhounds were sluggish for the first 45 minutes. Few chances poked through, and Hartford goalkeeper Antony Siaha swallowed up any corner kick balls out of the air. However, after the half, the Riverhounds began to pick up on offense.

In the 75th minute, the best chance of the night proved true. Junior Etou found Griffin wide open inside the box, right in front of goalkeeper Siaha. Griffin leapt up and knocked the ball in with his head.

“Timing was obviously important to score when we did,” Griffin said. “We felt we had more of the ball. Obviously that’s something we focus on during training since San Antonio wasn’t our best important. We wanted to come home and show what this place means for us. But, yeah, Junior plays balls like that in training all the time. He’s beating guys all the time, so I had to get on the end of it.”

“He played a great ball, so I had to get on the end of that.”

Adjustments and changes for Hounds, Griffin

The injuries have moved up Griffin on offense, the lone goal-scorer for the Riverhounds. He’s been floating around the No. 10 position, but has also slid into the No. 6 slot.

“Danny can play in many positions,” Lilley said. “We are pushing him higher because of the Charles… Danny is pretty dynamic, so we can push him higher. That’s something we’ll do at times. We’ve had so many injuries, so he’s played a lot at the No. 6, but our intention is to get him playing off the ball as much as possible.”

Despite all the changes, Griffin said he’s comfortable in an attacking position.

“I have had games in the past where I’m higher on the field,” Griffin stated. “That’s something we’ve trained and the coaches have been on me to change my mindset and get higher on the field. It’s different for me, but I did that in college and when I first got here. I’ve gotten some games higher up in preseason. That’s somewhere I’m going to play and just get used to.”

In a positive note on the injury front, two players listed as questionable made their Riverhounds season debuts: Brad Sample and Perron Barnes. And, to add to the positives, the Riverhounds led the possession race with 62% of the ball.

“Most games last year, we had 35 to 45 percent of the ball, and the other team had 55 or 65,” Lilley said. “So, you’re chasing the game, and the other. team is dictating the game. We want to get away from that; we want to dictate the game. I trust my guys, if we have the ball, to create chances. Defensively, by pushing an extra player higher, you have to be clean out of the back… I think we have players in the midfield, not just the ones you guys know, but the young guys joining our squad are dynamic.”

The Riverhounds will return to Highmark Stadium next weekend, on March 29, to face the Birmingham Legion at Highmark Stadium at 7 p.m.

Ed Thompson Photo Gallery (Riverhounds vs Hartford Athletic)

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All Hail King Kenny

The Riverhounds held a ceremony before the match kicked off to thank Kenardo Forbes, club legend, who announced his retirement from playing this month. Forbes is now serving as an assistant coach for the Riverhounds.

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The sport of soccer is Rachael Kriger's area of expertise. Kriger covers high school and women's soccer, with occasional work with Pitt Women's Soccer. For the last five years, she has been the Color Commentator for the Pitt Women's Soccer program. Elsewhere, Kriger contributes for MLS Multiplex, part of the FanSided network. She formerly wrote for Equalizer Soccer and Last Word on Soccer. Kriger is a member of the official NWSL Media Association and the North American Soccer Reporters, serving as the NASR's President after two years in the role of Communications Director and Vice President.

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Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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