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FINAL: Colorado Springs Switchbacks 1, Riverhounds SC 0

Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
USL Championship – Week 10 

FINAL: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 0

Stats: USL Championship Match Center

 

Instant Match Summary

The Riverhounds road woes continued with a 1-0 setback to the Colorado Springs Switchback at Weidner Field on Saturday night.

With the loss, the Hounds (2W-5L-2D, 8 points) have now gone five matches in league play without a win, scoring just two goals in this stretch as they’ve been shut out in the last three matches in USL Championship play.

The match turned early, in the 11th minute, when Switchbacks’  Yosuke Hanya was fouled by Hounds’ midfielder Bradley Sample.  This set the stage for free kick from 25 yards that was served up by Aidan Rocha, connecting with Colorado Springs’ captain, defender Matt Mahoney who broke behind a pair of Hounds defenders on the back post side.

Mahoney’s redirect blazed past the outstretched arms of Pittsburgh’s keeper, Eric Dick.

Even after the goal, the Hounds sprung to life after conceding, and had a dangerous moment of their own when Robbie Mertz crossed the ball from the left across goal. Perrin Barnes headed the ball back across the face of goal, but his return pass was just behind a pair of Hounds runners and the Switchbacks cleared.

In the first half, Pittsburgh were outshot 5-1 (1-1 on frame in the first half, with its only chance coming when Robbie Mertz’s corner attempt in 45th minute connected with midfielder Danny Griffin.   The Hounds’ captain pushed his header chance sharply, but it was saved by Colorado Springs’ goalkeeper, Christian Herrera.

Hounds goalie Eric Dick came up with a diving stop to parry away a shot by Zach Zandi late in the first half, and Switchbacks goalie Christian Herrera made his first save of the match minutes later when Danny Griffin turned a Mertz free kick on net with his head.

Playing with a sense of urgency, the Hounds caught up to the hosts in terms of possession in the second half, bringing more pressure to the tune of five more shots — with only one more on frame — a Jason Bourgey attempt from center of the box in the 85th minute.    Bourgey’s effort came when chaos ensued in the Switchbacks’ box as Griffin redirected a ball high toward goal with his head. Herrera came off his line but got caught in no-man’s land, leading the Hounds to frantically try to find an open shooting line. The ball eventually came to Bouregy at the top of the box, but Herrera was able to get a hand to the shot standing 15 yards from his goal.

A minute later, Jorge Garcia turned the corner along the goal line and picked out Mertz with a low pass across goal, but Mertz’s shot rose over the goal.
Neither team threatened often in the second half — the Switchbacks’ only shot on goal after the break was a mis-hit effort by Justin Dhillon that was saved by Dick — and total shots for the game finished at 9-6.

The Hounds remain on the road for a couple more matches in the coming week, with a trip to Chester, PA, on tap for Wednesday, when they face Philadelphia Union for the first time ever in the US Open Cup Round of 16.

The next league match will come next Saturday, at Rhode Island.

Match Day Updates

Look for updates along with analysis of the match here as these clubs renew acquaintances for the third straight season and the second time in the Centennial State.

FINAL: COLORADO SPRINGS 1, PITTSBURGH 0

Another league road match and another loss for the Hounds who can’t generate much quality in final third even with some pressure late.

90’+ 1 — Couple of dangerous crosses in box — but neither can connect as Hounds keep throwing things forward.

86′ — Another shot attempt — this one comes from Mertz — but it’s too high.

85′ — Hounds are bringing more pressure…   this time Garcia feeds Bourgey — who fires a shot from the centre of the box — that’s saved

83′ — Jacquesson breaks down left side into box — but left footed chance is blocked.

71′ — Hounds get into transition — and another Garcia attempt is taken from just outside the box — but this time it’s blocked.

59′ — Another Sub for Pittsburgh

Swapping the wingers — Luke Biasi comes off for Junior Etou.

52′ — Close!   Garcia — who seems to be the most fearless Hound when it comes to shot attempts — sends a right footed shot from the right side of the box but misses to the right.

46′ — Hounds subs — need a spark but also — squad rotation a factor with Open Cup clash at Philly looming on Wednesday.

  • IN: Bertin Jacquesson, Jorge Garcia
  • OUT: Augi Williams, Bradley Sample

HALF — COLORADO SPRINGS 1, PITTSBURGH 0

Pittsburgh outshot 5-1 (1-1 on frame) — and chasing the match conceding 57/43 in possession.

45′ — Chance for Hounds — but Danny Griffin’s redirect header from front post side is stopped.  Service came in from Mertz on corner.

40′ — SAVE!!  Eric Dick keeps score 1-0 — with a brilliant stop — getting his left hand extended to deny Zach Zandi’s left-footed laser from just inside the 18.

38′ — Hounds try another long ball with Suber sending one for Mertz who breaks behind the last line on left width — but it’s too short.

30′ — Pittsburgh being out-possessed (60/40) in high-altitude is not a good thing for the visitors.

25′ — Hounds-related news about its next opponent.

15′ — If it gives Riverhounds fans any confidence, Switchbacks are 0W-2L-2D when the score first this season.

12′ — GOAL!  COLORADO SPRINGS 1, PITTSBURGH 0

A Matt Mahoney header gives the hosts the lead.  Assist came from Aidan Rocha.

11′ — Yosuke Hanya is fouled by Hounds’ MF Bradley Sample — setting up a free kick from a dangerous position.

9:03 p.m. ET — They’ve kicked off!!

8:35 p.m. ET — Starting Lineups

Preview / What’s At Stake

Hounds will reach new heights — literally — as they make the trip west to visit the reigning league champion Colorado Springs Switchbacks on Saturday night at Weidner Field.

Once again, the Hounds are road warriors in May, as for the second time in as many months, the team faces a stretch of four consecutive matches away from home. This is the second game in that four-game stretch, but after a 0-0 draw at always-challenging Louisville, the Hounds are feeling good about recent road form.

Bottom line here is that Pittsburgh is still without a win in league play since late March, when they won back-to-back matches at home.   They still have scored two goals in a match just one time this year and remain at the bottom of the league in many key attacking categories including goals scores, shots and chances created.

Fitness is always a challenge on this trip; Weidner Field sits more than 6,000 feet above sea level, which makes it the most elevated stadium in the USL Championship.

Fortunately for the Hounds, the team had a full week to rest and prepare for the trip, something that will not be the case next week when Open Cup play resumes next week.  Additionally, positive news for the Hounds, with the busy week ahead, they only have one player, Charles Ahl (questionable — ankle) who is listed on the injury report.

The Hounds and goalkeeper Eric Dick posted back-to-back clean sheets last week, scoring their 1-0 win over NYCFC in the Open Cup before battling to the draw in Louisville.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks: A Closer Look

Colorado Springs, coming off an euphoric 2024 season which they captured their first ever USL Cup title under the direction of one-time Riverhounds nemesis — James Chambers — has crashed early in the new season.

With numerous departures and roster changes the Switchbacks have found it hard to resolve matches one way or the other with three draws in their past four matches and five out of nine overall.  Colorado Springs hasn’t won a league match since April 12. Among the departures include former RMU standout midfielder Devon ‘Speedy’ Williams who left to sign with Lexington.

Still, there are plenty of familiar faces back for the title defense, including Defender of the Year Finalist Matt Mahoney among 11 of the players who featured in the Championship Final.  Mahoney is a hard-nosed defender who played alongside Chambers when they were both with Bethlehem Steel FC — in many battles with the Riverhounds.

In last week’s contest against Las Vegas, they looked like the better team against the Lights but were frustrated throughout the night.  On a positive note for the club — the scoreless draw in the City of Lights proved to be their first clean sheet of the season.

The champs have been willing to get forward, as they’ve generated 16 big chances this season (by comparison — the Hounds are tied for last with six) while getting steady goal scoring from Justin Dhillon, who leads with five goals, and three more from Marco Micaletto to pace them on the front end.

The Switchbacks have also generated three penalties this season — so they’re adventurous and dangerous enough in the box — but on the other side of the coin they’re also the most undisciplined team this season with a league high three red cards.

Riverhounds Personnel and What to Watch

Though it was scoreless draw at Louisville, the Hounds traded some blows with one of the best teams in the league on the road and for the first time all season in league play, generated some chances in the open run of play for its forwards, namely Augustine Williams, who’s been held to one goal for the season.

Takeaways and Player Grades: Riverhounds should take positives away from draw at Louisville

Williams and Bertin Jacquesson were on the field together for the first time last Saturday.

Head Coach Bob Lilley has made it clear that the duo still needs time to build chemistry — and continue making positive runs behind the opposing defense, creating space for each other and for the second wave of runners coming from the midfield.

To this point in the season, midfielder Danny Griffin has been the team’s leading scorer, with two goals.

Playing a team that’s given up nearly two goals a match might be an opportunity for the Hounds to get its attack going.

On the defensive side, in front of Dick, the Hounds center backs and outside backs have been solid.  The club is seventh in the Championship in goals allowed per match (1.1) while posting three clean sheets.

An early goal for either side could make things interesting — especially might be a real target for Pittsburgh.   The Hounds will have to figure out how much — in the high altitude — they will be able to bring the high press and rotate their forwards and high attacking midfielders.

The Hounds are facing a team that has committed a lot of fouls, among tops in yellow cards and have the most red cards — so the highly disciplined Hounds (league low 14 yellow cards) will need to stay the course in a challenging environment.

Don’t expect too many surprises in the lineup selections, though Lilley will have to be looking at the Open Cup match in Chester with the side of his eye in terms of load management.   With the high altitude and Wednesday’s looming match — don’t be suprised to see a halftime sub or two (or closely after the half).

John K’s Projected Riverhounds Starting XI

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