Lockdown defense powers the Hounds past Detroit, 2-0

“It was never gonna be easy. Never.”

Well, you could have fooled us, Bob.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds combined smothering defense and several successful wide runs finished with crosses into the box to roll over Detroit City FC, 2-0, at home Saturday night.

Head Coach Bob Lilley characterized the match as a tough battle in the first half, and it was definitely true that possession was evenly matched between the two teams, as Detroit only slightly edged Pittsburgh on time with the ball, 52 to 48 percent.. But while a fierce Hounds defense high pressed DCFC into several early turnovers that were converted into threatening Hounds possessions deep in Detroit’s end, Detroit was barely able to foray into Pittsburgh’s end at all.

Pittsburgh’s first half was much brighter. The Hounds had a dynamic duo linking up throughout both the first and second frames, as veteran central midfielder Robbie Mertz found first-year fullback Perrin Barnes time and time again.

In the 37th minute, Robbie Mertz made one of his signature runs down the river-side towards the Paul Child Stand. Thirty-five yards from goal, he bent a diagonal cross to the far post, finding Perrin Barnes waiting at the back post. Barnes headed it home to take the 1-0 lead.

The two would hook up again just five minutes later as Mertz slid a pass on the ground into the path of Barnes. But this time Detroit keeper Carlos Herrera would snatch it up and deny the Hounds doubling the lead. The Hounds would carry the 1-0 lead into the half.

The first fifteen minutes of the second half started without either time finding their way to the endline. Then, in the 66th minute, the buddy-cop pairing of Barnes and Mertz struck again. Barnes dribbled deep into the corner down the right side, this time on the Fort Pitt Bridge end of Highmark Stadium. Barnes lifted a high cross into the box, where it almost found a finisher in Danny Griffin. Griffin may have got a touch to it, but the ball bounced on to Robbie Mertz at the back post. The man from Upper St Clair finished it confidently, giving Pittsburgh the 2-0 lead.

Mertz celebrated by running to the corner flag and making the ‘rock the baby’ motion. Mertz explained the celebration’s significance: his wife had given birth to a boy, Callahan Louis Mertz, 7 lbs 1 oz, on Thursday night at the hospital. He also had an explanation for his stellar connection on the night with Perrin Barnes. He had left all of his soccer gear at the club’s training facility in Montour and didn’t have it for the game. “Perrin went and got all my equipment at Montour. So giving him the (pass that became a) goal was the least I could do,” Mertz said. It was Perrin Barnes’ first professional goal, and he was grateful to his teammate for it. “Robbie put it on a platter,” Barnes said.

Both teams made ample personnel changes in the final 24 minutes, plus five minutes of  stoppage time, The Hounds would see out the match comfortably and walk away with all three points. The win is the fourth of the season for Pittsburgh, taking them to 14 points in the USL table, and putting them in sixth place; one spot below Detroit.

In the end, Pittsburgh recorded 10 shots, with 5 on target. Detroit had just 1 shot, with zero shots on target. The Hounds took only 2 corner kicks all match, while DCFC had just 1.

Detroit, meanwhile, departs Pittsburgh winless in seven matches, including the US Open Cup and Jägermeister Cup.

Pittsburgh fullback Perrin Barnes wasn’t at all surprised by the stalwart defensive effort. The first-year Hound from Aurora, Illinois explained “Generally, we’re always one of the better defensive teams in USL.” Barnes added that he hoped this performance was more of trend than a blip going forward.

“Hopefully, we can start stringing some wins together,” Barnes concluded.

Photo Gallery

Play by Play

FT- Hounds win! Riverhounds win 2-0 in front of 5,007 fans.

89′ The two Riverhounds cbs miscue and a ball slips between them. Detroit’s Jordan Abebayo-Smith charges through and goes down in the box on a bump – no call. He stays down and gets treatement from the training staff.

88′ Barnes and Williams off, Aidan O’Toole and Max Broughton come on for the Hounds.

86′ Hounds draw a foul on a long clearance that Augi Williams chases down the ball and a foul is called. Detroit player jaws with the ref and draws a yellow.

81′ Detroit get their first shot of the the night. Yes you read that right. It goes high.

80′ Charles Ahl gets into the box and takes a shot. Kick save and a beaut for DCFC keeper Carlos Herrera

76′ Subs for Detroit: Haruki Yamazaki comes on.

70′ Riverhounds subs , Illal Osumanu, Bertin Jacquesson, Charles Ahl come on. Mertz, Etou, and Sample off.

66′ GOAL! Robbie Mertz on a cross gets a goal at the back post. It is Mertz’ 2nd of the season and 20th all-time. Perrin Barnes is credited with the assist as he burns in off the right wing and pings it to the center of the goal. It takes a free bounce before Robbie volleys it home.

65′ Detroit subs on two players.

63′ Between 51′ and 63′ I went to get a pretzel with cheese. The nice man at the concession stand made sure I got one that was low on salt. That was nice of him.

HT

The first half the Riverhounds had the better of the possession. While the stats show that possession was 48-52 in favor of Detroit, DCFC also recorded zero shots in the first half, as Pittsburgh took the ball off them before the maroon and yellow could enter the final third. Here’s a look at Detroit’s head map in the first half:

Meanwhile the Riverhounds put in 3 shots, with 2 on target to give them their one goal.

45′ CARD. Jackson Walti gets his hair pulled back by a Detroit defender. Yellow card to Detroit.

43′ A great rush; ball recirculates inside the box to Robbie Mertz, and he slides it left to an onrushing Perrin Barnes, but the goalkeeper claims before Barnes can get a touch.

37′ GOAL Perrin Barnes heads in a long cross from Robbie Mertz to the right side of the net to give the Hounds a 1-0 lead.

29′ Junior Etou gets schwacked in the face and there’ll be an extended pause.

19′ Hounds steal the ball on a high press again. Robbie Mertz dribbles, pivots in the box, and lays it off to Jackson Walti for the shot. It is straight at Detroit keeper Carlos Herrera.

10′ Hounds get a look at goal on a high press and turnover, followed by time on the ball in the box that Detroit snuffs out.

4′ Lotta head tennis on the sidelines. Nothing worth noting.

…

We’re back with regular USL league football. The Hounds sit 7th in the USL Eastern Conference table while Detroit lie above them in the table at 5th. Pittsburgh’s losses in the Open Cup and Jägermeister Cup means that the Hounds get to [have to?] focus on the USL Championship.

Starting XI

Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Eric Dick; Luke Biasi, Sean Suber, Guillaume Vacter, Perrin Barnes;  Jackson Walti, Danny Griffin, Junior Etou, Robbie Mertz; Augi Williams

Detroit City FC