Stoppage time incident clouds Riverhounds late game-winner at Hartford

FINAL: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2, Hartford Athletic FC 1

Match Stats 

The Riverhounds scored early, then scored a dramatic late goal to defeat Hartford Athletic FC, 2-1, at Trinity Health Stadium on Saturday night.

Chase Boone’s game-winning goal was his first as a member of the Hounds (9-9-7), who won for the 13th time in 17 meetings with Hartford (10-10-5). Charles Ahl scored the opening goal for the Hounds in the third minute, before Hartford’s Adrián Diz Pe equalized in the 11th minute.

The matched was marred by an incident in stoppage time, when Hartford’s Marlon Hairston pleaded with officials after something was said in an exchange he had with Riverhounds SC captain Danny Griffin.

It took more than 10 minutes for the match to resume, but Hartford players and technical staff cited in a post-match statement that they did not feel comfortable with proceeding with the match.

“The club has requested the league to conduct an investigation regarding the use of racially offensive language by a Pittsburgh player,” Hartford’s statement, issued on social media platforms, read.

The match ended in a Pittsburgh victory with some time still to be played after the altercation that began with a clash between Hairston and Griffin. No cards were issued, but referee Greg Dopka ended the match after speaking with both coaches.

Shortly after Pittsburgh Soccer Now reached out to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC team officials, the club issued a statement.

With the win, the Riverhounds (9W-9L-7D, 34 points) now moved up to 6th place and within one point of Hartford in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings.

Head Coach Bob Lilley didn’t directly address the incident but did point out that it was an intense contest.

“It was a really competitive game, which you tend to get at this time of the year when people are fighting for playoff positioning,” Lilley stated.

“We had stretches where good in possession, but we struggled to create a lot. We hung in there, and I thought Luke (Biasi) did a good job on (Hartford’s Michee) Ngalina, but they have a lot of pace and they’re very direct in transition. We made a lot of plays in our defensive third.”

The match started off with plenty of fireworks with each team finding a goal in the first 11 minutes.

For the second time in the past three road matches, Charles Ahl scored an early goal for the Hounds.

Ahl converted on his chance in the box, following a Luke Biasi service in from the right side that went to the far post area, where the contested ball deflected to the middle of the box. The first-year pro then struck a left footed shot from close range that gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead.

Hartford responded when Emmanuel Samadia sent a cross following a corner from the right side — connecting with Adrián Diz.

The Cuban international was first to the ball without too much resistance — as Lilley said after the match that goalkeeper Eric Dick had trouble tracking the highly lofted ball in the lights.

As the teams battled through the second half, exchanging chances.

“We felt like we were getting into their end pretty cleanly but weren’t converting those into chances,” Lilley added.

“There were moments where the ball needed to go behind, and we needed more runs in the box.”

The Hounds’ persistence paid off, with some help from fresh legs off the bench.

Pittsburgh finally broke through in the 89th minute, when substitute Chase Boone found himself with a golden opportunity to score his first goal as a Riverhound.

“The subs came on and did a good job, and all of them had to play a big role by the end of the game, Lilley added.

“Bertin (Jacquesson), getting out of trouble on the right, playing a good ball into Danny (Griffin), and then Danny had his header into Brigham (Larsen), who had a near-post run. Brigham got a shot off and fortunately, we had the extra guy in the box when we needed it, and Chase finished into the open net.”

With five matches remaining, the Hounds will look to carry the momentum from this important road win as they’ll now play three of its final five matches at home.

“It was a good team win without Perrin (Barnes) and Jackson (Walti) available. The guys were ready to play, and it was an important result for us,” Lilley said.

“We want to keep pushing for as high of a finish as we can get. We’ve got to keep pressing forward, and tonight was an important win.”

The Hounds will return to Pittsburgh, where they’ll face Las Vegas next Saturday, September 27, at Highmark Stadium.

Look for a more detailed match report to follow and be updated to this thread along with reaction. 

Key Match Moments

2nd Half

FINAL — RIVERHOUNDS 2, HARTFORD 1

101′ — The delay finally ends and the whistle blows!  Hounds win.

93′ — There’s been a significant delay as Hartford’s Maron Hairston has been pleading with officials after an exchange with Hounds’ Danny Griffin.

89′ — GOAL !! RIVERHOUNDS 2, HARTFORD 1

71′ — SAVE by Hartford’s by John Berner!  Hounds chance comes from Bradley Sample’s left footed shot from outside the box — heads to bottom right corner

60′ — Yellow Card to Hartford’s Adrián Diz

46′ — Hartford sub: John Berner replaces Antony Siaha because of an injury.

HALFTIME

PITTSBURGH 1, HARTFORD 1

1st Half

45+5′ – Ydrach hits a good diagonal feed into the box, and Mertz wins the header but places it wide across goal to the right.

44′ – Hounds’ Junior Etou gives up the body to block an effort by Anderson wide of the post. Play started with a dangerous cross by Ngalina, but a Hounds defender stayed tight to every runner.

35′ — SAVE!! Kyle Edwards right footed shot from outside the box is saved by Eric Dick

23′ — Hartford knocking on door — Ngalina’s right footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.

Huge play by Biasi! Ngalina caught Dick off his line and circled toward the middle to shoot, but Luke tracking back to the center of goal to deny the shot and carry the ball to safety.

17′ — Ball in from left side — Augi Williams rises up for header but bounces it downward, and its an easy save for Siaha.

11′ — GOAL! HARTFORD (PITTSBURGH 1, HARTFORD 0)

Adrián Diz header from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Emmanuel Samadia with a cross following a corner.

6′ —  SAVE!  Augi Williams’ left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Antony Siaha (Hartford Athletic).

3′ — GOAL! RIVERHOUNDS (PITTSBURGH 1, HARTFORD 0)

It’s Charles Ahl who’s in the right spot — finishes with a left footed shot from close range in the middle of the box.

John Krysinsky

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).