Riverhounds 2

Hounds Two Much: Israel Neto’s hat trick fuels explosive 5-0 debut win over Cleveland Force SC

by
Pittsburgh Soccer Now
May 17, 2026

A new era in the Pittsburgh soccer developmental pathway officially began on Sunday afternoon at F.N.B. Stadium, and it could not have started more explosively.

While the Riverhounds SC first team entered a bye week following their mid-week USL Cup road setback, the organization’s brand-new pre-professional squad, Riverhounds 2, made its official competitive debut in USL League Two.

Facing off against Cleveland Force SC, the newly assembled Black and Gold side put on a clinic, securing an authoritative 5-0 victory.

The performance was completely stolen by midfielder Israel Neto, who delivered a spectacular hat trick to spark the expansion side’s perfect launch.

“It’s a fun group,” Josh Kremers, Riverhounds Two Head Coach, said after the match.

“We’re new to the USL (League) Two as as a club, but it’s really fun to kind of bring all these guys from different backgrounds, different schools, put them together and see them see them out on the field together. And I thought today it was it was really fun to watch them as much as it was to coach them.”

How It Happened

First Half

The match kicked off with the expansion Hounds asserting dominance in possession early.

While they missed an initial header opportunity inside the 18-yard box in the 10th minute, it wouldn’t take long to find the breakthrough. In the 17th minute, Israel Neto—the former Providence College standout from Brazil who has been awaiting international work visa clearance to be officially signed to the first team —opened his account in spectacular style.

Neto unleased a bending shot from 28 yards out that arced perfectly under the crossbar to make it 1-0.

“As soon as I took a touch, I saw the goal. I was like, I have to take a chance,” Neto told Pittsburgh Soccer Now.

“I thought the ball wasn’t really going in cuz I thought it went high too high, but as soon I saw it dip, I was like, ‘Oh, he’s a little off the line.’ So, I was just happy it went in.”

The Hounds 2 midfield moved the ball with immense fluidity, completely starving Cleveland of an offensive flow and staying on the front foot throughout the first half.

In the 40th minute, with the Cleveland goalkeeper caught well out of his box, Neto struck again. Spotting the keeper off his line, Neto launched an audacious arc from the center circle that flew over the retreating netminder’s head to make it 2-0.

“I turned and I saw the goalie was out, I had to take a chance,” Neto described.

“I had to [have] scored one of those before. I actually gotten a lot closer than I actually scored, but finally it went in. I can’t complain. So, wow.”

Just before the break, deep into three minutes of stoppage time, Cleveland conceded a penalty inside the box.

Though the Force keeper, Ethan Smith, made an initial kick save on the Hounds’ penalty attempt, Caleb Borneo (UNC Greensboro) was the fastest to react, smashing the rebound home to give Hounds 2 a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime.

Second Half

Any hopes of a Cleveland comeback were swiftly extinguished early in the second half.

In the 51st minute, Neto completed his memorable hat trick. Slashing in from the left side, after making a few crafty moves and fake on the left edge, then sent a clinical left-footed finish just inside the near post to put the icing on the cake at 4-0.

I actually like a lot to do that. Cut in, fake it, and then I was happy that it worked. I thought the goalie was a little cheating and I just went near post and I was happy I went in.”

From there, Kremers utilized his bench, executing multiple substitutions in the 59th minute.

While the modern iteration of the Pittsburgh-Cleveland rivalry didn’t boil over into an overly physical affair, Cleveland’s offense did find a brief rhythm against a more defensive-minded Hounds shape, forcing two sharp, leaping, two-handed catches from the Pittsburgh keeper, Jack Moxom (Pitt).

In the 87th minute, another defensive error from Cleveland set up a late penalty kick for the hosts.

Bennett Painter (Bowling Green) stepped up and confidently buried it, breaking a 36-minute scoring drought (!!), getting redemption for his previous attempt that was saved and wrapped up the 5-0 scoreline.

Hounds pressure was extensive throughout the match — sending a whopping 15 shots on frame, forcing Smith into making 10 saves.

Kremers and his squad walk away from an impressive debut knowing that there’s still a lot of work ahead.

“We’re very excited about it,” Kremer stated.

“We want to be in this as a club to to compete against the best and this is this is no different in this division. Steel City winning it last year and Akron (City FC) sitting being a strong team. FC Buffalo, Lorraine County being new as well, but I mean it’s it’s fun to go out and compete in difficult games. We’re excited about that. A lot of the the guys within the team have played in the landscape. I’ve played in it and coached in it. Being in a competitive environment is always fun and and we’re excited to kind of get off the mark today, then you know have a game coming up again on Thursday.”

Scoring Summary

17′ – RH2 – Israel Neto — Bending strike from 28 yards out beneath the crossbar.
40′ – RH2 – Israel Neto — Long-range arc from the center circle over the advanced goalkeeper.
45’+ – RH2 – Caleb Borneo — Rebound finish after a saved penalty kick.
51′ – RH2 – Israel Neto — Left-footed finish from the left wing into the back of the net.
87′ – RH2 – Bennett Painter (Penalty Kick) — Converted spot-kick late in the half.

John K’s Post-Match Takeaways

1. Israel Neto Balances Class and Hunger

While Neto has spent the last few months training intensely with the first team, his competitive output has been stalled by international visa paperwork.

Dropping into the USL League Two lineup, the Brazilian’s class was instantly evident. His back-to-back long-range goals showed supreme confidence, and his left-footed hat-trick sealer showed his versatile finishing.

“It’s amazing to finally get some minutes. Been waiting and waiting for so long and finally be able to get some minutes, on an actual game because just been training for a couple months,” Neto told Pittsburgh Soccer Now.

“I’m just happy to be here. Grateful for the opportunity.”

If this performance is any indication, he is going to terrorize lower-division defenses while he awaits his first-team paperwork.

2. Scouted Blueprint Jells Fast

There was reasonable concern about how quickly a roster built of players from different college programs and varying backgrounds would blend. However, Kremers’ group executed with impressive tactical understanding. The team was robust on second balls, aggressive in winning back possession, and remarkably fluid on the ball. They balanced the defensive structure of the Hounds’ overarching philosophy while allowing individual talent to express itself creatively.

3. The Standard Has Been Set for the Great Forest Division

Dropping a five-spot in an expansion debut sends a major message to a tough division featuring reigning champions Steel City SC and established programs like Akron City. It sets a perfect baseline of confidence for a quick-turnaround schedule.