Mamadou Tall scores in debut, but Pitt Men’s Soccer drops 2-1 season opener to No. 7 Maryland

NCAA Men’s Soccer

FINAL: No. 7 Maryland 2, Pitt 1,

Match Stats

Instant Match Report

Before an engaged, vocal crowd Thursday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field, the Pitt Panthers dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision to No. 7 Maryland in their 2026 season opener.

In a physical, highly competitive battle, the Terrapins’ defensive organization and lethal efficiency proved decisive, while Pitt was left to rue uncapitalized set-piece opportunities and central possession struggles.

“We controlled the match. We created, almost triple the opportunities they did. That the guys fought back from a 2-0 deficit. They fought to the last whistle. We almost had two or three goals in the end. We’ll learn how to grab a hold of the game and maintain in the start of the match,” Jay Vidovich, Pitt Head Coach, told Pittsburgh Soccer Now following the match.

“The guys are fantastic in the way they completed.”

Freshmen forward Mamadou Tall, former The Kiski School standout, provided a dynamic spark in his collegiate debut, but Maryland’s backline neutralized the Panthers’ build-up play in the central third to seal the result.

How It Happened

First Half

Pitt opened the match that featured two of men’s college soccer’s most legendary coaches — on the front foot, pressing high out of their shape to force early turnovers in the attacking third and carve out an immediate opportunity inside the 18. Maryland weathered the initial surge and earned their first set piece in the 11th minute, which Pitt keeper Jack Moxom comfortably punched clear off the corner line.

Just a minute later, however, the Terrapins capitalized against the run of play. In the 12th minute, Maryland worked the ball through the central channel to the edge of the box, where Henry Bernstein slipped a pass to Said El Eyssami. El Eyssami uncoiled a low strike toward the far right post; Moxom dove to his right, but could only parry the ball as it trickled over the line to give Maryland the 1-0 advantage.

As the half progressed into a physical, box-to-box battle along the flanks, Pitt continued to create danger. In the 18th minute, a dangerous cross whipped across the six-yard box nearly found a Pitt boot, but Maryland defender Luca Costabile (No. 3) made a crucial last-ditch clearance to deny the equalizer. Costabile struck again minutes later, recovering on a counter-attack to dispossess Anders Bordoy inside the box after the local product broke behind the Terps’ backline.

Pitt came agonizingly close to leveling the match in the 35th minute off a direct free kick delivery, but Maryland keeper Laurin Mack made a reaction save at his left post to parry the attempt wide. Despite controlling much of the tempo and playing disciplined soccer—committing just a single foul in the opening 45 minutes—the Panthers went into halftime trailing 1-0 after failing to convert on six first-half corner kicks.

Second Half

The Terrapins doubled their lead almost immediately after the restart. In the 48th minute, the Bernstein-to-El Eyssami connection produced again, as Bernstein picked out El Eyssami in space inside the box. El Eyssami hit a curling strike that rattled off the right post before nestling into the back left corner, putting Pitt in a 2-0 hole.

Facing a two-goal deficit, the Panthers escalated their attacking rhythm, coming within inches of pulling one back in the 59th minute when a long-range effort clipped the top of the crossbar. Sensing Pitt’s urgency, Maryland dropped into a compact low block, clogging passing lanes through the half-spaces and forcing Pitt to play around their perimeter defense.

The breakthrough for the Panthers finally materialized in the 67th minute off a swift central transition. Pitt won possession near the mid-line and connected a rapid sequence of vertical passes to slice through Maryland’s block. Pablo Portero slipped a clever through-ball into space for Mamadou Tall, who lifted a delicate, lofted finish over the advancing Mack.

The ball bounced off the turf and into the roof of the net to bring Pitt within one at 2-1.

“I saw the ball coming, and I was trying to back track,” Tall told Pittsburgh Soccer Now.

“I took my touch and saw the keeper was out — and I just took the shot.”

Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski triggered a coach’s challenge to review for offside, but VAR confirmed the goal.

The Senegalese freshman’s strike ignited both the team and the home crowd, with Tall repeatedly troubling Maryland’s center-backs on the counter during the closing stages.

However, Pitt’s set-piece execution remained a persistent handicap.

The Panthers were unable to generate clean looks on late dead-ball situations—including a wide effort in the final five minutes—finishing the night 0-for-11 on corner kick opportunities.

Still in the closing stages, the Panthers pushed for a couple of close calls, with the last coming in the 88th minute when former Kiski Area WPIAL standout Anders Bordoy extended possession with clever work in the right side of the box, then sent a dangerous ball in front of the goal box that edged the far post as Tall was trailing to the area.

From there, Maryland held on for the 2-1 victory.

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Lineups

Pitt Starting XI: Jack Maxom (GK); Ethan Pendleton, Gavin Wetzel; Miguel Bertran, Caden Grabfelder, Cristian Lograsso, Pablo Portero, Cannon Scretchen, Anders Bordoy; Albert Thorsen, Mamadou Tall

Maryland Starting XI: Laurin Mack (GK); Lillian Fichelle, Jace Clark, Franklin Affanyi, Farouk Cisse; Leon Koehl, Albi Ndrenika, Henry Bernstein; Rodrigo Neri, Dominic Ayella, Said El Eyssami

Match Notes

• Series History: Thursday marked the 6th all-time meeting between the programs, with Maryland holding a 5-0 advantage coming in (including a 2-1 Terps win in College Park last season).

• This is the second straight season Pitt is hosting a Big Ten squad in season opener at home, as they defeated Michigan State, last August, 3-2, at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

• This is a match-up of College Soccer coaching legends: Jay Vidovich (95-75-22 at Pitt and 367-196-72) vs. Sasho Cirovski (34th season at Maryland, 477 wins). 

• Season Opener Streak: Pitt entered the night looking to win its 3rd consecutive season opener.

• Local Ties: Pittsburgh-area natives Hauskrecht (Pittsburgh), Kopay (Moon Twp), and Bordoy (New Kensington).

• Freshman Debuts Watch: Kareem Ahmed (Liverpool Academy), Mamadou Tall, Carter Kopay, Bruno Bertran, Simon Tonidandel, Taren Wente.

• Staff: Vidovich assisted by all Pitt alumni Bryce Cregan, Robby Dambrot and Will Marshall.