Living Too Close to the Sun: Extended time in Miami results in Riverhounds walking away with 2-2 draw

USL Championship — Game 24 

FINAL: Riverhounds SC 2, The Miami FC 2

USL Championship Match Center 

Spending a little extra time in South Florida wouldn’t usually be considered a bad thing

The Riverhounds weekend trek to South Florida originally expected to culminate with a match on Saturday night, extended into early Sunday afternoon. Then, holding a 2-1 lead as its match against The Miami FC moved into seven minutes of stoppage time, the hosts found an equalizer as the match reached its one hundredth minute.

As a result, the Riverhounds walked away from its second and final match of the season against The Miami FC with a 2-2 road draw at South Dade Kia Pittbull Stadium on Sunday.

Pittsburgh battled back from a 1-0 deficit late in first half to take the lead on the strength of goals from Trevor Amann and Sam Bassett.

With this result, the Riverhounds (10w-9l-5d, 53 points) remain in fourth place and in position to host at least one postseason match.

Look for a more detailed recap along with John Krysinsky’s takeaways to follow late Sunday / early Monday on Pittsburgh Soccer Now.

How It Happened

After nearly 45 minutes — it appeared that the match was headed to the half scoreless.

Then each team punched and counterpunched.

Miami struck first, when Arney Rocha found a second effort chance following a Victor Souza taking a shot deflection off the head that flew up into the air and to far post area.  Instead of a quick clearance, the Hounds were unable to win the second ball, allowing Rocha to redirect his chance for the 1-0 lead.

In first half stoppage time, Pittsburgh responded immediately, earning a foul in the box as Danny Griffin sent a cross in from the right side.  Amann stepped up to deliver his now team leading seventh goal of the season, converting his penalty chance to the left into the open side of goal.

Turning to the second half, as both sides exchanged advances, Pittsburgh carved out an opportunity on a second chance of its own, following a right footed cross into the box from Charles Ahl which connected with 6’6″ defender Owen Mikoy, who’s header banged off the bar. The ball came to the feet of Griffin on the edge of the box, who played a short ball for Sam Bassett, who initiated the play out wide, then trailed into in the box.

Bassett took few touches to his left, then drove a low shot that found its way all the way through the box, and hitting the inside of the left post and into goal to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 edge.

Despite a strong push to the finish line in the tropical midday heat which the Hounds were controlling bouts of possession, but then as the extended stoppage time was added, found themselves on their heels, digging in an defending.

After Griffin went down with a knock, the officials did allow for time to go past the 97th minute.

That would be enough for The Miami FC to find a desperation equalizer.

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