ACC Men’s Soccer
FINAL: No. 20 Pitt 1, No. 18 Louisville 0
Match Summary
Behind another goal from freshman forward Mamadou Tall, delivered by Anders Bordoy and another stellar performance in net from Jack Moxom, No. 20 Pitt closed out a tense 1-0 victory over unbeaten No. 18 Louisville on Alumni Night at Ambrose Urbanic Field for a key conference win that provided them with the opportunity to jump up in the ACC Men’s Soccer standings.
“It was a tough battle,” Bordoy said after the match to Pittsburgh Soccer Now.
“They’re a ranked opponent. They were going to give us a game. We showed our heart and passion — we got the job done.”
How It Happened
The Panthers controlled possession for long stretches of the opening half, overcoming a sluggish start in the final third to break through in the 39th minute.
Defensively, Jay Vidovich’s squad kept the lethal Cardinals attack entirely at bay, limiting the visitors to a single off-target shot in the opening stanza.
The early stages played out as a tactical battle, with Pitt operating out of its possession-based 4-2-4/4-2-2-2 system while Louisville remained disciplined and compact in a 4-4-2, but waiting to get forward quickly. Both sides spent the first 15 minutes feeling each other out. Pitt tried working along the flanks, as building sustained momentum past the midfield stripe proved challenging.
Pitt generated its first clear opportunity in the 17th minute when Albert Thorsen cut back on the right corner of the box and whipped a curling cross toward the center, though Mamadou Tall’s header rose over the crossbar. Minutes later, Grayson Carter delivered a service from the right side that bounced around the box before Lasse Grabfelder’s follow-up was blocked by a wall of black shirts.
As the Panthers sustained pressure deeper in the attacking third, high pressing in the 28th minute forced Louisville into conceding the night’s first corner kick. The Cardinals countered Pitt’s possession edge with a physical approach, committing six first-half fouls to disrupt the Panthers’ rhythm. The match grew increasingly physical on both ends, resulting in referee cautions for Pitt’s Ethan Pendleton and Santiago Ferreira.
The breakthrough finally materialized for Pitt in the closing 10 minutes of the half behind a spark from sub Anders Bordoy.
In the 35th minute, Pablo Portero broke free through the central channel and slipped a feed to the left side for Bordoy, whose low, left-footed strike was saved by Louisville goalkeeper Nathaniel Abraham.
Four minutes later, the same connection produced the opening goal. Portero again released Bordoy down the left flank, where the Kiski Area product tracked down the ball and drove toward the endline. Bordoy sent a precise cross toward the far post, allowing Tall to arrive in stride and clean it up into the back of the net in the 39th minute. The tally marked Tall’s team-leading fourth goal of the season.
Coming off the bench in this match, Bordoy made the most of this first half shift, getting a shot on frame, the setting up the goal to Mamadou, as it was the second time this season the two former Western PA scholastic standouts connected for a goal.
“I knew my job. It was 0-0. I had to get something to change,” Bordoy said.
“I used my abilities to get to the end line, and pass it to Mama (Mamadou Tall). He’s on fire right now. Anything going off his foot right now is going to go in. It was just my mentality to work hard and try to do my thing.”
When asked to elaborate on what Tall, who has scored four goals and added an assist thus far this season, Bordoy added: “He’s unbelievable. The tenacity he has to get into the box and the passion he has to get into the box, find those tap-ins… His ability to run in behind, it’s dangerous. It stretches the center backs, gives everyone room, and his hold-up play is just great. Defenders can’t read him—they don’t know if he’s going to come down or go in behind. He’s been a huge addition this year.”
Defensive efficiency anchored the Panthers throughout the stanza, keeping the visitors mostly away from the 18-yard box and limiting Louisville to just a single off-target shot through the first 45 minutes.
“I thought we started off the match fantastically,” Vidovich said.
“We got at them a few times. The goal by Mamadou, was a tremendous finish and build-up leading to it.”
The physical intensity picked up immediately out of the halftime break, beginning in the 46th minute with a hard sideline collision that sparked a heated pushing-and-shoving match before officials intervened to restore order.
Louisville came out firing in search of an equalizer, pressing Pitt’s backline with dangerous wide delivery. In the 48th minute, a curling cross from Emil Thor nearly found a runner at the back post. Just a minute later, Cardinals winger Mamadou Ndiaye drove a low, stinging shot on frame, forcing Jack Moxom to dive low and register his first official save of the evening.
Pitt stemmed the tide in the 57th minute behind a spark from substitute right back Christian LoGrasso, who won a 50/50 ball along the sideline with a clean sliding tackle. That sparked an exciting attacking sequence into the final third, where Mamadou Tall took a touch inside the box and backheeled a pass to Anders Bordoy, whose bending strike forced a dive from Louisville goalkeeper Nathaniel Abraham.
Much like Bordoy, LoGrasso brought added intensity and quality contributions off the bench. Less than a minute after his sliding tackle prompted an attacking moment, he made sliding block on the edge of the 18-yard box to close in and deny a Louisville shot attempt.
Two minutes later, Pitt started to get back on the front foot, starting with a short corner routine to the far post, where Pitt’s captain, Logan Oliver somehow fought off a defender to get a clear header on goal that testsed Abraham once more.
The Cardinals mounted their most dangerous spell mid-way through the period. In the 64th minute, Ashton Flowers cut inside and lined up a 21-yard driver that forced Moxom to cover his left post.
Moxom delivered his biggest moment of the night in the 66th minute, displaying lightning quick reflexes to tip a point-blank volley from Giacomo Zizza away from the top corner to preserve the lead.
Refusing to sit on a one-goal cushion, the Panthers continued pushing forward.
In the 78th minute, Miguel Bertran spearheaded a brilliant attack down the channel, feeding Tall inside the box. Tall produced another clever backheel lay-off into the path of Albert Thorsen, whose low drive toward the right post required a full-stretch diving save from Abraham.
Pitt created another quality look in the 84th minute as Bordoy rushed a shot from the top of the box following build-up along the right wing.
As the Panthers controlled play late, they wore down a dangerous Louisville side and kept them from adding any more quality moments.
“The second half started a little slow,” Vidovich added.
“But the last 15 minutes, we really controlled it. It was a great match. The guys completed and fought their way all the way through it and I am very happy with them.”
Tensions mounted in the 87th minute when play halted for a VAR review following an unsuccessful Pitt challenge regarding a potential dangerous play on the near sideline.
However, the Panthers managed the final moments flawlessly after the restart to see out the 1-0 shutout and hand the Cardinals their first loss of the season.
Up Next
Pitt (6-2-1, 2-1-0 ACC) continues its home ACC slate next week as they host conference foes back at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
Watch the full post-match video interviews on PSN’s YouTube Channel.
Post Match Notes
- Bordoy now leads the Panthers with three assists and Tall is tops with four goals.
- Moxom, who played with Riverhounds 2 this summer, has played every minute for the Panthers in goal this season
Match Updates
2nd half
FINAL! Pitt Wins 1-0!
87′ — Whistle blows and officials go to VAR. Word gets to the press box that Pitt had an unsuccessful challenge on what they wanted to be a dangerous play on the near sideline.
84′ — Pitt continues to press for that elusive two-goal lead as they’re far from sitting back. Bordoy gets a run at another one after decent build-up along the right side. This time, from the top of the box, Bordoy hurries through it.
78′ — Another brilliant sequence created by Miquel Bertran’s work on the ball! Bertran gets forward and delivers a low ball to Tall in the box, who backheels it for Albert Thorsen. Thorsen takes a low shot inside the right post that forces a diving save from Abraham!
66′ — SAVE! Moxom covers the top corner with his quick reflexes as a one-time chance off a volley from Giacomo Zizza is turned away.
64′ — Chance for the Cards! Ashton Flowers gets around Bordoy, then lines one up from 21 yards out that forces Moxom down to cover the left post. A dangerous moment for Pitt.
62′ — Short corner again for Pitt. The cross in finds Logan Oliver at the far post; with a defender clinging to him, he gets a shot off to force another save by Abraham.
60′ — Panthers are scrambling a bit to clear after a loose ball in the box following a Louisville cross from the right.
58′ — Again LoGrasso with a key defensive contribution, sliding down on the edge of the box to block a shot attempt.
57′ — What a sequence! Started by right outside back sub Christian LoGrasso with a fantastic sliding tackle on the sideline on a 50/50 ball. The ball pops out toward the box where Tall takes a touch, then backheels it for Bordoy. Bordoy carves out space to drive a bending shot that is saved by Abraham.
49′ — The Cards are brewing up some chances. Winger Mamadou Ndiaye drives a low shot that forces Pitt’s keeper Jack Moxom down to make his first save of the match.
48′ — Louisville looking dangerous with a cross in from Emil Thor that nearly connects.
46′ — Right off the bat, a hard collision on the near sideline draws a lot of pushing and shoving. The officials step in to calm everyone down.
HALFTIME — PITT 1, LOUISVILLE 0
Panthers dominated possession. For a while there they looked pretty unconvincing once they past midfield. But things started to open up a bit more. What a great end of first half shift for Anders Bordoy. A quality chance, then he tracked down Pablo Portero’s ball to the left side, then sent a cross right to Mamadou Tall in stride. Pitt have been solid in transition defending, keeping the visitors mostly away from box. Just one shot for Louisville and it wasn’t on frame. Louisville partly showing that they’re trying their best to disrupt the Panthers and partly their frustration with six fouls. Pitt has two players carrying yellow cards too, as Ethan Pendelton and Santiago Ferreirra were booked in the first half.
1st Half
39′ — GOAL!!! PITT 1, Louisville 0
Mamadou Tall is there to clean it up!
Again it’s Bordoy in the middle of it. The freshman from The Kiski School with his team leading 4th goal of season. Once again Anders Bordoy who subbed on only a few minutes sends it to right post area for Tall to make sure it goes in.
35′ — CHANCE! So close — Anders Bordoy gets just enough separation after solid feed, drives low, left footed shot that is saved by Louisville keeper Nathanial Abraham. It was Pablo Portero who broke free and advanced to top circle before the feed to the left to the former Kiski Area standout.
28′ — Following sequence results in first corner thanks to high pressing following the last chance. Playing it short, they can’t quite connect the dots.
27′ — Scretchen creates some space on left side — but soft cross with little intent is easily handled by Louisville keeper Nathanial Abraham.
20′ — Decent build-up and lots of patience for Panthers as they control it deeper into attacking third. Cross in from right from Grayson Carter bounces around the box. Grabfelder tracks Louisville clearance but can’t do much with a wall of black shirts in front of him.
17′ — It took until now — but Pitt with its first quality build-up — as Albert Thorsen cuts back on the right corner of box, then delivers a bending cross in for Mamadou Tall in the center of box — but the freshman forward from The Kiski School by way of Senegal header is too high.
12′ — Good battle on the left side of Pitt’s attack as Cannon Scretchen finally gets some separation from UofL winger Ashton Flowers, but can’t keep clean touch and it rolls out past endline.
8′ — Pitt in their usual 4-2-4 (or 4-2-2-2) which ever way you want to look at it that’s so unique, while Louisville staying compact in 4-4-2.
5′ — Both teams mostly feeling each other out. LouPitt trying to work up both wide channels but getting anything with purpose past the midfield has been a challenge thus far.
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