A damp and rainy Highmark Stadium hosted Montreal F.C. [1-8-2] tonight as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds [4-4-4] matched up against a team that was placed in the basement of the Eastern Conference. A fatigued Riverhounds team showed a lot of resilience as they were able to find a way to squeeze out a close 1-0 win.
The Hounds were coming off a mid-week loss to MLS side D.C. United, where they played better than most expected. Tonight, Pittsburgh looked tired and for good reason. Playing even with an MLS team for the majority of a game would tire any USL team. The Riverhounds, while still looking tired, were able to find some chances to score, but the bad weather seemed to affect the players’ ability to keep possession and put the ball where they wanted.
The first half offered more water than offense. Both teams found no consistency in possession and were able to only manage a handful of scoring chances. Although there were no goals scored in the first half, Montreal found a scoring chance in the opening minutes when keeper Calle Brown misplayed an out of control wet ball and almost allowed a mistake of a goal.
Most of the scoring chances by the Riverhounds seemed to either be placed right at Montreal keeper Max Crepeau or were wide of the goal. The first half would end scoreless for both teams, 0-0.
The second half offered more offense, mainly by Pittsburgh. Most of these scoring chances would come from midfielders Rob Vincent and Kevin Kerr. The Hounds have been looking for more offensive power considering in the last three games, they haven’t scored more than one goal.
After a plethora of wide shots, hard kicks and balls that went straight to Montreal’s goalie, the Hounds finally found a way to get to turn it up a notch on the field.
The 70th minute marked when the Riverhounds began to play at a higher level and absolutely bombard the opposing net. At the 79th minute Kerr, broke the scoreless game when he unloaded a cannon to the back of the net after Montreal’s defense was not able to corral rebounds from prior attempts. This goal would put Pittsburgh up with a narrow 1-0 lead.
Following the goal, the Hounds did not lose their tenacity and ability to get the ball to the net. While Pittsburgh may not have scored another goal, they didn’t lose focus on finding an insurance goal. Their defense stood up tremendously against balls that threated their lead and had great awareness in getting the ball away from their goalie.
Pittsburgh will go on the road for their next game against the Rochester Rhinos at 7:05 p.m. next Saturday.
Photo credit: Terry O’Neil/Riverhounds.com
