For the second time in less than a week, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds [3-3-3] won a match in which they never saw a lead until added time. Tonight they, came from down 5-3 after 90 minutes to score three stoppage-time goals to stun the Harrisburg City Islanders [4-2-1] with a 6-5 victory.
The Riverhounds matched up against their Keystone State rivals for the second time this season, and unlike the first match, when the Hounds dominated with a 5-1 victory, Harrisburg City Islanders came to play in this one. The Hounds’ defense played sloppily early on and the inexperience of backup keeper Ryan Hulings would show.
The Islanders came out and shot early against keeper Hulings, who made his USL debut tonight. In just the first 15 minutes, Harrisburg already had four shots on goal and tested the young keeper when given the opportunity.
The game remained scoreless until the 27th minute when Islander forward Yann Ekra threaded the needle and buried a shot past outstretched Hulings. This gave Harrisburg a 1-0 lead, but the Riverhounds would not go without their fair share of opportunities.
Forward Kevin Kerr, in the 28th minute, came within feet of heading in a ball which went just wide of the net. Another opportunity would come about in the 34th minute, when Kerr danced around Islanders and nailed the post.
Harrisburg would not squander their next chance on goal. Midfielder Danny DiPrima took advantage of a sloppy Hounds defense and launched a ball to the roof of the net, giving the Islanders a 2-0 lead.
Moments later, Harrisburg midfielder Jose Barril kicked the ball right where he needed to and put it past Hulings once again. The Hounds would go into the half down 0-3.
The break would bring new life to Pittsburgh. Within the first 15 minutes of the second half, the Riverhounds started to take a bite out of the 3-0 lead that the Islanders were sitting on.
In the 47th minute, forward Rob Vincent took a beautiful pass from midfielder Lebo Moloto and managed to find the back of the net as he got past Islander keeper Nick Noble.
In the blink of an eye, the Riverhounds scored yet another goal. Coming in the 52nd minute by Amara Soumah, who had been substituted for midfielder Stephen Okai earlier in the game. Soumah headed in a cross from forward Miro Cabrilo and scored his first pro goal, putting the Hounds just a goal back, 2-3
However, the City Islanders found another goal in the 56th minute when midfielder Jason Plumhoff shot an easy ball into the net after a bad defensive decision led to the Islanders keeping possession and getting a two goal lead, 4-2.
With hope all but lost headed into the last ten minutes, midfielder Danny Earls finished off a penalty kick originally shot by Kerr that was blocked and found it’s way to Earls. The Hounds were close to matching the Islanders, down by only one, 3-4.
Harrisburg would not go away with forward Garret Pettis putting in a ball over an overly aggressive Hulings giving the Islanders a late 5-3 lead.
Pittsburgh then showed their moxie and gave fans at Highmark Stadium reason to believe that miracles truly do exist.
The comeback in the final minutes began with Earls collecting his second goal of the game after kicking heat past the Islanders’ goalkeeper in the 90th minute.
Next, the Hounds used some trickery in stoppage time, as Kerr lined up to take a free kick from just outside the penalty area but instead tapped it over to his right and a laser from the big boot of Vincent was tucked perfectly away in the top right corner net to tie the game at 5-5.
The third and winning goal in added time came with none other than Kerr finding a way to give the Hounds the final say in this game. Taking a pass from Moloto and sweeping the ball just under the arm of keeper Noble, Kerr and the rest of the Hounds would cap off a comeback for the ages with a 6-5 win.
Although it may not measure up to this thrilling and tough win, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds will continue with USL play when they host St. Louis FC at 7:00 p.m. at Highmark Stadium next Saturday.
Photo credit: Pittsburgh Riverhounds / TKO Photo
