The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have lost their last four games. Three out of those four losses were at Highmark Stadium.
According to head coach Dave Brandt, the Riverhounds 3-0 loss against the Charlotte Independence Saturday was just another “same old story.”
“It’s the same old story – lots of chances in the first half not put away and a couple really average goals to give away,” Brandt said after the match. “And this group struggles when they give the first goal away. We are dying for one of those to go in and put us on top. We didn’t get it done, we gave up one before half and then we’re fighting from behind.”
Fighting is something the team is still managing to do. According to forward Corey Hertzog, the team still has a lot of belief in themselves.
“We’re coming in every game believing we can get three points, and it was unfortunate tonight because it was bad luck,” Hertzog said. “But you just have to win games. We need to get it together and get three points. It’s just frustrating.”
“I think we’re playing well,” Hertzog continued. “We’re creating the chances. We’ve gotten unlucky with calls or goals, and we just put our heads down. And then the goals come and we get down and we can’t let it get to us. We just have to keep fighting and put a chance away. Once we score that goal, it will turn around, but we just need that first one to turn around the season.”
The Riverhounds did have their chances against the Independence, but all five shots were saved by Independence goalkeeper John Berner.
The Independence got the scoring started off in the 31’ minute with a goal from Caleb Calvert, which was assisted by Lewis Hilton. Hilton had his goal in the 44’ minute, which was assisted by Enzo Martinez, and the last goal came in the 90’+ minute from Jorge Herrera, which was assisted by Alex Martinez.
The Independence played a clean game, picking up no yellow or red cards. The Riverhounds, on the other hand, picked up two yellow cards. Danny Earls received the first yellow card in the 1’ minute and Sergio Campbell received his yellow card in the 63’ minute.
The Riverhounds will travel next weekend to face the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday, July 30. The team will return back to Highmark Stadium on Friday, August 5 to face Louisville City FC.
