The Pittsburgh Riverhounds traveled to Charleston, South Carolina on Saturday. The matchup featured the unbeaten and Eastern Conference-leading Charleston Battery and the Riverhounds, one of the United Soccer League’s highest-scoring sides.
The Battery took an early first half lead and they were able to hold off the Riverhounds’ attack en route to a 3-1 victory at Blackbaud Stadium. The Riverhounds have now lost four of their last five matches in Charleston.
The Riverhounds took the play to the Battery in the early going with their attacking style, but were unable to put any real pressure on the Charleston goal.
In the ninth minute, the Battery sent a long ball over the Hounds defense, but Fejiro Okiomah ran down Heviel Cordoves to stop what could have been a clean breakaway.
Moments later, Okiomah injured himself while making an athletic clearance off the foot of Charleston midfielder Maikel Chang. Okiomah came to the Pittsburgh sideline for treatment on his right hamstring, and the Riverhounds carried on with 10 men.
Charleston seized the opportunity, as Chang made a centering pass to fellow midfielder Zach Prince, who was unmarked in the box and he drove the ball past Riverhounds goaltender Ryan Thompson, who had no chance on the play.
Riverhounds head coach Mark Steffens then immediately made a substitution, ending Okiomah’s night prematurely in favor of Drew Russell.
Neither team could press much of an advantage in the remainder of the first half. Both clubs suffered from tough footing as the natural grass field had been soaked by a pre-game thunderstorm courtesy of Subtropical Storm Ana, which is off the coast of South Carolina.
Towards the end of the first half, the Riverhounds were able to possess the ball in the Battery end for long stretches of time, but were unable to manufacture any shots on goal.
In the early part of the second half, the Riverhounds again dominated possession despite again failing to record a shot.
By the 50th minute, the tide had turned to Charleston, who had several quality scoring chances thwarted by Thompson and the Riverhounds defense, including a pair of corner kicks.
In the 64th minute, the Battery broke through with a goal after an ugly Pittsburgh turnover. Charleston striker Dane Kelly was the man that took advantage of the opportunity.
Less than 10 minutes later, Charleston midfielder Dante Marini was unmarked in front and converted a crossing feed for a backbreaking goal. Thompson was without fault on any of the three Charleston goals, as his back line failed to mark open players on the first and third Battery goals, and turned the ball over on the second.
Steffens would use all five of his substitutions in the game, bringing on Lebo Moloto, Max Toulotte, Miro Cabrilo, and Seth C’deBaca in the second half.
His moves paid off as Cabrilo scored on a header in the 81st minute on a crossing feed from Danny Earls.
Four minutes later, the Hounds would come close to making a game of it, as Moloto had a strong chance that was deflected by Charleston goalkeeper Odsinel Cooper and the rebound was cleared off the line by the Battery defense.
That was the last good chance for Pittsburgh, who fell to 2-3-2 on the young season. Charleston, meanwhile, remains unbeaten with a 5-0-3 record.
The Riverhounds will return home to Highmark Stadium to host the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Photo credit: Matthew Gladwell/WCSC
