10-Man Hounds Hold off Indy Eleven to Pick up 1-0 Road Win
June 15, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
Riverhounds SC was reduced to 10 men in the 62nd minute but managed to hold on for a 1-0 win over Indy Eleven on Tuesday night at Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis.
Tommy Williamson scored the only goal - the first professional goal for the 12th pick in this year's MLS SuperDraft - with a free kick in the 37th minute that banked off the Indy defense and rolled over the goal line.
But things got hairy for the Hounds (3-3-2) after defender Jelani Peters received his second yellow card and was sent off in the 62nd minute of the match, reducing the Hounds to 10 men for the rest of the game. Indy (3-4-1) pressed forward for a tying goal, but the Hounds defense was resolute in holding the hosts to just seven shots, three of which were blocked and only one of which forced a save from goalkeeper Jake Leeker, who recorded his first shutout with the Hounds.
First half
The first half started with a long feeling-out process in the inter-divisional clash, but things picked up in the 25th minute.
Danny Griffin conceded a foul just outside the Indy box, and Gordon Wild's low free kick for the Eleven got around the wall but struck the base of the right post before being cleared by the Hounds.
Ten minutes later, it was Anthony Velarde who was pulled down a step outside of the penalty area, earning a free kick for the Hounds. Williamson, the first-year pro on loan from MLS' San Jose Earthquakes, hit a low, hard kick that bounced off two Indy defenders. The ball rolled softly into the net, as the deflection left goalkeeper Jordan Farr diving the wrong direction.
Second half
Indy began to apply more pressure in the second half, and the Hounds conceded a season-high 18 fouls trying to hold them off. The Hounds were shown six yellow cards in the match, but none was as consequential as the one shown to Peters for a late challenge, the second card in three minutes for the center back.
The Hounds immediately made three substitutions to adjust for being down a man, and the team was forced to defend often. After the Hounds had 51 percent of possession in the first half, they saw only 27 percent in the second half with the numerical disadvantage.
Indy had some threatening moments, none more so than in the 85th minute, when Manuel Arteaga finished a pass from Patrick Seagrist, but the offside flag was already raised against Seagrist when he received the ball.
Leeker was most visible in the six minutes of stoppage time, and though he only recorded one official save, the goalkeeper was mostly solid catching crosses and long balls in his second start of the season, bar one scary bobble in the waning moments that was cleared by his defense.
Hounds Man of the Match
Dani Rovira, making his first start of the year as a holding midfielder rather than in a wing role, was all over the field as a defensive menace. He led the Hounds in touches on the ball (55), possession gained (10), interceptions (four) and tied for the lead in clearances with three. In addition, he drew a team-high four fouls, rounding out a high-energy 90 minutes.
What's next?
The Hounds get a chance to run back their season opener at the Tampa Bay Rowdies when they travel to St. Petersburg, Fla., for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday match. The Rowdies won the first meeting, 3-0, and they lead the Atlantic Division with a 6-1-0 record.
Riverhounds SC lineup (5-2-2-1) - Jake Leeker; Preston Kilwien, Shane Wiedt, Jalen Robinson (Mekeil Williams 72'), Jelani Peters (sent off 62'), Josh Gatt (Alex Dixon 64); Danny Griffin, Dani Rovira; Anthony Velarde (Kenardo Forbes 64'), Russell Cicerone (Todd Wharton 72'); Tommy Williamson (Albert Dikwa 64')
Indy Eleven lineup (3-5-2) - Jordan Farr; Neveal Hackshaw, A.J. Cochran, Karl Ouimette (Jordan Hamilton 75'); Ayoze (Patrick Seagrist 70'), Nicky Law, Jared Trimmer, Cameron Smith (Nedeljko Malic 88'), Rece Buckmaster (Nick Moon 70'); Gordon Wild, Manuel Arteaga
Scoring summary
PIT - Tommy Williamson 37'
Discipline summary
PIT - Danny Griffin 25' (caution - unsporting behavior)
PIT - Jelani Peters 59' (caution - unsporting behavior)
PIT - Tommy Williamson 59' (caution - unsporting behavior)
PIT - Jelani Peters 62' (sent off - second bookable offense)
IND - Ayoze 65' (caution - unsporting behavior)
IND - Patrick Seagrist 89' (caution - unsporting behavior)
PIT - Alex Dixon 90' (caution - delaying restart)
PIT - Albert Dikwa 90+3' (caution - unsporting behavior)
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