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USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

3 Things: #NYvPIT

May 25, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


Still seeking their first win, the Riverhounds hit the road once again on a short week to face the New York Red Bulls II on Friday, May 28. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff and will be streamed on ESPN+.

If you're wondering what to keep an eye out for in the match, here are three things that could make the difference in whether or not the Hounds finally hit the win column:

1) xEcution in front of goal

The world of advanced metrics has crept into soccer, and a glaring number from Saturday's loss to Charlotte is the xG (expected goals) score of the game: Hounds 2.05, Charlotte 1.09.

The method used to calculate xG takes many factors into account, such as assist type, position of the shot and distance from goal. In summary, it is the average score you would expect to get if you played the same match an infinite number of times with the same scoring chances.

As we all know, the match didn't end up 2-1, as the Hounds failed to score in a 1-0 defeat. But here, the metrics - both advanced and basic, as the Hounds had a 21-8 shots edge - back up the assertion by Bob Lilley that the goals will come.

Simply put, the execution hasn't been there in the critical moment. Lilley has rotated through many players up top with Russell Cicerone, Albert Dikwa, Alex Dixon and Tommy Williamson all having a chance to lead the line. If any one of them can provide the incisive touch consistently, it will quickly change the trajectory of the season and likely solidify their spot as a closer-to-90-minute player.

2) Nap time is over

After the loss to Charlotte, Lilley bemoaned his team conceding a goal through the air in each of their three matches to date. Steevan Dos Santos, Luka Prpa and Irvin Parra each headed in a go-ahead or tying goal, and all three were preventable.

A quick look at the film shows a similar problem on each - defenders who are in good position to start the play but fall asleep rather than getting tighter to their marks. It's the smallest of things that needs to be fixed, but it has a major effect in those key sequences.

If the Hounds defenders can do a better job anticipating the runs and putting a body on the runners rather than trailing them, those headed goals will become much tougher for opponents to finish. But if they concede through the air once again against the Baby Bulls, the coaches' patience with the players on the back line could begin to wear thin.

3) Don't start tripping

A young team, Red Bulls II shows their immaturity at times in their defending, which is why they average nearly 18 fouls per game and have been booked a league-leading 18 times - five more than any other club. Additionally, New York has scored three of its seven goals this season from the penalty spot, so they're no slouches at drawing contact as well as dishing it out.

The last thing the Hounds need is to get into another game that becomes disjointed by fouls and potentially sees a player sent off, so avoiding a hack-fest is important.

But the more the Hounds can control the tempo of the game and win possession, which they won for the first time this season against Charlotte, the more New York will be inclined to concede fouls in dangerous positions, which can only help a Hounds team still in search of its scoring touch.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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