3 Things: #PITvCLT
Published on May 19, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
After earning their first point of the season, the Riverhounds host Charlotte Independence for their home opener at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, May 22. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff and will be shown locally on WPNT 22, The Point.
With two matches under our belt, here are some things to look out for in the first of four matchups against Charlotte.
1) Will this be the one?
The Hounds are 0-6-5 all-time vs. Charlotte, marking the most meetings without a win against any opponent in club history. The teams met at least twice in each season from 2015-19, yet the Hounds have been unable to get over the top against the Independence despite finishing with a better record than Charlotte in three of those five years.
The last time the two clubs met, in 2019, Charlotte defeated the Hounds, 1-0, at Sportsplex at Matthews. The teams also met at Highmark Stadium earlier that year, where they played to a 0-0 draw.
Although the Hounds have earned a point in three of the five matchups at Highmark Stadium, they look to finally break through with a win on Saturday.
2) A history of bouncing back
Just like this season, the Hounds opened the 2019 season with a loss against the Tampa Bay Rowdies followed by a tie on the road.
From there, the Hounds earned a point in each of their next seven matches, including a tie against Charlotte. They'd only drop three more matches that season, finishing atop the Eastern Conference.
Even though the Hounds haven't started the way they wanted, history under Bob Lilley suggests that they soon will get on the right track.
3) Fast starters
Charlotte has had a mixed bag of results early this season with a 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay and a 3-0 win over Charleston.
But one common thread to both matches was the Independence starting strong. Against the Rowdies, the Independence went toe-to-toe with Tampa Bay for a scoreless first half before breaking down in the second half. The next time out, Charlotte was ahead 2-0 in just 18 minutes with goals Marcelo Palomino and the first of two by Irvin Parra.
Given that trend, the Hounds should be prepared to weather an early rush from the Independence, who will want to quiet the Highmark Stadium crowd.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 19, 2021
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- Know Your Opponent: Orange County SC - Sacramento Republic FC
- RDA Schedule Announced for First USL Academy League Season - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Roots Name Jordan Ferrell Full-Time Head Coach for the Duration of the 2021 Season - Oakland Roots
- Registration Now Open for Two All Girls Camps this Summer - Sacramento Republic FC
- El Paso Locomotive Signs Forward Ricardo Zacarías - El Paso Locomotive FC
- 3 Things: #PITvCLT - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- San Antonio FC to Host First 'Viva Night' of the Season, Presented by H-E-B - San Antonio FC
- Fourteen Academy Players Attend USYNT Regional ID Session - Sacramento Republic FC
- Forward Dane Kelly Re-Signs with Charlotte Independence for 2021 Season - Charlotte Independence
- Legion FC to Offer Dollar Hotdogs, Beer Deal and Fireworks Next Wednesday - Birmingham Legion FC
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