USL Orange County SC

Blues Earn Crucial 2-0 Victory at Pittsburgh

Published on August 1, 2012 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Orange County SC News Release


PITTSBURGH, Penn. - The Blues earned a crucial 2-0 road win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Tuesday night to keep their postseason hopes alive. The victory was powered in large part by striker Max Griffin, who assisted on Brian Farber's first-half tally and sealed the deal with a goal of his own after the break. Former Chivas USA striker Maykel Galindo could have added a third for the visitors, but his penalty kick was saved by goalkeeper Gregory Blum.

With the victory, the Blues move into a two-way tie on points with the Charlotte Eagles, who sit in 7th place in the league standings. Both teams are three points behind the Richmond Kickers and the sixth and final playoff spot.

The tempo of the game was slow in the early stages, with the two sides looking to keep possession and build through the midfield. After the Riverhounds' Seth C'deBaca rattled the crossbar with a 30-yard rocket, the Blues grabbed the lead in the 38th minute. A long diagonal ball to the back post found Griffin, who brought it down with little pressure from his marker and struck a left-footed shot across the goalmouth. After being deflected by a defender, the ball made its way through to Farber and the 30-year-old found the net on a determined first-time finish.

Less than ten minutes into the second period, the visitors from Southern California took advantage of a defensive miscue to double their lead. Matt Fondy stripped a Riverhounds player of the ball in the attacking half and found Galindo at the top of the penalty area. The skillful Cuban committed his marker and slipped a through ball to Griffin, forcing Blum to come off his line for a one-on-one with the on-loan Orlando City striker, who won the duel by rifling a shot into the top right corner of the goal.

Griffin 's side could have put the match beyond doubt in the 73rd minute, Blum bringing down Fondy at the edge of the penalty area on a tackle that earned the Pittsburgh netminder a yellow card and the Blues a penalty kick. Galindo stepped up and attempted to beat Blum to his right, but the 23-year-old did a nice job of parrying the ball wide and enabling his defense to clear.

While the Riverhounds return to action against the visiting Charlotte Eagles on August 10, the Blues take on Antigua Barracuda FC in two crucial home games at Fullerton 's Titan Stadium on August 9 and August 11. Tickets for both contests are $10 and may be purchased by calling 714-738-8011 or by visiting www.labluesprosoccer.com.

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