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USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Hounds Climb to Second in Standings, Defeat Indy, 3-0

September 28, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (16-4-10) defeated Indy Eleven (17-8-5), 3-0, Saturday evening at Highmark Stadium to push its regular season home unbeaten streak to 24 games.

Match Report

Kenardo Forbes (twice) and Neco Brett provided the goalscoring for the Black and Gold. Kyle Morton led the squad to its club-record seventh straight clean sheet.

First Half

The Hounds narrowly averted disaster in the 5th minute after a miscue on defense that left Eleven forward Dane Kelly completely alone in possession behind Morton in the penalty box, however he just narrowly missed a wide-open net and his effort glanced off the outside of the post.

Inclement weather stopped the action for approximately 80 minutes shortly after the chance, however Brett managed to jump start the Black and Gold with an absolutely stunning goal after play resumed.

A hard foul on a Hounds player outside the penalty box led to Riverhounds SC being awarded a free-kick in the 15th minute, and Brett made the most of the opportunity. The striker stepped up and blasted an incredible strike from 30 yards out through a maze of defenders and over an outstretched Evan Newton in goal to put the Hounds up 1-0.

The Eleven answered back with a great look of their own in the 25th minute, courtesy of a header from Kelly in the six-yard box, however Morton managed a diving stop at the goal line to preserve the 1-0 lead.

Morton came up huge again in the 36th minute after Tyler Pasher made a great move to get a shot off from the top of the penalty box, producing another diving stop.

Forbes put the capper on an incredible first half with a superb strike of his own, blasting his third tally of the season in the 40th minute on a bullet from 25 yards out that beat Newton clean into the upper-left 90.

Second Half

The Hounds continued their steady play into the second frame, playing sound, positional soccer to preserve their 2-0 advantage.

Brett nearly made it 3-0 in the 62nd minute after showing great anticipation and calmly chasing down a loose ball behind Morton, however he was pressured before he could fully settle down and his strike hit the post.

Pasher nearly cut the score in half in the 68th minute on yet another header, however the effort sailed high over the crossbar.

After some more pressing, Forbes struck again in the 71st minute to put the Hounds up 3-0 after some fancy footwork near the left post. The forward collected a perfect ball from Brett before making a few moves and slotting home a neat strike into the lower right corner from an incredibly sharp angle.

Hound of the Match

Kenardo Forbes scored twice and finished with three total shots on the evening, his third and fourth markers of the season.

Stat of the Game: 7

Riverhounds SC finished with seven shots from inside the penalty box Saturday evening, including five in the first half.

What's Next

The Hounds head down to Segra Filed in Leesburg, Virginia for a Tuesday evening clash against Loudoun United FC. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.

Lineups:

Riverhounds SC - Kyle Morton - Dani Rovira (Ryan James 78'), Tobi Adewole, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Joe Greenspan, Jordan Dover - Kenardo Forbes, Kevin Kerr (Robbie Mertz 80'), Mouhamed Dabo - Steevan Dos Santos, Neco Brett (Uchenna Uzo 89')

Subs not used: Austin Pack, Todd Pratzner, Anthony Velarde, Christian Volesky

Indy Eleven - Evan Newton - Mitchell Osmond, Karl Ouimette, Neveal Hackshaw, Ayoze Garcia - Tyler Gibson, Drew Conner (Gabriel 78'), Macauley King (Matthew Watson 65'), Tyler Pasher - Ilija Ilic (Eugene Starikov 65'), Dane Kelly

Subs not used: Jordan Farr, Cristian Novoa, Nicolas Perea, Kenney Walker

Scoring Summary:

PIT - Neco Brett 15'

PIT - Kenardo Forbes 40' (Mouhamed Dabo)

PIT - Kenardo Forbes 71' (Neco Brett)

Misconduct Summary:

IND - Ayoze Garcia 60' (caution)

IND - Matthew Watson 74' (caution)

Quotes

Head coach Bob Lilley

On the game...

"We were good in stretches. They're pretty explosive even though they're not high up in the goal totals. They have a lot of pace and a lot of guys that can score. All year they have scored late goals and won every tight game, you can either sit back and hope they don't hurt you and maybe steal a goal or you can play."

On the club's chances...

"Sometimes games will have an ebb and flow, and when we hit our good spells we looked dangerous and aggressive. There were probably six to eight really good chances for both teams and a couple of all-mosts. We got a break on the mistake early and were really fortunate not to be down 1-0."

On the change in play after the rain delay...

"It was good to get the rain delay. I thought we started well in then first three minutes, and then we already seemed to be on our heels. They get in behind us once already, so it was good to get them in the locker room and re-focused because I'm not sure we were all there right at the start. We came out with a lot more energy and re-committed and re-focused."

Forward Neco Brett

In reference to free kicks in training...

"As a striker you should be able to hit the target from that distance. I felt confident, so I told Kenny let me have this one and he was like go for it."

In reference to waiting out the weather delay in the locker room...

"We just decided to focus a little bit more, bring some more energy, because we already knew the game plan we were just a little bit slow on our movements so we did that and we got the result we needed."

On working with Kenardo Forbes...

"That goal, that's one of his favorite high school moves. He's been doing it since high school. So in the moment he pulls it off like 99 percent of the time he's gonna pull off that trick you know what I mean and he did it really well he got a brilliant goal."

Midfielder Kenardo Forbes

In reference to the goals...

"Not much to be said, we just need those goals. It was a big game and I feel like I need to step up, it was my turn to step up. Luckily, I scored my first verse in the USL, five years."

Talking about where he is on the pitch...

"I mean that's my spot. Remember that one last season, that's my spot, so I always try to leave a bit of room to my right before I shoot."

About that angle...

"I had a different view, he's not letting me go on my right so I had to go on my left, so I go to my left and I try to shoot it thats how we practice and it went it so it was good for the team, and it was nice to get a victory plus a clean sheet. Indy is a really good team so for us to get a 3-0 win and a clean sheet, moving in the right direction."

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