Hounds Keep Unbeaten Streak with Detroit Draw
October 14, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
HAMTRAMCK, Mich. - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC closed out its regular season with an eight-match unbeaten streak after finishing deadlocked, 0-0, with Detroit City FC this afternoon at Keyworth Stadium.
The Hounds (19-5-10) came into the match with the best record in the USL Championship locked up, but still fielded a strong lineup in preparation for next week's playoffs. Detroit (11-15-8), meanwhile, needed to get at least the draw to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they will be the Hounds' Eastern Conference Quarterfinal opponent if Miami loses later tonight in Sacramento.
Detroit was held without a shot on goal, and while possession was nearly even, the Hounds' defense successfully defended 10 corner kicks to earn the team's league-leading 15th shutout and the first as a pro for rookie goalkeeper Christian Garner.
First half
Detroit came out in control of the early moments at home, holding 70 percent of possession in the first 15 minutes. Still, it was the Hounds who had the game's first excellent scoring chance, as Joe Farrell missed high on his header of a Robbie Mertz corner kick in the 14th minute.
Detroit also came close from a corner kick in the 29th minute when Stephen Carroll pushed a header wide across the goal, and a late scramble in the Hounds' box seemed like a dangerous moment until Junior Etou made an acrobatic clearance to alleviate the danger.
Second half
After the break was more of the same, though this time the Hounds came out with the upper hand in possession.
The best chance of the game fell to Danny Griffin in the 52nd minute after Marc Ybarra picked him out with a pass chipped from atop the box to the right side. Griffin struck a powerful volley on net, but Detroit goalie Nathan Steinwascher made a reflexive save to keep the ball out.
Ybarra was involved again later in the half when he won a foul just outside the box and slightly to the left of goal. Mertz stepped up and curled the free kick around the wall, but his shot struck the post, and Tola Showunmi was unable to turn the rebound back toward the net.
Shots in the game were even at 7-7, and even the count of total passes was virtually even, 358-351 to Detroit.
Heineken Man of the Match
Marc Ybarra played a big part returning to his home state, as he earned the distinction of being the only Hounds player to appear in all 34 league matches. Ybarra connected on 25 of 38 passes - both most on the team in a very direct match - while he also contested a team-high 16 duels, added two clearances and won three free kicks in addition to setting up Danny Griffin's big scoring chance.
What's next?
The Hounds have home field throughout the USL Championship Playoffs, and those will begin with an Eastern Conference Quarterfinal match at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 at Highmark Stadium. The opponent will be the No. 8 seed, either Detroit or Miami FC.
Riverhounds SC lineup (5-3-2) - Christian Garner; Junior Etou, Pat Hogan (Nate Dossantos 46'), Joe Farrell, Arturo Ordóñez, Dani Rovira (Luke Biasi 62'); Robbie Mertz (Kenardo Forbes 80'), Danny Griffin, Marc Ybarra (Langston Blackstock 81'); JC Obregón (Tola Showunmi 62'), Albert Dikwa
Detroit City FC lineup (4-1-4-1) - Nathan Steinwascher; Devon Amoo-Mensah, Stephen Carroll, Matt Lewis, Michael Bryant; Dominic Gasso; Rhys Williams, Maxi Rodriguez, Abdoulaye Diop, Connor Rutz (Aaron Bibout 76'); Ben Morris
Scoring summary
None
Discipline summary
PIT - Joe Farrell 27' (caution - reckless foul)
DET - Dominic Gasso 47' (caution - reckless foul)
DET - Abdoulaye Dipp 71' (caution - reckless foul)
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