Hounds See off Panthers in Steel City Scrimmage
April 7, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
PITTSBURGH (April 7, 2015) - The Pittsburgh Riverhounds eased to a 2-0 win over the University of Pittsburgh Tuesday night in a scrimmage at Highmark Stadium.
Kene Eze and Rob Vincent scored the goals in a game that the Hounds dominated over the course of three periods.
Sayreville, N.J. native Eze broke the deadlock in the third minute when he fastened onto a long diagonal ball before stepping inside Pitt full-back Kevin Fielden and driving a clinical finish inside Dan Lynd's near post.
The Hounds kept up the pressure in the early phases. Amara Soumah retrieved Seth C'deBaca's cross before firing another dangerous ball across the face of Lynd's goal. Nick Kolarac forced the Panthers goalkeeper into a smart save on 10 minutes with a blast from outside the box.
Jeffrey Kyei almost doubled the lead on 26 minutes when he collected a through ball from Soumah and rounded Lynd with his first touch. The German midfielder could only find the side netting with his shot from a tight angle.
Riverhounds head coach Mark Steffens and his Panthers counterpart Joe Luxbacher made liberal use of substitutions throughout the evening. The Hounds held a considerable edge in possession and territory during the second 30-minute period without adding to the scoreline. Kolarac sliced a chance wide and C'deBaca slid his shot narrowly beyond Lynd's far corner after being teed up by Eze.
The introduction of first-team regulars like Vincent, Danny Earls and Kevin Kerr amped up the pressure on the Panthers' defense in the closing third. Irishman Earls kickstarted a Hounds break on 70 minutes with a crunching challenge in midfield. Kerr and Vini Dantas combined down the right side before Earls arrived in the box to stab a low shot at Lynd.
Vincent continued his impressive goalscoring form this year with the second goal on 79 minutes. Brazilian striker Dantas showed off his trickery inside the penalty area to beat two Pitt defenders before squaring the ball for the English midfielder to tuck inside Lynd's far corner.
Lynd beat away Kerr's close range drive on 86 minutes after another incisive Hounds attack. The junior goalkeeper thwarted Kerr again a minute later after Dantas released the Scotsman with a cute return pass.
The Riverhounds continue the USL season in St. Louis Saturday when they provide the opposition for the first home game in St. Louis F.C. franchise history. Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m.
A live broadcast of the game will be shown in the sports bar at Highmark Stadium. Fans are invited to attend from 7 p.m. to enjoy our food and drink options. Entrance is free.
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