Hounds Squander Late Lead to Lose in Harrisburg
July 26, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
HARRISBURG, Pa. (July 26, 2015) - The Pittsburgh Riverhounds squandered a golden chance to clinch the inaugural Keystone Derby Cup and cement their playoff position Sunday evening after surrendering a late two-goal lead to lose at the 10-man Harrisburg City Islanders.
Games between these Pennsylvania rivals have proved to be thrilling, unpredictable contests this year. That trend looked to have ended when Islanders midfielder Jose Barril was ejected after 64 minutes with the Hounds holding a 3-1 advantage.
Jamaican forward Cardel Benbow instead provided a spark for the hosts. His pace unsettled Pittsburgh's back line and allowed the Islanders to strike three times in the closing stages to snatch an unlikely 4-3 win at the Skyline Sports Complex.
The Hounds still lead the Keystone Derby standings by virtue of two earlier derby wins at Highmark Stadium this season. The trophy will be presented after the fourth and final regular season contest between the teams in Harrisburg on Sept. 19.
Of greater importance is the implication for the USL Eastern Conference playoff race. Pittsburgh slips to a 7-8-4 record (25 points) after a third straight defeat. Harrisburg has now drawn level with the Hounds in sixth position with a 7-6-4 record and two games in hand.
Hounds head coach Mark Steffens sprang a couple of surprises with Conor Donovan and Amara Soumah being handed their first starts for the club. United States Under-20 national team defender Donovan had arrived on loan from Orlando City over the weekend. He was immediately paired with Anthony Arena as Fejiro Okiomah missed out due to an Achilles problem.
Soumah had previously made five substitute appearances for the Hounds in his rookie season, finding the net once in Pittsburgh's remarkable 6-5 win over Harrisburg on May 30. The former Cal State Fullerton man doubled his tally after seven minutes to give Pittsburgh the lead.
Rob Vincent spread the play wide to Kevin Kerr with a raking diagonal ball that the Scotsman controlled before driving a low cross along the 6-yard line. Soumah arrived at the back post to convert.
The Guinean's willingness to get into the 18-yard box caused problems for Harrisburg in the opening stages. Soumah's burst midway through the first half led to a Hounds' penalty kick when home defender Shane Johnson blocked a shot with an arm.
Vincent placed his kick inside goalkeeper Nick Noble's right post to bring his season's tally to 13 league goals in 19 games.
Pittsburgh goalkeeper Calle Brown enjoyed a quiet first half. The reigning NCAA College Cup's Most Valuable Defensive Player was left helpless though three minutes before the break when Jason Plumhoff was given too much space on Harrisburg's left flank. Plumhoff stepped inside before drilling his 25-yard shot high into Brown's net to half the Islanders' deficit at the interval.
Soumah missed a couple of chances early in the second half to reestablish Pittsburgh's two-goal lead. He made way for Tyler Pasher's return to first team duty on 56 minutes after the Canadian winger had recovered from his recent illness.
Pasher's speed instantly carried an attacking threat. His long ball led to Pittsburgh's third goal on 62 minutes when Johnson and Noble got into a mix-up under pressure from Lebo Moloto. Johnson inadvertently nudged the ball past his goalkeeper and into his own net.
Barril's frustration soon boiled over. Two cautions within two minutes left the Islanders shorthanded and Pittsburgh immediately sought to press home the advantage.
Yet it was the hosts that struck next on 70 minutes within seconds of Benbow's introduction.
Former Hound Neil Shaffer got forward down the left side before digging out a deep cross to the back post. Brett Jankouskas headed the ball back into the 6-yard box and Jamaican striker Craig Foster applied the scoring touch from close range.
Foster notched his second goal of the night nine minutes later to haul his team level. Plumhoff's early pass caught the Hounds' defense out of shape and allowed Foster to sprint clear on Brown's goal before tucking a cool finish low into the far corner.
A point would still have been enough for Pittsburgh to clinch the Keystone Derby Cup and maintain its advantage in the playoff race. That cushion disintegrated seconds into stoppage time when Benbow found Plumhoff on the left side of the penalty box.
Plumhoff worked the ball onto his left foot before planting a precise low drive beyond Brown's reach and inside the base of the far post to cap a remarkable 4-3 win for Harrisburg.
Pittsburgh soccer legend Paul Child will be honored when the Hounds return to Highmark Stadium next Saturday, August 1, to face the Wilmington Hammerheads. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
This will be a special "Gold Out" occasion with the first 3,500 fans receiving a free Hounds T-shirt courtesy of Highmark.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 26, 2015
- Islanders Find First Win against Pittsburgh in Classic Keystone Derby Fashion - Penn FC
- Hounds Squander Late Lead to Lose in Harrisburg - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Battery Lose 1-0 at Rochester in Second Loss of the Weekend - Charleston Battery
- Rhinos Defeat Charleston 1-0; Extend Record Unbeaten Streak to 19 Matches - Rochester Rhinos
- Real Monarchs Fall to OC Blues in Final Match of July - Real Monarchs
- Arizona United SC Falls in Grueling 1-0 Loss to Austin - Phoenix Rising FC
- Aztex Ride Tyrpak's Goal, Defense to 1-0 Win - Austin Aztex
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
