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USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Late Goal Sends 10-Man Hounds to Road Defeat

April 8, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC suffered its first setback of the season, falling 1-0 on the road against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks after going down a man Saturday night at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Romario Williams scored in the 80th minute for Colorado Springs (3-1-1) in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Robbie Mertz received a red card in the 48th minute to put the Hounds (1-1-3) down a man for most of the second half. Jahmali Waite saved a penalty kick in the 75th minute to keep the match scoreless, and Arturo Ordóñez received a second yellow card in the final minute, reducing the Hounds to nine players at the final whistle.

First half

The first half was almost completely devoid of scoring chances, as neither team put a shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes.

Most of the shots in the first half were from distance, including an early effort by Williams for the Switchbacks and a long-range chipped effort that went over the bar by the Hounds' Albert Dikwa.

The Hounds did have the ball in the net just before halftime, when Tony Lopez put the ball home after Marc Ybarra's shot struck him amongst the traffic in front of the net. The goal was disallowed for handling, however, ending the Hounds' best chance of the half.

Second half

Things changed dramatically in the early moments, when Mertz was ordered off the field just three minutes into the half for a challenge that caught Jairo Henriquez above the ankle. That increased the intensity of the game dramatically, as a total of eight cards would be shown after having none in the first half.

Despite being down a man, the Hounds held on until Pat Hogan was called for a tug on the jersey of Maalique Foster in the penalty area, giving the Switchbacks a chance to take the lead at the spot in the 75th minute. But Waite stood his ground against the stutter-stepping Foster and reacted to stop the chipped penalty kick with ease.

Five minutes later, the match's lone goal would be scored by Williams, who got on the end of a low cross from the left by Patrick Seagrist and slotted home the finish on his first touch from 7 yards out.

The Hounds pushed numbers forward to try and get a late tying goal, earning a free kick and two corners in second-half stoppage time. But late in the mayhem created in the Switchbacks' box, Ordóñez was whistled for a challenge with a high boot, resulting in his second yellow card of the game and his own red card to reduce the Hounds to nine men.

Heineken Man of the Match

Luke Biasi made his second straight start at right back and had a solid night for a back line that nearly held on for the clean sheet. Biasi won 8 of 12 duels, led the team with three interceptions and three fouls won, and he completed 20 of 22 passes for a 90.9 percent clip - best among the starting 11.

What's next?

The Hounds return to Highmark Stadium for just their second home match of the season when they host the Rio Grande Valley FC at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 15. The Toros (1-0-3) did not have a match this weekend after being knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday by South Georgia Tormenta of USL League One.

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