Mertz Strike Secures Opening Draw on Road
March 11, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
Robbie Mertz scored the tying goal in the 71st minute, and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC began their 24th season with a 1-1 draw on the road against Birmingham Legion FC tonight at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
Alex Crognale gave the Legion (0-0-1) the lead with his headed goal on a first-half corner kick, but the Hounds (0-0-1) were far from a passive road team, holding 53 percent of possession and getting more touches inside the opponents' box despite being outshot, 10-8.
The result is the first season-opening draw for the Hounds since 2018, when they began the season with a scoreless contest at Nashville SC. It is also the Hounds' second straight draw at Birmingham after last year rallying to send the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to a shootout, from which the Hounds advanced.
First half
The Hounds nearly got the scoring open very early with a free kick in the sixth minute. Mertz curled in a shot from the left side that forced Legion goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel to parry the ball off the post, but the offside flag was raised against the onrushing Hounds to negate any rebound chance.
Given the playoff familiarity, the game took an early physical tone, as well, as two Legion players - Jacob Rufe and Anderson Asiedu - and Hounds captain Kenardo Forbes received first-half yellow cards.
The Legion pulled ahead in the 28th minute, when Rufe curled a corner kick inward toward the near post. Crognale was first to the ball, and he flicked his header across the face of goal and into the right side of the net.
Second half
Chances were limited early in the second half as a light rain began to fall, but as the final 20 minutes approached, the Hounds were on the front foot.
The tying goal came when Arturo Ordóñez floated a diagonal ball that carried across the Legion defense to an open Mertz in stride on the left. Mertz took a couple touches into the box before firing a shot to the far corner to tie the game.
The Hounds nearly pulled ahead in the 80th minute, but Van Oekel made a spectacular double save to keep the score tied. Tony Lopez pulled the trigger from distance and forced a diving stop by the goalkeeper, and Tola Showunmi appeared to have an open look on the rebound, only for a sprawling Van Oekel to touch the ball out for a corner.
Van Oekel and Hounds goalkeeper Jahmali Waite both made two saves in the game, and six total players - Pat Hogan, Junior Etou, Joe Farrell, Burke Fahling, Lopez and Showunmi - made their Hounds debut in this year's opener.
Heineken Man of the Match
Robbie Mertz scored the tying goal, but that was only the highlight moment in a strong attacking performance. He also had a team-high five crosses and connected on 32 of 34 passes for a 94.1 percent completion rate, best among either team's starting 11.
What's next?
The Hounds will hit the road for a second straight week when they visit Memphis 901 FC on Saturday, March 18, for a 5 p.m. kickoff at AutoZone Park. Memphis dropped their opening match of the season at home earlier today, a 3-1 loss against Loudoun United FC.
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