Peters Bags a Pair as Hounds Put Away Miami
July 9, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC showed some set-piece prowess to extend its winning streak to three games, defeating Miami FC, 4-1, on Saturday night in front of a crowd on 4,703 at Highmark Stadium.
Center back Jelani Peters scored twice - only his second and third goals in the USL Championship - and Russell Cicerone and Shane Wiedt also found the net for the Hounds (10-6-3). Callum Chapman-Page scored late in the match for Miami (6-7-6) to end the Hounds' shutout bid.
First half
Miami looked dangerous out of the gates, taking the game's first three shots and pressing the Hounds' defense. But the Hounds took a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute on a scrambled play that began with Albert Dikwa winning a header toward the center of the field.
Toby Sims beat the defense to the ball and was able to hit a soft shot around charging goalkeeper Connor Sparrow. Cicerone made sure the Miami defense wasn't going to make a goal-line clearance by slamming his eighth goal of the season from 3 yards away, while Sims got his first professional assist.
The Hounds defense tightened up with the lead, holding Miami to only one more shot before halftime despite the visitors having 58 percent of first-half possession.
Second half
The Hounds were clinical from set pieces in the second half, beginning with Peters' first goal in the 49th minute, as the 6-foot-5 defender slammed a powerful header in from a Kenardo Forbes corner kick.
Peters' brace took just 12 minutes to complete, as the Hounds converted on a free kick in the 61st minute. Danny Griffin played a ball on the ground to Arturo Ordóñez making a near-post run, and Ordóñez backheeled a pass to Wiedt making a late run through. The Miami defense blocked Wiedt's shot, but the ball fell straight to Peters for the finish inside the box.
Wiedt got his goal at the back post in the 69th minute, as the defender headed in yet another corner kick from Forbes, who ran his USL Championship-record assists total to 52.
Dane Kelly, who entered the match as a substitute, nearly made it five goals but hit the crossbar twice in quick succession - once from a header, and then again after shaking off a defender on the ensuing rebound.
Miami's goal came two minute into stoppage time. Hounds goalkeeper Jahmali Waite made a diving save to deny Paco Craig on a scramble inside the box, but Chapman-Page was there to capitalize on the rebound.
Hounds Man of the Match
Jelani Peters had a game to remember with his two goals, and he also did his share on the defensive end with a pair of clearances and a 5-for-5 win rate on aerial duels - none more noticeable than the one for his first goal.
What's next?
The Hounds will take their winning streak on the road next weekend for a first-ever meeting with New Mexico United at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque. New Mexico (8-3-5), which features former Hounds striker Neco Brett, was playing later tonight and entered the weekend fifth in the Western Conference.
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