Preview: North Carolina FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
July 26, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (9-2-7) will hit the road to clash with North Carolina FC (6-8-5) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 28 at WakeMed Soccer Park. The match will be televised on Pittsburgh's CW.
This will be the second and final meeting between the two Eastern Conference sides this season. The Hounds won their first-ever meeting, 2-0, during a Fourth of July showdown at Highmark Stadium earlier this month.
Since dropping this match to Pittsburgh, North Carolina FC has gone unbeaten in its past three games. The USL newcomer has posted a 1-0-2 record over this stretch. Its win - a 3-1 victory against Toronto FC II - came last time out.
For only the second time this season, the Hounds will take the pitch after a loss. Pittsburgh will try to replicate the success it had last time following a defeat, as it overpowered the Richmond Kickers, 2-1, and set a season-high mark of 20 total shots.
The Hounds' shutout streak came to an end last time out against the Charleston Battery, as Pittsburgh's adversaries potted the game-winning tally in the 88th minute of a 1-0 final. The Hounds blanked opponents in their previous five matches before the Battery slipped one in the back of the net as the clock ticked away the final minutes.
Although this streak has been terminated, the Hounds are still well on their way to setting a club record in goals-against average. The team is allowing just 0.44 goals per game, which is nearly half as much as its 0.85 mark it set in 2004. Pittsburgh shut out North Carolina FC in their first meeting this season, and will look to lower its goals-allowed-per-game statistic with another clean sheet this weekend.
More information on Saturday's game can be found below.
WHO
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at North Carolina FC
WHEN
7 p.m. on Saturday, July 28
WHERE
WakeMed Soccer Park
WATCH
Pittsburgh's CW | ESPN+
FOLLOW
Twitter: @RiverhoundsSC - #NCvPGH | #UNLEASH
Stats: USL Match Center
TEAM RECORDS
North Carolina FC overall record: 6-8-5
North Carolina FC home record: 4-4-2
Streak: W1
Pittsburgh overall record: 9-2-7
Pittsburgh road record: 4-0-4
Streak: L1
HOUNDS INJURY REPORT
Neco Brett - Doubtful (Neck)
Kyle Morton - Out (Lower-body)
RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD
July 4, 2018, at Highmark Stadium
Pittsburgh 2, North Carolina FC 0
Scoring Summary:
PGH - Christiano François 45' (Ray Lee)
PGH - Kevin Kerr 71' (Kenardo Forbes)
SEASON LEADERS
Pittsburgh
Goals: Neco Brett (8)
Assists: Kenardo Forbes and Kevin Kerr (4)
Points: Neco Brett (19)
Saves: Dan Lynd (30)
Save %: Dan Lynd (.789)
GAA: Dan Lynd (0.53)
North Carolina FC
Goals: Daniel Ríos (10)
Assists: Kyle Bekker (8)
Points: Daniel Ríos (24)
Saves: Alex Tambakis (60)
Save %: Alex Tambakis (.698)
GAA: Alex Tambakis (1.37)
LAST TIME OUT...
Pittsburgh
Charleston 1, Pittsburgh 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHS - Ataulla Guerra 88' (Angelo Kelly-Rosales)
LINEUP:
Dan Lynd - Ray Lee, Tobi Adewole, Joe Greenspan, Hugh Roberts, Jordan Dover - Kevin Kerr (Kay Banjo 82'), Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Kenardo Forbes, Christiano François - Neco Brett (Romeo Parkes 82')
North Carolina FC
North Carolina FC 3, Toronto FC II 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
TOR - Shaan Hundal 20' (Luca Uccello)
NC - Austin da Luz 28' (Kyle Bekker)
NC - Daniel Ríos 55' (penalty)
NC - Kyle Bekker 61' (Daniel Ríos)
LINEUP:
Alex Tambakis - Aarón Guillén, Michael Harrington, Connor Tobin, D.J. Taylor (Peabo Doue 78') - Austin da Luz, Kyle Bekker, Graham Smith, Steven Miller (Wuilito Fernandes 90'+3) - Ulrich Ewolo (Tiyi Shipalane 24'), Daniel Ríos
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