Preview: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Toronto FC II
May 3, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (3-0-3) heads back out on the road, seeking its first win away from the Burgh to take on Toronto FC II (0-4-2) at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 5 at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester, New York.
GAME NOTES
The Hounds enter Saturday's contest as one of only two remaining unbeaten teams in the entire USL. The club's six-game unbeaten streak is its best start in franchise history, as the Black and Gold have yet to trail through 540 minutes of play this season.
This weekend's match will be the second of three meetings between the Hounds and Toronto FC II this season. This past April, Toronto visited Highmark Stadium for a 4-nil result in favor of the hosts thanks in large part to a hat trick effort from forward Neco Brett, who is currently tied for third in the league with four goals.
Past history favors the Hounds' chances, as the club is 6-0-2 all-time against the Young Reds with an average of 2.5 goals per game. In addition, a stifling defensive unit tied for the league lead with five clean sheets gets to face a Toronto attack that has scored only two goals in six matches to date.
Also of note, the match will serve as a homecoming of sorts for several Hounds players and staff with play taking place at the home venue of the on-hiatus Rochester Rhinos. Head coach Bob Lilley and assistant coach Mark Pulisic, as well as Jordan Dover, Kenardo Forbes, Christiano François, Ray Lee, Dan Lynd, Kyle Morton and Todd Pratzner, all spent the 2017 season in upstate New York with the Hounds' conference rival.
Fans hoping to catch Saturday's match can watch live locally on Pittsburgh's CW or stream the match on ESPN+. Up-to-the-minute stats can also be found on USL Match Center.
More info on the game can be found below.
WHO
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Toronto FC II
WHEN
6 p.m. on Saturday, May 5
WHERE
Marina Auto Stadium
WATCH
Pittsburgh's CW | ESPN+
FOLLOW
Twitter: @RiverhoundsSC - #TORvPGH | #UNLEASH
Stats: USL Match Center
TEAM RECORDS
Toronto FC II overall record: 0-4-2
Toronto FC II home record: 0-0-2
STREAK: T1
Pittsburgh overall record: 3-0-3
Pittsburgh road record: 0-0-2
STREAK: W1
HOUNDS INJURY REPORT
Kay Banjo - Out (Hamstring)
Mouhamed Dabo - Questionable (Lower-body)
Ben Fitzpatrick - Out (Lower-body)
Joe Greenspan - Out (Calf)
RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD
April 7, 2018, at Highmark Stadium
Pittsburgh 4, Toronto FC II 0
Scoring Summary
PGH - Neco Brett 52' (Thomas Vancaeyezeele)
PGH - Neco Brett 59' (Ben Zemanski)
PGH - Neco Brett 83'
PGH - Christiano François 88' (Neco Brett)
June 10, 2017, at Ontario Soccer Centre
Pittsburgh 1, Toronto FC II 1
Scoring Summary
TOR - Tsubasa Endoh 59' (Oyvind Alseth)
PGH - Romeo Parkes 87'
SEASON LEADERS
Pittsburgh
Goals: Neco Brett (4)
Assists: Neco Brett, Kenardo Forbes, Christiano François, Kevin Kerr, Thomas Vancaeyezeele and Ben Zemanski (1)
Points: Neco Brett (9)
Saves: Dan Lynd (6)
Save %: Dan Lynd (.750)
GAA: Dan Lynd (0.50)
Toronto FC II
Goals: Matthew Srbely and Aidan Daniels (1)
Assists: Liam Fraser and Shaan Hundal (1)
Points: Matthew Srbely and Aidan Daniels (2)
Saves: Angelo Cavalluzzo (12)
Save %: Angelo Cavalluzzo (.600)
GAA: Angelo Cavalluzzo (2.00)
LAST TIME OUT...
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh 1, Atlanta United 2 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
PGH - Neco Brett 26' (Christiano François)
LINEUP:
Kyle Morton - Ray Lee, Tobi Adewole, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Todd Pratzner, Jordan Dover -Mouhamed Dabo, Kenardo Forbes - Kevin Kerr (Ben Zemanski 71'), Christiano François (Hugh Roberts 90+') - Neco Brett (Romeo Parkes 69')
Toronto FC II
New York Red Bulls II 0, Toronto FC II 0
LINEUP:
Caleb Patterson-Sewell - Kyle Bjornethun, Robert Boskovic, Julian Dunn-Johnson, Brandon Onkony - Gideon, Waja (Luca Uccello 76'), Noble Okello Ayo - Aidan Daniels, Mariano Miño, Malik Johnson (Olakunle Dada-Luke 64') -Ben Spencer (Ayo Akinola 88')
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