Preview: Riverhounds SC at Charleston Battery
August 5, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC begins the second half of its regular-season schedule and a stretch of eight games in 29 days on Friday, when they will visit the Charleston Battery at Patriots Point Soccer Complex in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and the match will be shown on ESPN+.
The Hounds (9-4-3) enter the match off a good string of results and in first place in the Atlantic Division. The team is 7-1-1 in its last nine matches and completed the month of July with a 4-0-1 record. That one draw in July was the team's first trip to face the Battery, however, a 1-1 match on July 7 played in unique circumstances.
The teams' previous meeting was moved up to a 4 p.m. start and played behind closed doors as a result of Tropical Storm Elsa, creating an unusual atmosphere. The earlier start also meant hotter temperatures, as the two sides had to sweat it out in muggy conditions with a heat index approaching 100 degrees. Despite the tough conditions, the Hounds salvaged a draw with an 85th-minute goal by Tommy Williamson canceling out an early breakaway goal by Geobel Pérez, keeping intact what has grown into a five-match unbeaten streak.
Entering Friday's match, the Hounds are at nearly full strength, as defender Jordan Dover (questionable - lower body) made a return to training with the team in a limited fashion this week. Forward Alex Dixon, coming off back-to-back Team of the Week selections, is bidding to be the first Hounds player to score in three consecutive matches this season.
Charleston, on the other hand, will be without defender Erik McCue (concussion) and midfielders Nico Rittmeyer (Achilles) and Mauro Cichero (knee), while July Player of the Month nominee Claudio Repetto is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. McCue and Repetto both started the previous meeting.
The Battery are coming off a 3-2 loss to Miami in which they allowed a two-goal lead to slip away, but that snapped a three-game winning streak for Charleston that helped them climb into fifth in the Atlantic Division.
Before the match, check out our 3 Things feature to take a closer look at what the Hounds must do to keep stacking up the good results. To see the complete 2021 schedule, visit riverhounds.com/game-schedule.
MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Friday, August 6
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Patriots Point Soccer Complex, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Statistics: USL Championship Match Center
Live Updates: Twitter at @RiverhoundsSC and #CHSvPIT
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