USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Riverhounds and Impact Play to 1-1 Draw

Published on June 13, 2003 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


MONTREAL - The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (3-4-3, 12 points) and Montreal Impact (5-2-3, 18 points) played to a 1-1 tie after each team converted on penalty kicks in front of 3,928 rain-soaked fans at Claude Robillard Stadium. The win puts Montreal in sole possession of first place in the Northeast Division and moves the Riverhounds one point ahead of Toronto for fourth place in the division.

The Hounds ended their 226-minute scoring drought on a penalty kick in the 37th minute after forward Thiago Martins buried his shot past Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton. The Riverhounds were awarded their second penalty kick of the season after Impact midfielder David Fronimadis pulled a driving Martins down near the goal line. Martins had recovered his footing a moment earlier after Fronimadis pulled him down just outside the penalty area. The goal was Martins eighth of the season.

The Impact converted on their penalty kick in the 55th minute to even the score at one. Defender Matthew Chulis tripped up Impact leading scorer Eduardo Sebrango. Fellow forward Mauro Biello took the penalty shot, which forced Riverhounds goalkeeper Randy Dedini to dive to his left. Dedini got a hand on the ball but was not able to stop the shot from crossing the goal line.

Both teams had several opportunities during regulation to put the game away; however, strong goalkeeping by Sutton and Dedini kept the game even.

Dedini denied two point blank shots in the 17th minute to deny Montreal's best scoring chances in the first frame. A foul on midfielder Justin Evans set up a direct kick for Montreal 30 yards from the goal. Midfielder Martin Nash took the kick and fired it on goal forcing Dedini to dive to his left to make the first save. Defender Gabriel Gervais picked up the rebound and tried to scoot it over the goal line, but Dedini knocked it back into the penalty area where it was eventually cleared out by Michael Green.

In the 77th minute, Martins had room to run down the right side of the pitch.. He had two defenders in tow and Sutton came off the goal line to defend the attack. He forced his shot between the defenders, but it went wide of the goal.

The Impact remain the toughest team in the league on which to score. In 10 games, they have given up only five goals, and three have come on penalty kicks.

Montreal registered the only shot on goal in overtime and out shot Pittsburgh 9 to 3 for the game. Dedini made four saves to Sutton's two.

The teams meet again in the second half of their home-and-home series Sunday at Bethel Park Stadium at 6:05 p.m. The first 1,000 fans will receive a poster of defender Ricardo Iribarren compliments of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. All fathers in attendance will be eligible for a variety of special Father's Day giveaways. For information about tickets and official merchandise, call 412-381-4625 or visit www.riverhounds.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 13, 2003


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