Riverhounds Suffer a One-Goal Loss to Hammerheads
Published on April 28, 2012 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
Wilmington, NC-The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (2-3-0) concede a tough 1-0 loss to the Wilmington Hammerheads (1-1-1) Saturday Night at Legion Stadium. The Hammerheads Andriy Budnyy records the game winning goal in the closing seconds of the first half following a Riverhounds turnover in their defensive third.
The Riverhounds and Hammerheads exchanged equal opportunities in the early going to create an exciting start to the game. The tempo of the match was extremely fast from the opening whistle as the Hammerheads played very direct looking to turn the Riverhounds defense to face their own goal. The Riverhounds combatted the Hammerheads direct play by building through the midfield with quick combinations to pressure Wilmington's defense on the ground.
The Hammerheads received their first quality opportunity in the run of play in the 18th minute. The Hammerheads right midfielder Bryce Taylor drove to the endline and served a cross to the back post for Chuk Chisindu. Finding space behind his marker, Chisindu headed the ball down and on frame, but Riverhounds goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap dove to push the ball out of the goal mouth. Landing back on his foot, Chisindu tried once more to find the back of the net, but Gilstrap was there again to parry the ball into the scrum. This time the Hammerheads tried to muscle a shot into the goal, but their opportunity was turned away by Riverhounds center back Louie Rolko.
The Riverhounds received their best opportunity of the first half when Stefan Lundberg drove inside from the right flank. Lundberg knifed his way through three Hammerhead defenders and set a ball for Matt Kassel. Taking a preparation touch towards goal, Kassel struck a hard left-footed shot on frame, but Hammerheads goalkeeper Alex Horwath was in good position to deny the Riverhounds the lead.
With less than a minute to go in the first half, the Hammerheads would record the game's only goal when Shintaro Harada was stripped of the ball at the edge of the Riverhounds defensive third. Picking up the loose ball, Budnyy wasted little time to rifle a shot off the near upright and into the back of the net.
The Riverhounds would go down a man in the 60th minute when Rich Costanzo was sent off with a straight red. Making a run into the Hammerheads penalty area, Costanzo was sent off for a retaliatory act.
Having a man-advantage for the final half hour of the game, the Hammerheads pushed forward with pace. A piercing ball from Paul Nicholson found Budnyy again slashing through the Riverhounds defense. Nicholson's pass drew Gilstrap off his line to close down Budnyy at the right corner of the penalty area. Slipping the ball past Gilstrap, Budnyy was inches away from his second goal of the night, but this time the Hounds skipper, Rolko, made a sliding save off the goal line to deny Budnyy.
The Hammerheads return to action next Tuesday at Legion Stadium to face Antigua Barracudas (2-2-0). The Riverhounds next game will be on the road May 5th against Orlando City (3-0-1) at the Citrus Bowl. Both games are scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 PM and will be streamed live on USLNATION.com.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 28, 2012
- Riverhounds Suffer a One-Goal Loss to Hammerheads - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Kickers Battle Orlando to Scoreless Draw - Richmond Kickers
- Wilmington wins 18-6 - Wilmington Hammerheads FC
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