Streak Ends with Charleston Setback
July 22, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds' longest unbeaten streak in 19 years was brought to an end tonight when the Charleston Battery earned a 3-1 result on their home field at Patriots Point Soccer Complex in Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Sebastian Palma, Augustine Williams and Roberto Avila scored for the Battery (10-5-6) to narrow the lead for the Hounds (10-3-8) atop the Eastern Conference. DZ Harmon, a former Battery player, scored his first goal for the Hounds in the loss.
The defeat was the Hounds' first in USL Championship play in exactly three months, having last been beaten April 22 at El Paso. The 13-game streak is the second-longest in Hounds history and the longest in the Championship this season.
First half
Set piece defending hurt the Hounds early, as Palma rose to head in a Fidel Barajas corner kick just 11 minutes into the match. It was the first goal conceded by the Hounds in 419 minutes of play.
The Battery controlled much of the opening half hour, but the Hounds began to get chances late. A header by Marc Ybarra and a shot from the top of the box by Danny Griffin forced the best of five saves by Battery goalie Trey Muse.
The Battery stole back the momentum with a goal in stoppage time. A ball flicked through by Barajas found Williams alone behind the Hounds defense, and Williams finished unmarked as the defenders pleaded for an offside flag that was never raised.
Second half
The Battery became the first USL team to score three goals on the Hounds this season in the 56th minute.
Hounds' goalie Jahmali Waite made a strong save - one of a season-high four - to deny Williams a second goal, but Avila was in the right spot to cash in on the rebound.
The Hounds got themselves on the board in the 71st minute after Danny Griffin found Langston Blackstock streaking down the right wing. Blackstock did well to corral the ball and laid a pass backward to Harmon, who finished with his first touch from just inside the box.
The Hounds continued to press forward, sending 13 second-half crosses into the box. Albert Dikwa and Blackstock both forced saves from Muse, but some of the Hounds best chances fell apart with no one able to get on the end of the final pass.
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