Two first-half goals for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC were enough to hold off Hartford tonight.
Tonight’s match began after a three-hour weather delay, but Hartford came out firing early. In the fourth minute, Danny Barrera found Edgardo Rito deep down the right sideline. Rito’s cross into the box found Antoine Hoppenot in front of the keeper, but his one-timed shot missed wide right from seven yards out.
About ten minutes later, the Riverhounds got on the scoreboard thanks to leading-scorer Albert Dikwa. Daniel Rovira tapped the ball to him just inside the Hartford box, he took one touch and then fired it past the outstretched Joe Rice. For the second consecutive week, Athletic found themselves down 1-0 early. That score remained until the final minutes of the half. Former Athletic forward Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. made a run into the box where he was fouled by Hartford defender Modesto Mendéz and awarded a penalty. Obregón Jr. converted the penalty kick, doubling the Hounds’ lead.
Ten minutes into the second half, Pittsburgh’s Edward Kizza riffled a shot from the Hartford box towards the top of the net. Goalkeeper Joe Rice parried the shot above the goal keeping the score at 2-0. A few minutes later, Athletic generated their best chance of the match. The captain, Danny Barrera, put a strong left-footed chance on net, but goalkeeper Jahmali Waite dove to his right and knocked the ball wide.
The Riverhounds created a chance in the 66th minute with Brunallergene Etou finding Kizza who hammered the ball into the left post. Rice corralled the loose ball to end the attacking threat. This was the last dangerous chance of the match and the score remained 2-0 at the final whistle.
Hartford were shutout for the first time in five matches. Riverhounds SC now have a league-leading 12 clean sheets.
Hartford Athletic return home on Saturday to host Miami FC. Kickoff set for 7:00 PM at Trinity Health Stadium.
FAST STATS
Shots (On-Target): Hartford 4 (1) Pittsburgh 8 (4)
Corners: Hartford 3 Pittsburgh 2
Fouls: Hartford 20 Pittsburgh 13
Offsides: Hartford 1 Pittsburgh 3
Possession: Hartford 50.9% Pittsburgh 49.1%
Passing Accuracy: Hartford 81.2% Pittsburgh 82.8%
Saves: Hartford 2 Pittsburgh 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
16’ – Dikwa (Rovira)
42’ – Obregon Jr. (Penalty Kick)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:
6’ – Rito (Yellow)
22’ – Mertz (Yellow)
29’ – Hodge (Yellow)
35’ – McGlynn (Yellow)
41’ – Mendéz (Yellow)
72’ – Hoppenot (Yellow)
90+4’ – Makangila (Yellow)
HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:
13 (GK) Joe Rice, 5 (DF)Triston Hodge, 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn, 2 (DF) Modesto Méndez (Lapert, 59’); 21 (MF) Kembo Kibato (Makangila, 45’); 72 (DF) Edgardo Rito, 10 (MF) Danny Barrera (Sheldon, 69’); 8 (MF) Juan Pablo Torres (Apollon, 78’); 19 (DF) Luke Merrill, 7 (FW) Prince Saydee, 29 (FW) Antoine Hoppenot (Bloyou, 68’)
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC STARTING LINEUP:
26 (GK) Jahmali Waite, 6 (DF) Nathan Dossantos, 3 (DF) Patrick Hogan, 5 (DF) Arturo Osuna, 7 (FW) Langston Blackstock, 2 (MF) Danny Griffin, 23 (MF) Marc Ybarra, 4 (DF) Daniel Rovira (Biasi, 77’); 14 (MF) Robbie Mertz (Etou, 45’); 29 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregón Jr (Kizza, 45’); 9 (FW) Albert Dikwa (Showunmi, 76’)
