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Matchday Report: Dixon Leads Hounds to Victory vs. Red Bulls II

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 05/28/21, 8:59PM EDT

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Veteran records goal, assist in 3-0 victory to send Pittsburgh to first win of 2021

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Alex Dixon led the way with a goal and assist as Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC took its first victory of the 2021 USL Championship season with a 3-0 win against the New York Red Bulls II on Friday night at MSU Soccer Park.

After an energetic opening spell, the Hounds threatened first after being awarded a free kick just outside the top-left edge of the penalty area. Kenardo Forbes shot toward the bottom-right corner of the net only to see his effort deflected wide of the post, and from the ensuing corner kick Forbes’ delivery found Jelani Peters at the back post for a header that clipped the outside of the left post and went behind for a goal kick.

New York’s first big opportunity arrived in the 16th minute as Roald Mitchell did well to control and wove past a defender in the left channel before sliding a pass to his right for Jeremy Rafanello that the forward pulled wide of the left post. Omar Sowe also threatened three minutes later after a quick upfield move by the hosts, but his shot to the left corner was saved by Hounds goalkeeper Danny Vitiello.

Pittsburgh took the lead in the 22nd minute, however, as Albert Dikwa delivered a deep cross from the left side that found Danny Griffin as he arrived unmarked in the penalty area, and Griffin cushioned his volley into the left corner of the net. Seven minutes later the Hounds made it two as Dani Rovira turned over possession deep in the left corner of the Red Bulls II half and centered for Dixon to turn home a first-time finish in the bottom-right corner.

New York thought it had halved its deficit immediately as Mitchell squeezed home a finish into the right corner, only to be ruled offside, while soon after a clever dummy by Rafanello opened up a shot for Sowe in the right side of the area that Vitiello came off his line to deny. Rafanello then tried a long-range effort that Vitiello could only parry before Shane Wiedt blocked away a rebound chance by Mitchell, but the visitors made it to the halftime break with their two-goal lead intact.

The Hounds came out sharply after the break and added to their lead five minutes in as Russell Cicerone connected cleverly with Dixon at the top of the penalty area and burst into the right side of the penalty area to fire home his second goal of the season. Pittsburgh then effectively limited the chances for the Red Bulls II to get back into the game, although Mitchell forced a low save from Vitiello with a shot from 20 yards with 12 minutes to go.

The Red Bulls II almost found the net soon after as Serge Ngoma picked up possession on the right and delivered a cross that was redirected onto his right post by Hounds defender Jalen Robinson and rebounded away to safety. Pittsburgh saw out the remainder of the contest, however, as the side claimed its first shutout of the season and its first three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Alex Dixon, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Dixon notched his first goal and assist of the season while also recording two key passes, winning 8 of 14 duels and recording 11 recoveries in the middle of the park.

Scoring Summary
PIT
– Danny Griffin (Albert Dikwa) 22’
PIT – Alex Dixon (Dani RoviraNut) 29’
PIT – Russell Cicerone (Alex Dixon) 50’

Full Box Score

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