skip navigation

Matchday Report: Williams Strikes Twice as Miami Rallies Past Hounds

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 08/11/21, 8:03PM EDT

Share

Jamaican international scores winner with eight minutes to go in thrilling 3-2 victory at Highmark Stadium

PITTSBURGH – Jamaican international Speedy Williams scored twice, including a late game-winner from the penalty spot, as Miami FC took a 3-2 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Wednesday night at Highmark Stadium after trailing by a pair of goals early in the second half. The victory for the visitors snapped Pittsburgh’s four-game winning streak, and moved Miami within three points of the Atlantic Division lead.

The team exchanged chances in the opening five minutes as Pittsburgh threatened first through Kenardo Forbes with a low shot from the left side of the penalty area that was saved by Miami’s Connor Sparrow before the goalkeeper’s long free kick upfield sent Othello Bah in behind the Hounds defense, only for his lifted finish to bounce wide of the left post after Pittsburgh’s Jake Leeker came out to pressure.

Miami’s Lamar Walker also had a chance in the 20th minute as the Jamaican international wove his way into the penalty area but shot too close to Leeker, who saved, but five minutes before halftime the Hounds struck as Tommy Williamson notched his third goal of the season with a brilliant free kick from beyond the top-left edge of the penalty area that tucked just inside the near post past the diving Sparrow.

The visitors had a chance to level before the break as Paco Craig was left unmarked on a free kick by Ariel Martinez as Pittsburgh’s defense was flat-footed. The hosts doubled their lead in the 50th minute, though, as Forbes put home his first goal of the season with a thunderous volley from the left side of the penalty area off a cross from the right by Alex Dixon to put the Hounds in the driver’s seat.

Just as quickly as Pittsburgh took a two-goal lead, though, Miami pulled level with two goals in the space of just over a minute. Ninety seconds after Forbes’ goal for the hosts, former Pittsburgh player Christiano Francois scored his second goal in as many visits to Highmark Stadium this season as an intercepting header inside the penalty area went straight to the Haitian international, who controlled well and then slid a finish back into the left corner of the net.

Barely a minute later, the visitors saw Martinez steal possession in the Hounds backline and after driving into the left side of the penalty area as support arrived, he found Williams for a shot that took a deflection off a defender on its way to the back of the net. Pittsburgh had a chance to immediately regain the lead through Anthony Velarde, whose shot went high from just outside the six-yard area, while Bah did the same from just inside the penalty area on a turning shot for the visitors.

Miami went close to grabbing the lead with 24 minutes to go when Junior Palacios hit the left angle of the crossbar and post with a shot from 25 yards out that had Leeker beaten. With nine minutes remaining, however, Francois was brought down just inside the penalty area to earn the visitors a penalty kick, allowing Williams to step up to the spot and bury his second goal of the game with a shot down the middle as Leeker went to the right side of the net. The goal proved decisive as Miami held firm defensively to see out the remaining minutes and bring the Hounds’ winning streak to an end.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Speedy Williams, Miami FC – Williams scored a pair of goals, including the winner from the penalty spot, and completed 61 of 72 passes while winning 4 of 5 duels and making seven recoveries defensively in midfield.

Scoring Summary
PIT
– Tommy Williamson 40’
PIT – Kenardo Forbes (Alex Dixon) 50’
MIA – Christiano Francois 52’
MIA – Speedy Williams (Ariel Martinez) 53’
MIA – Speedy Williams (Penalty Kick) 82’

Full Box Score

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos