PITTSBURGH – Alex Dixon scored a late equalizer for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC after the Charleston Battery had reeled off three consecutive goals, including two by Claudio Repetto, to take the lead with less than 10 minutes to go as the Hounds and Battery played to a thrilling 3-3 draw on Saturday night at Highmark Stadium.

The Hounds got out to an ideal start as they took the lead in the sixth minute on a well-worked move that began when Jordan Dover played Dixon into the right channel with deft ball over the back line. Dixon laid off a pass to Russell Cicerone on the right flank, and his low cross found Todd Wharton at the back post for a tap-in finish.

Charleston had a half-chance with 15 minutes gone as Repetto fired over from left side of the penalty area as he latched onto a ball forward by Robbie Crawford, but in the 27th minute Pittsburgh doubled its lead as off a deep corner kick from the left by Kenardo Forbes, Cicerone headed back into the six-yard area from beyond the back post to set up Shane Wiedt for a close-range finish.

The visitors tried to pull back into the game quickly, and Grenada international AJ Paterson forced an excellent save from Hounds goalkeeper Danny Vitiello with a well-struck shot from 35 yards that was going to dip under the crossbar if not for a fingertip stop. Off the ensuing corner kick the Battery struck, though, as Leland Archer scored his second goal in as many games as he headed home Crawford’s corner kick from the left at the near post.

Charleston almost leveled the game 17 seconds into the second half as a ball upfield by Archer wasn’t dealt with well by the Pittsburgh defense, allowing Nicque Daley to steal in on goal only to be denied by Vitiello as he came off his line quickly. Dixon then threatened for the Hounds as he was played into space down the right by Danny Griffin but found the near side-netting with his finish from inside the right half of the penalty area.

The Battery equalized midway through the second half, though, as a free kick by Crawford from the right was flicked on by Angelo Kelly at the top of the six-yard area to Repetto, who finished at the back post for his seventh goal of the season. The Italian forward then put the visitors ahead with nine minutes to go as Kelly flicked a header near the top of the penalty area that was controlled by Erik McCue into the path of Repetto inside the box, and he fired low into the left corner of the net.

Pittsburgh looked to battle back, and with four minutes to go Dixon delivered a cross from the right that was headed on target by Cicerone that Battery goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky clawed away beyond the left post. A minute later Dixon wouldn’t be denied, however, as Tommy Williamson played a clever overhead pass as Dixon cut into the penalty area and volleyed into the top-left corner of the net. Dixon then almost bagged a winner for the hosts in the third minute of stoppage time, only to send his shot just wide of the right post from the left side of the penalty area as the longtime rivals ended all square for the second time this season.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Claudio Repetto, Charleston Battery – Repetto scored twice for the visitors in a thrilling comeback and had four shots overall while winning three duels and completing 12 of 19 passes overall.

Scoring Summary
PIT – Todd Wharton (Russell Cicerone) 6’
PIT – Shane Wiedt (Russell Cicerone) 27’
CHS – Leland Archer (Robbie Crawford) 35’
CHS – Claudio Repetto (Angelo Kelly) 68’
CHS – Claudio Repetto (Erik McCue) 81’
PIT – Alex Dixon (Tommy Williamson) 87’

Full Box Score