PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC was unable to take its chances as it played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night against Hartford Athletic that left the side in third place in the Atlantic Division and headed on the road to open the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs, presented by TwinSpires next weekend.

The hosts carved out the first good look of the game in the ninth minute when Tommy Williamson slipped a pass through for Russell Cicerone as he broke into the left side of the penalty area, only for the shot to go wide of the near post. Pittsburgh threatened again just past the half-hour mark too, but Alex Dixon was unable to capitalize on a good long ball upfield by Jelani Peters and screwed his shot wide of the left post.

Cicerone had another good chance to put the hosts ahead seven minutes before the break when Williamson blocked an attempted pass by the visitors that set up a 2-on-1 chance that saw him play the Hounds’ leading scorer into the penalty area. Cicerone controlled cleanly but sent his finish just wide of the left post as Hartford goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell came quickly off his line to confront him.

The Athletic didn’t threaten greatly in the opening half, but they almost took the lead four minutes before halftime when Luka Prpa drove forward in the right channel from midfield and fired a shot toward the top-left corner that Pittsburgh goalkeeper Danny Vitiello turned just wide of the net.

The Hounds continued to push for the opening goal in the second half as in the 53rd minute Kenardo Forbes had a shot deflected just wide of the right post, while 15 minutes later the Jamaican retrieved a deep corner kick from the right and clipped a cross that was headed toward goal by Mekeil Williams before Cicerone was just unable to apply a final touch as it slid wide of the left upright.

The visitors also had chances of their own as well, though, and with 11 minutes to go El Salvador international Walmer Martinez headed just wide of the right post off a free kick by Danny Barrera from the right channel. Conor McGlynn also tried his luck from distance six minutes later, forcing a save from Vitiello, but with two minutes to go the Hounds created one final big chance that saw Cicerone dummy a cross from the right by Jordan Dover for Anthony Velarde to strike, but when his finish slid wide of the left post it proved the final opportunity for the Hounds as the game ended scoreless.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Shane Wiedt, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Wiedt put in a solid display at the back for the hosts, winning 8 of 11 duels and 2 of 2 tackles while making three clearances and four interceptions.

Scoring Summary
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