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Gameday Report: September 7, Week 26

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 09/07/18, 9:04PM EDT

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Riverhounds SC sweeps to 4-1 victory against Steel FC


Photo courtesy Chris Cowger / Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

THREE THINGS THAT MATTERED

1. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC snapped its four-game winless streak in emphatic fashion with two goals in either half of a 4-1 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC at Highmark Stadium to move into second place in the Eastern Conference ahead of Saturday night’s action. A late first-half goal by Kenardo Forbes that put the Hounds back ahead after Bethlehem had equalized on a penalty kick in the 35th minute proved key as the Hounds maintained the hold on the game the Jamaican’s finish provided throughout the second half in an impressive home display.

2. The Hounds’ four-goal outing matched their best attacking performance of the season and was notable for including a second goal in three games for center back Joe Greenspan as the side’s set piece execution was on point once again. With Neco Brett also breaking a four-game run without a goal with his 14th goal of the season the week off after last weekend’s tough loss to FC Cincinnati certainly seemed to have done Pittsburgh a world of good as it enters the home stretch of the season.

3. Bethlehem’s second consecutive loss again provided a blow to the club’s playoff hopes as it struggled to find attacking inroads against the Riverhounds SC defense. Steel FC finished the contest with only six shots total and two on goal including James Chambers’ first-half penalty kick. Had Bethlehem been able to remain level at halftime things could have been different after the break as the side had a chance to regroup, but now the must sit and wait to see where they stand in two weeks before what looks like a must-win against Toronto FC II.

GAME REPORT

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC (4), BETHLEHEM STEEL FC (1)

PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC took its second victory of the season against Bethlehem Steel FC with a 4-1 win at Highmark Stadium. Riverhounds SC had the first good look at goal in the 11th minute as Jordan Dover fired his shot wide of the near post from the right side of the penalty area, and a minute later Neco Brett forced a low save by Steel FC goalkeeper John McCarthy from a tight angle on the right side. Pittsburgh took the lead in the 17th minute, however, as Joe Greenspan scored his second goal in the past three games with a header into the left corner from a free kick by Ben Zemanski. Bethlehem got back on level terms from the penalty spot 10 minutes before the break after Faris was brought down in the area and James Chambers converted with a low shot to the left corner, but the Hounds regained the lead in the final minute of the half as Kenardo Forbes drove home a spectacular finish to the top-right corner from 25 yards out in the left channel. Pittsburgh added to its lead with 14 minutes to go when Brett got past his marker at the top of the penalty area and fired a low finish home for his 14th goal of the regular season, and the Hounds wrapped up all three points in the 79th minute as Dover volleyed home at the back post off Ray Lee’s chipped cross from the left.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match
Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
– Forbes produced a crucial second goal right before halftime that proved the winner and also finished with five key passes while completing 53 of 63 passes overall.

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