Facing a two-goal deficit, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (2-1-4) didn’t make its move until the game’s final minutes. But the last few minutes were all the team needed, as it tied Nashville SC (3-2-2), 2-2, on Saturday at Highmark Stadium.
Striking first for the Black and Gold in the 88th minute, Christian Volesky notched his first-ever tally for the club. Afterward, defender Ryan James created stoppage time magic to force an own goal and propel the Hounds to a point at home.
88’ Christian Volesky assisted by Jordan Dover
Holding the ball on the edge of the attacking third, defender Jordan Dover created offense. Using his vision, he located Volesky – one of three Hounds who timed runs into the box.
Seen above, Volesky (green arrow) gains position on a Nashville defender as Dover (yellow arrow) serves up a ball. As the sphere descends into the penalty box, the striker uses his position and instinctively timed run to his advantage, placing a diving header into the net to bring the Hounds within one goal of the opposition.
90’+2 Kosuke Kimura (own goal)
Like the squad’s goal just minutes before, its second began with a ball sent into the penalty area. This time, Kevin Kerr dropped a dime to James on the opposite side of the field.
Slipping behind the Nashville backline, James (green arrow) receives the cross from Kerr (orange arrow), leaping and batting the ball back across the goalmouth. This aggressiveness ultimately pays off, as the sphere deflects off Nashville’s Kosuke Kimura (red arrow) and into the net, tying the score at its final of 2-2.
Tale of the Tape
The Hounds could not get anything going on the offensive side of the ball for much of the game. Nashville outshot Pittsburgh, 9-3, and fired three shots on target to the Black and Gold’s one take on frame.
However, late substitutions helped fuel the Pittsburgh attack. From the 86th minute onward, the Hounds recorded two of their three shots – both via substitutions (Volesky and Robbie Mertz). Although not officially a shot on goal, the Black and Gold also forced its own goal in the waning minutes.
