PITTSBURGH (July 15, 2023) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds extended their streak of home-field dominance with a goal on each side of halftime to defeat Detroit City FC, 2-0, tonight at Highmark Stadium.
Edward Kizza scored eight minutes into the match, and Burke Fahling added a free kick goal in the 51st minute for the first-place Hounds (10-2-8), who are now unbeaten in their past 14 home games dating back to last season.
It was the first time the Hounds have topped Detroit (4-11-5), a second-year USL Championship team. The teams drew both matches last season and have also tied in a pair of preseason meeting.
First half
The Hounds started seven different players from their midweek win at Louisville, and two of the new starters combined for the opening goal.
Center back Mike DeShields showed patience with time on the ball and waited for Kizza to pop open between two Detroit defenders. His pass led Kizza into the left side of the box, and the striker ripped a left-footed finish into the top corner of the net. It was Kizza’s third USL goal of the year and the first assist for DeShields as a member of the Hounds.
The Hounds continued to look for a second goal, but defense remained the team’s top priority, limiting Detroit to only two shots in the first half.
Second half
The second goal came six minutes into the second half after leading scorer Albert Dikwa won a foul just a yard outside the penalty area.
Fahling stepped up for the dead ball situation, and he struck a curling shot that had the right side of the net picked out. Detroit goalkeeper Nate Steinwascher dove to make the save, but a slight redirection off a Detroit defender’s head left the goalkeeper with no hope of reaching the hard-hit ball. The goal was Fahling’s second in USL play this season.
Though the Hounds did not allow a shot on goal for the third time this season, goalkeeper Jahmali Waite — making his first start since returning from a month with Jamaica at the Gold Cup — was busy in the second half dealing with a growing number of Detroit crosses.
The visitors nearly broke through in the 87th minute when Adrian Billhardt hit the crossbar with a shot from 15 yards out, but the rebound couldn’t be controlled by any Detroit players. Waite ended up with his fourth straight shutout in league play, and the Hounds have now allowed just one goal in the last 814 minutes against USL opposition.
Heineken Man of the Match
Burke Fahling, one of the seven fresh starters Saturday, put in a strong two-way performance at the wing back position. In addition to his goal, Fahling led the team with eight crosses, 10 final third entries and 56 touches on the ball, and was second among starters completing 80 percent of his passes (20 of 25).
What’s next?
Another top-of-the-East showdown lies ahead, as the Hounds will face their oldest opponent, the Charleston Battery, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 22. The Battery (9-5-6) are third in the Eastern Conference after a 1-1 draw tonight at Miami.
Riverhounds SC lineup (5-2-1-2) — Jahmali Waite; Dani Rovira, Mike DeShields, Joe Farrell (Pat Hogan 72’), Arturo Ordóñez, Burke Fahling; Trevor Zwetsloot (Marc Ybarra 62’), Danny Griffin; Kenardo Forbes (JC Obregón 83’); Edward Kizza (Robbie Mertz 62’), Albert Dikwa (Tola Showunmi 83’)
Detroit City FC lineup (3-5-2) — Nate Steinwascher; Devon Amoo-Mensah, Stephen Carroll, Michael Bryant; Dominic Gasso (Skage Simonson 75’), Brett Levis (Rhys Williams 63’), Richard Ballard, Connor Rutz, Maxi Rodriguez; Dario Suárez (Ben Morris 75’), Yazeed Matthews (Adrian Billhardt 82’)
Scoring summary
PIT — Edward Kizza 8’ (Mike DeShields)
PIT — Burke Fahling 51’
Discipline summary
PIT — Kenardo Forbes 37’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Arturo Ordóñez 47’ (caution – reckless foul)
