PITTSBURGH (February 26, 2022) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and longtime USL Championship foe Louisville City FC battled to a 1-1 preseason draw this afternoon at Highmark Stadium.
Wilson Harris opened the scoring for Louisville after just 12 minutes, but Alex Dixon tied the game for the Hounds (3-0-1) with a penalty kick in the 31st minute after Albert Dikwa was tripped inside the box.
The game was expected to be a stern test, as Louisville (65) and the Hounds (62) have the most wins over the past four years among Eastern Conference teams. And with the start of the regular season just two weeks away, both teams put strong starting lineups on the field.
Louisville carried the play early and got the early goal when Amadou Dia got behind the defense on the left side and crossed the ball for Harris in the middle. Harris’ initial shot hit the right post, but the rebound came straight back to him for the finish.
The Hounds began to gain some traction as the half rolled on, and Dikwa created the Hounds’ goal with speed down the right flank. Dikwa was able to get around his defender and carry the ball into the box from a wide position before being tripped from behind, earning the clear penalty.
Dixon stepped up and placed a low shot to the right side to beat former Hounds goalkeeper Kyle Morton and tie the game 1-1. It was Dixon’s second goal of the preseason, both of which have come from the penalty spot.
The Hounds began to create more chances in the second half, as Russell Cicerone pushed a shot from 10 yards just wide left, and Dane Kelly’s header from a corner kick forced save by Morton on the ground. But a winning goal wasn’t there for either team, as the Hounds drew for the first time this preseason.
The Hounds have two remaining preseason games before the start of the 2022 season — a rescheduled match at Pitt at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 1, and the preseason finale against West Virginia at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 5.
Scoring summary
LOU — Wilson Harris 12’
PIT — Alex Dixon (pen.) 31’
