HAMTRAMCK, Mich. (March 26, 2022) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC dropped points for the first time this season but remained undefeated after coming away with a 1-1 draw against USL Championship newcomers Detroit City FC this afternoon at Keyworth Stadium.
Albert Dikwa gave the Hounds (2-0-1) an early lead by finishing on the team’s first corner kick of the game, but a second-half penalty kick scored by Maxi Rodriguez allowed Detroit (1-1-1) to claim a point at home.
The 2-0-1 start by the Hounds is still the best in five seasons under Bob Lilley, and the team got the result with regular starters Alex Dixon and Dane Kelly out of the lineup and captain Kenardo Forbes being used off the bench.
First Half
Detroit had a territorial edge in the opening moments of the match, as the Hounds had to adapt to running against wind gusting up to 25 mph on the cold day.
The Hounds got the breakthrough in the 18th minute, just after 18-year-old Wyatt Borso — making his second career start on a USL Academy contract — was denied on a header by a diving save from Detroit goalie Nate Steinwascher. Danny Griffin served in the team’s first corner kick, which Detroit’s defense was unable to clear, and Dikwa pounced for his second goal of the season in his first start of the year.
Griffin had the Hounds’ next best chance in the game, winning a free kick just under 30 yards from goal. He took the kick himself, and his shot had the bottom left corner of the net picked out if not for another good save by Steinwascher.
Second half
Detroit began to create more chances in the second half, and they finished the game outshooting the Hounds, 9-8, and having a 57/43 edge in possesion.
The only one of those shots on goal, however, was Rodriguez’s penalty kick in the 73rd minute. Having already had their claims for a penalty for handling waved away earlier in the half, the hosts got their spot-kick chance after a collision between Griffin and Detroit’s Rhys Williams near the top of the box.
The Hounds continued to press for a winning goal and went to their bench for fresh legs. Luis Argudo, the newest attacking option signed by the club, made his team debut off the bench just after the Detroit goal, and it was nearly a perfect introduction. With two minutes remaining, Argudo found space near the top of the box and was able to fire a curling shot that just went wide of the top right corner. The Hounds also had a free kick and a corner kick in stoppage time, but Detroit cleared both to safety.
Hounds Man of the Match
Shane Wiedt moved back into the starting lineup and — playing a little out of position at right back — was all over the place once again with a team-high five interceptions, winning 11 of 15 duels (including 8 of 10 in the air), four clearances, and a team-high 71 touches on the ball.
What’s next?
The Hounds host surprising Loudoun United FC (2-0-0) in their next match, Saturday, April 2 at 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium. The D.C. United reserve side won its first two matches ahead of a meeting with Miami later today.
Riverhounds SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Kevin Silva; Nathan Dossantos, Arturo Ordonez, Jelani Peters, Shane Wiedt; Danny Griffin, Marc Ybarra (Angelo Kelly 74′); Dani Rovira, Russell Cicerone (William Eyang 74′), Wyatt Borso (Kenardo Forbes 61′); Albert Dikwa (Luis Argudo 74′)
Detroit City FC (3-4-3) — Nate Steinwascher; Matthew Lewis, Stephen Carroll, Devon Amoo-Mensah; Rhys Williams, Maxi Rodriguez (Abdoulaye Diop 79′), Bradley Dunwell (Michael Bryant 79′), Deklan Wynne; Connor Rutz, Antoine Hoppenot, Pato Botello Faz (Billy Forbes 73′)
Scoring summary
PIT — Albert Dikwa 18′
DET — Maxi Rodrigues 73′ (pen.)
Discipline summary
DET — Antoine Hoppenot 58′ (caution – dissent)
PIT — Shane Wiedt 67′ (caution – dissent)
DET — Devon Amoo-Mensah 67′ (caution – unsporting behavior)
PIT — Marc Ybarra 68′ (caution – unsporting behavior)
