PITTSBURGH (April 15, 2023) — Backed by a sellout crowd of 5,092, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC got second-half goals from Albert Dikwa and Kenardo Forbes to pick up a 2-0 win over the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros tonight at Highmark Stadium.
Dikwa netted his team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 49th minute, which made him the 11th player in Riverhounds history to score 20 goals for the team. Forbes added the second for the Hounds (2-1-3) in the 64th minute, and the team saw out the match without allowing a shot on goal for the visiting Toros (1-1-3).
It was the team’s second shutout of the season, and the second for goalkeeper Jahmali Waite, who was sound controlling his box without having to make an official save.
First half
The game began slowly, as the two teams meeting for only the second time ever tried to figure out one another. Dikwa had the game’s first great chance in the 19th minute, when he broke into the right side of the box and shot low to force a diving save by RGV’s Tyler Deric.
Just before halftime, the Hounds nearly broke the deadlock again when a free kick by Tony Lopez struck the crossbar from 20 yards away. Dani Rovira was first to the rebound, but his second effort slid all the way across the face of goal and just wide of the left post.
Second half
The Hounds stayed on the front foot to begin the second half and got their goal from Dikwa after a good play by Luke Biasi on the left side.
The wing back maintained possession all the way to the goal line before sending a hard cross to the front of goal, which Dikwa needed only to redirect into the goal with his chest. A milestone goal for Dikwa, it was also Biasi first professional assist in two years with the Hounds.
Forbes doubled the Hounds advantage by finding space in the box to receive a cross from Rovira on the right side, ending a long spell of attacking possession. The Hounds’ captain met the cross for a headed finish, which was only the second headed goal in USL Championship play for the league’s all-time assists leader.
The Hounds finished the night keeping the pressure on. Dikwa was denied a second goal by the offside flag in the 74th minute, and Forbes nearly bagged a second in the game’s final 10 minutes, ripping a shot from outside the box that rang the crossbar for the second time.
Heineken Man of the Match
Kenardo Forbes was at his best in this match, and not only because of the goal and near-miss on a second. The midfielder whipped in five crosses — tied for the team lead — was second on the side with 59 touches on the ball and won possession a match-high 10 times.
What’s next?
The Hounds head back on the road next Saturday, April 22, when they visit El Paso Locomotive FC (2-3-1) for a 9:30 p.m. kickoff against their second straight Lone Star State opponent.
Riverhounds SC lineup (5-2-3) — Jahmali Waite; Nate Dossantos, Joe Farrell, Illal Osumanu; Dani Rovira (Trevor Zwetsloot 88’), Marc Ybarra, Kenardo Forbes, Luke Biasi (Tola Showumni 67’); Tony Lopez (Pat Hogan 67’), Albert Dikwa (Mike DeShields 88’), Edward Kizza (Langston Blackstock 67′)
Rio Grande Valley FC lineup (3-4-3) — Tyler Deric; Frank Nodarse, Juan Cabezas, Wahab Ackwei; Jonathan Ricketts (Robert Coronado 71’), Gabriel Benítez, Taylor Davila, José Torres (Ian Cerro 90’); Ricky Ruiz (Tomás Ritondale 90’), Christiano François (Duilio Herrera 76’), Wilmer Cabrera (Jose Luna 90’)
Scoring summary
PIT — Albert Dikwa 49’ (Luke Biasi)
PIT — Kenardo Forbes 64’ (Dani Rovira)
Discipline summary
PIT — Luke Biasi 21’ (caution – reckless foul)
RGV — Juan Cabezas 29’ (caution – reckless foul)
RGV — Jonathan Ricketts 43’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Nate Dossantos 90’ (caution – reckless foul)
