PITTSBURGH (June 24, 2023) — Defender Illal Osumanu headed his first professional goal in stoppage time, giving the Pittsburgh Riverhounds a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over San Diego Loyal SC tonight at Highmark Stadium.
Tola Showunmi scored his third goal in four matches to tie the game for the Hounds (8-2-6). Adrien Perez scored late in the first half to give San Diego (6-5-5) the lead in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
The goal by Perez snapped a streak of 405 minutes without allowing a goal for the Hounds, who now have nine consecutive wins at home and an 11-match home unbeaten streak.
First half
The two teams showed their unfamiliarity with one another in a long feeling-out process, as neither team recorded a shot in the first 30 minutes. The Hounds did have one early setback, as left back Nate Dossantos had to leave the game with an injury just 17 minutes into the game.
San Diego grew into the match as the first half wore on, and Perez opened the scoring with a good individual effort after receiving a pass from Camden Riley in the 42nd minute. The midfielder received the ball along the right sideline and cut to the middle, striking a powerful shot from 20 yards out that hit the top left corner of the net.
Second half
After the break, the Hounds attack came out with more purpose after halftime. Having recorded no shots in the first half, the team put seven toward the San Diego goal (three on target) in the second half.
The first shot on goal tied the match in the 69th minute, as Marc Ybarra received the ball with space in the box and found Showunmi moving toward goal. The tall striker put a clever right foot on the ball to redirect it behind his back and into the far side of the net.
San Diego had some chances of their own, as Luis Zamudio made a pair of second-half saves in the final 10 minutes. But the Hounds made the most of a late chance after Tony Lopez was fouled near the right corner of the box.
Burke Fahling delivered the free kick to the back post, and Osumanu, playing only his third league game of the season, rose to drive a headed shot into the goal before taking off toward the bench to celebrate with his teammates and coach Bob Lilley.
It was the first stoppage-time winner for the Hounds since another defender, Shane Wiedt, scored in the final moments on July 23, 2022 for a 2-1 win at Hartford Athletic
Heineken Man of the Match
Illal Osumanu’s late heroics clinched the honor, but the Ghanaian defender was solid in only his second 90-minute appearance of the year. He led the team with five clearances, connected on 31 of 36 passes and won possession nine times.
What’s next?
The Hounds put their home streak back on the line against an old nemesis, as they host defending Eastern Conference champion Louisville City FC (7-4-4) on Saturday, July 1 at 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium.
Riverhounds SC lineup (5-4-1) — Luis Zamudio; Nate Dossantos (Langston Blackstock 17’), Arturo Ordóñez, Illal Osumanu, Mike DeShields (Dani Rovira 74’), Luke Biasi; Danny Griffin, Marc Ybarra (Tony Lopez 85’), Kenardo Forbes (Trevor Zwetsloot 74’), Junior Etou; Tola Showunmi (Burke Faling 85’)
San Diego Loyal SC lineup (3-5-2) — Koke Vegas; Blake Bodily (Charlie Adams 86’), Kyle Adams, Grant Stoneman; Nick Moon, Joe Corona, Adrien Perez, Alejandro Guido (Collin Martin 38’), Camden Riley (Elijah Martin 86’); Elliot Collier (Tumi Moshobane 61’), Evan Conway
Scoring summary
SD — Adrien Perez 42’ (Camden Riley)
PIT — Tola Showunmi 69’ (Marc Ybarra)
PIT — Illal Osumanu 90+1’ (Burke Fahling)
Discipline summary
SD — Camden Riley 13’ (caution – reckless foul)
SD — Collin Martin 64’ (caution – reckless foul)
SD — Head coach Nate Miller 65’ (caution – dissent)
PIT — Danny Griffin 75’ (caution – reckless foul)
SD — Kyle Adams 90’ (caution – reckless foul)
