PITTSBURGH (July 8, 2023) — The two best defensive teams in the USL Championship lived up to their billing, as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Sacramento Republic FC rebuffed one another’s best chances to finish with a 0-0 draw tonight at Highmark Stadium.
Luis Zamudio made one save for his third clean sheet in four starts for the Hounds (8-2-8), while Sacramento (9-2-7) goalkeeper Danny Vitiello — a former Hounds backstop — was the busier of the two goalies with four saves, as the Hounds held an 11-7 edge in total shots.
The Hounds have shut out their opponents in six of the past seven league matches and remain unbeaten in their last 11 USL games. The team also moves to 9-0-3 at Highmark Stadium in all competitions this season.
First half
Sacramento pushed forward quickly out of the match, and Zamudio parried away a big save after just 12 minutes when another former Hounds player, Russell Cicerone, headed a corner kick on goal with some power.
A corner on the other end yielded the Hounds’ first excellent look at goal in the 27th minute, when Joe Farrell made a near post run and redirected a Kenardo Forbes service with a header that went just wide across the left post.
Late in the half, the Hounds almost got a highlight-reel finish when Vitiello could only paw Junior Etou’s cross away from his line. DZ Harmon popped the ball upward with his chest, setting up an overhead kick from 8 yards out that he struck cleanly but placed over the bar.
Second half
Two Hounds made returns from injury after the break, beginning with Albert Dikwa. The team’s leading scorer, out since June 6 with a broken collarbone, entered the match to begin the half.
Five minutes into the half, Dikwa had his first chance when Forbes hit a low cross that met Dikwa’s foot in front of the near post, but the striker couldn’t turn the ball on goal.
Cicerone created Sacramento’s best second-half chance with a smart pass dropped backward near the hour mark, but Damià Viader put an open shot from the top of the 18 wide of the goal.
Vitiello made two critical stops late in the match. First, he denied Dikwa in the 65th minute after a Sacramento misplay sent the Hounds in toward goal, and as stoppage time began, he made another diving stop to deny Luke Biasi’s shot from the top of the box.
Hounds midfielder Robbie Mertz also made his return from a foot injury for the final 20 minutes, and his first touch was a header on goal, but hit too sharply into the ground to beat Vitiello.
Heineken Man of the Match
Danny Griffin was again a presence all over the field, connecting on 49 of his team-high 63 passes. He also won possession of the ball a match-high 14 times, won all four duels he contested and added one scoring chance created.
What’s next?
The Hounds face another two-match week beginning with a road trip to face Eastern Conference rivals Louisville City FC at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Ky. The two teams met last week in Pittsburgh, playing to a 0-0 draw.
Riverhounds SC lineup (5-4-1) — Luis Zamudio; Langston Blackstock (Luke Biasi 82’), Arturo Ordóñez, Joe Farrell, Illal Osumanu, DZ Harmon (Dani Rovira 46’); Junior Etou, Marc Ybarra (Robbie Mertz 71’), Danny Griffin, Kenardo Forbes (Edward Kizza 71’); Tola Showunmi (Albert Dikwa 46’)
Sacramento Republic FC lineup (4-3-3) — Danny Vitiello; Lee Desmond (Johnny Fenwick 77’), Conor Donovan, Shane Wiedt (Ferrety Sousa 68’), Jared Timmer; Aldair Sanchez, Nicholas Ross, Matt LaGrassa (Keko Gontán 69’); Russell Cicerone (Zeiko Lewis 86’), Luther Archimède (Zeke Padilla 86’), Damià Viader
Scoring summary
None
Discipline summary
PIT — Marc Ybarra 18’ (caution – reckless foul)
SAC — Conor Donovan 34’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Albert Dikwa 78’ (caution – tactical foul)
SAC — Johnny Fenwick 81’ (caution – reckless foul)
SAC — Luther Archimede 86’ (caution – delaying restart)
PIT — Luke Biasi 88’ (caution – delaying restart)
SAC — Keko Gontán 90+6’ (caution – dissent)
PIT — Dani Rovira 90+6’ (caution – delaying restart)
