Friday, June 22, 2012
PITTSBURGH -- On a beautiful Friday night, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds come back from a one-goal deficit to defeat the Wilmington Hammerheads 2-1 at Chartiers Valley Stadium. The Hammerheads took the lead in the 50th minute when Manny Guzman tapped home a right-footed shot from four yards away from goal. The Riverhounds drew even with the Hammerheads seven minutes later when Matt Kassel converted a penalty kick. The Riverhounds recorded the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute when Darren Amoo headed home a back-post service from Mike Seth.
The Hammerheads received the first scoring opportunity in the fourth minute after a failed clearance from the Riverhounds ricocheted off two players and fell at the feet of Guzman. Finding himself inside the Riverhounds penalty area, Guzman struck a hard right-footed to the left of Hunter Gilstrap, but the Riverhounds goalkeeper made an spectacular reaction save, pushing the ball wide with his left hand to keep the game scoreless.
The remainder of the first half was played primarily in the middle third of the field with neither side receiving any quality scoring opportunities. The Riverhounds and Hammerheads went in to the intermission after a scoreless first half.
The second half was wide open from the start with both sides looking to turn the defense by playing direct and into the channels. The Hammerheads jumped on top of the Riverhounds five minutes into the second half on a long throw from Corey Hertzog. Rising above the crowd, Dylan Riley flicked a ball towards the middle of the goal for Guzman. Finding himself all alone inside the six-yard box, Guzman confidently turned the ball on frame and past Gilstrap for the game’s first goal.
The Riverhounds would draw even with the Hammerheads in the 57th minute when Kassel capitalized on a penalty kick. A combination between Rich Costanzo and Stefan Lundberg at the edge of the penalty area freed Lundberg behind the Hammerheads defense. Trying to deny Lundberg a cross, the Hammerheads brought down Lundberg, giving the Riverhounds a penalty kick. Kassel whistled a hard right-footed shot into the lower-right corner, past a diving Alex Horwath.
The game’s deciding moment came in the 82nd minute after a flurry of chances for the Riverhounds. The Hammerheads tried to clear their lines, but conceded back-to-back corner kicks to the Riverhounds. On the second corner, the ball squirted out to the right for Seth. Taking a touch towards the goal line, Seth delivered a cross towards the back post for Amoo. Slashing through the penalty area, Amoo turned the ball back into the wide-open goal with his head.
Pushing forward, Wilmington nearly found an equalizer one minute later. The Hammerheads were awarded a set piece 25 yards from goal, and Hertzog bent the ball around the wall, his shot heading just inside the back post. Scurrying across his line, Gilstrap dove to his left and pushed the ball wide of the goal to deny the Hammerheads.
The Riverhounds return to Chartiers Valley Stadium next Saturday to host USL PRO leader Orlando City. The game is slated for a 7 p.m kickoff. The Hammerheads travel overnight to match-up with the Dayton Dutch Lions at Bellbrook Stadium. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 8 p.m.