Pittsburgh Riverhounds News Release -- www.riverhounds.com
Friday, July 19, 2013
PITTSBURGH — On a historic night of soccer in the United States’ newest soccer facility, Highmark Stadium, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds fell to current F.A. Cup Champions, Wigan Athletic FC, 4-1. The Riverhounds' Jose Angulo scored in the third minute, but the Latics answered with two goals in each half to win the Frank B. Fuhrer International Friendly and Fireworks sponsored by KEYTEX Energy.
In the opening minutes of the friendly, an individual effort by Angulo proved to be the Riverhounds' lone goal. Receiving the ball on the left flank, Angulo drove inside with power and pace towards the Latics goal. After passing three defenders, Angulo rifled a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Lee Nicholls that struck the bottom of the crossbar and dropped into the right side-netting.
The Latics got back on even terms in the 11th minute when former Sporting Kansas City standout Roger Espinoza struck a low, hard left-footed shot from 25 yards out. Maintaining possession in the Riverhounds defensive third, the Latics changed the point of attack through midfielder Ben Watson. Seeing Espinoza streaking down the left side, Watson provided the left back with time and space. Taking a touch to prepare his body, Espinoza whistled a shot into the bottom right corner passed the out-stretched hands of Riverhounds net-minder, Hunter Gilstrap.
Just before the half-hour mark, the Latics received a dangerous set piece at the left corner of the penalty area. Watson drove a bending right-footed shot towards the penalty spot for a slashing Emerson Boyce. The English center back turned Watson’s service on frame with a quality header that provided the Latics with the lead.
Wigan's Grant Holt would find the back of the net in the final minute of the first half, but was denied by an offside flag. The striker would not be denied a goal on the night though, as just three minutes after the halftime break, Holt would finish a service from Jean Beausejour on the left flank. A combination between Beausejour and Espinoza provided the midfielder with enough time to find Holt. Beausejour delivered a service to the near post, seeing Holt out-pace his marker and tap home from inside the six-yard box.
The Riverhounds nearly cut the Latics' lead in half in the 48th minute, but an offside infraction would negate the goal. Mike Seth would strip Latics defender James Perch and travel towards goal. As Perch’s supporting defender closed down the ball, Seth slotted a ball to his counter-part Jhonny Arteaga. Taking a touch back to his right, Arteaga passed the ball around Nicholls and into the net, but his efforts would not stand.
The Latics' Jordi Gomez would cap the scoring in the 88th minute. Second-half substitute Adam Buxton traveled deep inside the Riverhounds right corner. Cutting back inside and past his defender, Buxton tiptoed the end line and slotted a ball back for Gomez. Receiving the ball calmly, Gomez curled a left-footed shot around his marker and into the right side netting.
The Riverhounds remain at home this Sunday to face the Wilmington Hammerheads. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. kickoff at Highmark Stadium.