USL PRO Game Report
Friday, July 4, 2014
PITTSBURGH -- Before a sellout Fourth of July crowd at Highmark Stadium, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds won their first home game of the year as they defeated the Rochester Rhinos 2-0. Second-half goals by Andrew Marshall and Alfonso Motagalvan proved the difference as the Riverhounds took their second consecutive victory and moved off the bottom of the league standings.
The Riverhounds used the same formula in beating the Rhinos for the second time in the past month - by scoring both second-half goals from set pieces.
The goals came from two unlikely players in Marshall and Motagalvan, as the defenders tallied their first goals of the season. Goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap recorded his second shutout of the season to lead the Hounds to their second consecutive win for the first time in USL PRO in 2014.
"It was very rewarding," said Niko Katic, Riverhounds Interim Head Coach. "Our defense was outstanding. What a game in the back those guys played. Everyone was really outstanding. Everyone."
After a sluggish first half for both teams, the Riverhounds came out on the front foot at the beginning of the second half.
"We had more urgency to get forward," said Marshall. "We talked about our midfield playing a little bit higher, especially our center midfielders, because they're great at distributing the ball. We started to get more numbers up there, and that opened it up for us."
In the 51st minute, Matt Dallman tried to send a cross from the right end-line, but Rochester's Pat Slogic's handball knocked the ball down, setting up a free kick from the edge of the box. Danny Earls sent a nicely placed free kick to the near post, and Marshall took care of it from there as he headed home to give the Hounds the 1-0 lead.
"Last game, Danny took a similar shot from the same place. So I looked at him, and I knew he was going for goal," said Marshall. "So, I took off, beat my man to that spot, and somehow, don't know what I used, my shoulder, my head, something, but I got it across. He put in a great, dangerous ball, and I was fortunate to put it in."
The Riverhounds continued to pressure Rochester's back line, and forced a corner kick as Rochester's Baba Diallo misplayed a ball in the 66th minute. Dallman delivered a cross that sailed past a scrum near the center of the goal box area, and an unmarked Motagalvan squared to the goal, and managed to knock it in with the side of his body for a two-goal advantage.
"We had better possession, and those set pieces came from the plays we were making, creating chances," said Katic.
Neither side was able to create many scoring chances in the early stages. In 17th minute, Rhinos midfielder Johnny Mendoza slid a shot past Hunter Gilstrap, but he was called for offside. Rochester also had a few dangerous crosses in the half, but were mostly unable to connect.
The Riverhounds had trouble generating shots in the first half too, as Jose Angulo's free kick in the 34th minute was the only shot they could muster in the first half against one of the better defensive units in USL PRO.
"It was tough in the first half, playing into the wind, the sun was tough," said Gilstrap. "They're one of the most organized, toughest units we play against. But finally we're starting to grind as a group and really work for each other."
The Fourth of July holiday match was the third, and final meeting between the two teams, as the Riverhounds took the season series with two wins, including a historic first-ever victory at Rochester's Sahlen's Stadium after 19 tries. The win came before a lively, sellout crowd, and seemed to inspire the home side.
"It was great win. A better performance for our fans," Gilstrap said. "They deserved it. Thanks to everyone who came out. They deserved it more than we did, that's for sure."
The Riverhounds (3-8-5, 14 points), enter the final, two-month stretch of their season holding onto their playoff hopes as they look to move up in the USL PRO Standings.
"We can't get ahead of ourselves, but the truth is, eighth place (and final playoff spot) is not that far ahead of us. I think that's a realistic target for us if we put together results like this," said Marshall.
The Riverhounds next contest will send them to face the OKC Energy FC next Saturday, July 12, at Pribil Stadium. They return to Highmark Stadium on Thursday, July 17, when they will take on Charlotte Eagles, and it will be hat giveaway night.