Pittsburgh Riverhounds News Release -- www.riverhounds.com
Sunday, July 3, 2011
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds shut out Antigua Barracudas FC in a Sunday matinée at Chartiers Valley Stadium as Jason Yeisley converted a penalty kick in the 45th minute before a second-half goal by Jeremy Deighton lifted the Riverhounds to victory.
Barracuda FC was first to challenge for the lead, with two quality opportunities in the first 10 minutes. A long right-footed strike by Quinton Griffith was heading into the upper corner, but Riverhounds goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap was up for the test, making a full-extension dive to his left Gilstrap pushed the ball wide of the goal and out for a corner in the fourth minute. The ensuing corner was cleared by the Riverhounds defense.
Five minutes later, Antigua was awarded another corner kick. The service from Orlando Mitchum slid through the hands of Gilstrap and onto the head of Barracuda defender Kimarley McDonald. Surprised to see the ball get through, McDonald headed the ball off the crossbar, allowing Gilstrap to gather the rebound.
The Riverhounds then struck just before the halftime whistle as they were awarded a penalty kick for a handball in the penalty area by a Barracuda defender. Yeisley stepped up to the stripe and buried the penalty into the lower-left corner of the goal.
After the break, the tempo of the game began to pick up for the Riverhounds as the heat and muscle cramps struck the Barracudas. The Riverhounds would move the ball through midfielders Shintaro Harada and Neil Shaffer to open up the Barracuda defense.
The Riverhounds added an insurance goal after a flurry of corners in the 80th minute. A quality service from Tommy Gray to the back post found an unmarked Deighton. Timing his run perfectly, Deighton side-footed Gray’s service just inside the far post and secured the win for the Riverhounds.
The Riverhounds end their three-game home stand next Saturday against F.C. New York. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Chartiers Valley Stadium.
Barracuda FC returns to Antigua for a Friday night game against the Wilmington Hammerheads. The game will be played at Sticky Wicket Stadium and is set for an 8 p.m. kickoff.