Pittsburgh Riverhounds News Release -- www.riverhounds.com
Saturday, July 9, 2011
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – On a beautiful July evening, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds held off F.C. New York to win 2-1 at Chartiers Valley Stadium. The Riverhounds received two quality individual efforts from Sterling Flunder and Stefan Lundberg to earn three points and jump ahead of New York for fourth place in USL PRO’s National Division.
The first half was played primarily in the middle third, with the two clubs looking to connect with their target forwards. Strong defensive play by both sides denied the entry balls and killed the attack.
After the break, an aggressive run into the attacking third by Flunder led to the Riverhounds first goal. Shintaro Harada received the ball at the halfway line and opened up to his left. Harada slotted the ball to Flunder sprinting into New York’s defensive zone. Flunder would take two touches to the inside and prepare his body to rifle a shot from 30 yards from goal. Connecting cleanly with the ball, Flunder’s shot snuck inside the near post past a diving Steve Diaz.
Arguably one of the best individual efforts of the season came from Lundberg in the 85th minute. Lundberg collected a pass on the right flank just inside of F.C. New York’s defensive half and never looked back. Lundberg went straight to goal, outpacing four defenders to the inside and confidently slotted home the game-winner.
Two minutes later, F.C. New York would make things interesting. Jhonny Arteaga cut the Riverhounds lead in half with an individual effort of his own. A diagonal ball played by Owen Morrison deflected off a Riverhounds defender and landed at Arteaga’s feet. Wasting little time, Arteaga clipped the ball over Hunter Gilstrap and into the back of the net.
A scuffle at midfield between the Riverhounds Jason Yeisley and Arteaga ended with Harada being sent off for coming to his teammate’s aid. Harada received his second caution and exited the game in the 90th minute.
The Riverhounds will meet F.C. New York next Saturday at Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.