Pittsburgh Riverhounds News Release -- www.riverhounds.com
Saturday, July 30, 2011
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The Pittsburgh Riverhounds took a 2-0 victory against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday night at Chartiers Valley Stadium by converting a goal in each half. Shintaro Harada put the home side up on a 25-yard blast and played the set-up man on Jeremy Deighton’s insurance goal. With the win, the Riverhounds extend the gap to eight points between themselves and F.C. New York for fourth place in USL PRO’s National Division.
The Kickers started the game with a quality opportunity in the first five minutes, but Riverhounds goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap was ready for the test. A long service into Matt Delicate was flicked on for Edson Elcock. Receiving the ball in traffic, Elcock set the ball back for Delicate at the top of the penalty area. Delicate played a slotted pass for Shaka Bangura slashing through the penalty area. Bangura found himself alone with only Gilstrap to beat. Reading the play, Gilstrap moved off his line quickly to smother Bangura’s shot and deny the Kickers the early lead.
Gilstrap made another spectacular save in the 18th minute to prevent the Kickers from reaching the back of the net. A flurry of passes by the Kickers inside the Riverhounds defensive third provided Luke Vercollone a free look from the top of the penalty area. A soft pass by Delicate gave Vercollone the opportunity to bend a right-footed shot to the lower right corner of the goal. Vercollone’s shot was on target and inches away from crossing the goal line, but Gilstrap sprung to his left and parried the ball just wide and out for a corner.
The Riverhounds fed off Gilstrap’s play and recorded a goal on a counter-attack in the 33rd minute. Louie Rolko delivered a right-to-left diagonal ball for Jason Yeisley streaking down the left flank. Receiving the ball deep in the left corner, Yeisley crossed the ball to the near post for Chad Severs. Taking one touch, Severs directed the ball on target, but Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale turned the shot out into the penalty area. Tommy Gray sprinted towards the loose ball and struck a low shot, but Pascale made a sliding save and cleared the ball just inside of midfield. Picking up the loose ball, Sammy Appiah found Harada alone 30 yards from goal, and he took a touch before rifling a shot past Pascale to record what proved to be the game-winner.
Following the intermission, the Kickers came out strong and nearly drew even two minutes into the second half. The Kickers played a deep ball into the Riverhounds box and the ball bounced around like a pinball off four players. The ball finally landed at Bangura’s feet at the penalty stripe. Bangura tried to prepare his body for the shot, but pushed the ball high and wide of the goal.
Riverhounds substitute Deighton added a goal in the 81st minute. A one-two combination by Stefan Lundberg and Harada created enough space in the midfield to free Deighton. Harada slotted a right-to-left pass for Deighton running in front of the Kickers defense. Out-pacing his marker and beating Pascale to the ball, Deighton softly chipped a left-footed shot over Pascale and into the empty net.
The Kickers nearly cut the lead in half during stoppage time to make the game interesting. A set piece service from Sascha Gorres into the penalty area bounced over the scrum and onto the head of David Bulow. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Bulow headed the ball into the back of the net, but the Kickers were whistled for offside and denied the goal.