Guest Author: Dan Morris
For the third time this season, Loudoun took on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds but couldn’t come back from an early goal by Pittsburgh striker Russell Cicerone in the 6th minute. Loudoun had more starters back for this one since they were brought up to DC for some club friendlies last week but were kept on the bench for rest in the first half. Loudoun pushed and pushed for the equalizer in the second half but came up short in the end.
First Half
The scoring kicked-off early with the Riverhounds’ Alex Dixon finding space on the right side of the box who played a low, hard cross across the top of the six-yard box for a scrambled tap-in by Russell Cicerone. It is not clear how much Cicerone knew about it since Albert Dikwa seemed to have had the determinant touch toward goal just moments before.
Following the goal, the remainder of the first half went by without much excitement except with the occasional chance by Pittsburgh. Loudoun tried for multiple counters but were overpowered in the midfield and were consistently pressed within their own half.
The best of those chances came when the Riverhounds knocked the post in the 41st minute after a great pass across the top of the 18 by Cicerone to Albert Dixon. The one-time shot was low to Fordah’s right and went out off the side of the post.
Second Half
The second half began with multiple substitutions from Loudoun: Kimarni Smith for Houssou Landry, and Darluis Paz for new signing Jeremy Garay. Soon after, Loudoun head coach Ryan Martin opted to bring on D.C. United Academy signing Jacob Greene on for Matt Di Rosa who was on a yellow card in the 51st minute.
Despite the substitutions, Loudoun failed to level-up and the match ended 1-0 to Pittsburgh. Perhaps the most notable moment came in the 55th minute when a wayward forward pass from Loudoun was touched back to Riverhounds goalkeeper Daniel Vitiello who scooped up the ball with his hands. After some deliberation, the referee called a handball from an intentional back pass on Pittsburgh. However, Loudoun failed to capitalize on the ensuing freekick. By this point in the game, Loudoun had still not come up with a single shot on goal.
Ryan Martin made two additional substitutions in Massimo Ferrin coming in for Michael Gamble in the 58th, and Tyler Gabarra for Allexon Saravia in the 73rd.
Loudoun finished the game with 3 logged shots on goal but seemed to miss one starter in particular on the day- the young Venezuelan Jovanny Bolivar. Bolivar is the team’s leading goal scorer but was rested after playing multiple games (and scored) for D.C. in last week’s friendlies. Loudoun continue to have trouble scoring chances in the box despite being up for the task in the midfield and in build-up play and they remain at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with 6 points.
Lineups:
Pittsburgh: Daniel Vitiello; Jalen Robinson, Shane Wiedt, Preston Kilwien, Daniel Rovira; Daniel Griffin, Todd Wharton (Louis Perez 75); Alex Dixon, Albert Dikwa (Thomas Williamson 76), Kenardo Forbes (C); Russell Cicerone (Anthony Velarde 75)
Loudoun: Jermaine Fordah; Alexxon Saravia (Tyler Gabarra 73), Timmy Mehl (C), Robby Dambrot; Ted Ku-DiPietro, Landry Houssou (Kimarni Smith 45), Jeremy Garay (Darluis Paz 45), Matt Di Rosa (Jacob Greene 51); Michael Gamble (Massimo Ferrin 58); Giovanni Montesdeoca, Kairou Amoustapha
Yellow Cards:
Pittsburgh – Rovira 68
Loudoun – Di Rosa 8, Saravia 42, Smith 77