In a playoff rematch of a year ago, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds battled the Hartford Athletic in Connecticut to a scoreless tie Saturday, June 20.
Both teams were looking to make a move in the Eastern Conference standings with a victory, but with two strong defensive-minded squads facing off, the match ended in a 0-0 draw.
The first 45 minutes of the match lacked scoring opportunities from both sides, and it wasn’t until the 52-minute mark of the second half that the first true scoring opportunity came about.
Pittsburgh’s goalkeeper, Nico Campuzano, made an incredible diving save to his right to keep the Athletic off the board. Campuzano finished with four saves and his fourthconsecutive clean sheet.
At the 70-minute mark, the Hounds had one of their best scoring opportunities when Charles Ahl laid into a shot that was stopped by Hartford goalkeeper, Anthony Siaha, who made a diving fingertip save. Siaha finished the match with two saves and now leads the United Soccer League with six clean sheets.
Pittsburgh attempted to interject offensive production by inserting Trevor Amann into the match in the latter portion of the second half. Amann and Robbie Mertz did provide increased enthusiastic play, but the Hounds continued to struggle to get shots on goal.
Albert Dikwa had an opportunity for the game winner on a last-second scoring opportunity but could not connect with a header.
Each squad took away a point each in the scoreless draw, and the Riverhounds are now 6-4-2 and in fourth place in the Eastern Division. The shutout was the fourth consecutive clean sheet for Pittsburgh, including USL Cup tournament action, and the Hounds have not allowed a goal in the last 426 minutes of play. Harford won possession 51/49 and the Athletic are now 4-2-6.
The Riverhounds are on a bye week and return to action on Saturday, July 4, when they play Brooklyn FC at FNB Stadium on Pittsburgh’s South Shore.
Be First to Comment