Riverhounds look to rebound from slow start Wednesday against Steel City FC

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1-2) have notoriously been a team that has struggled early in the season throughout their history, and so far this year looks to be no different.

The Hounds’ trip to the Gulf Coast and Al Lang Stadium Saturday, their third consecutive road trip to open the season, would up in a 3-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Both teams had difficulty getting shots on goal at the start of the match.  

As the first half was nearing its end, the Rowdies’ Marco Micaletto drove a lengthy pass across the box that Russell Cicerone made an incredible play on by moving into position and putting a header past the Riverhounds’ goalkeeper, Nico Campuzano.

Cicerone, who was the Riverhounds’ leading scorer in 2021 and 2022, is the third former Hound who has played key roles in their two losses. Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead into the break without the Hounds getting a shot on goal the entire half.

The second half began somewhat better for Pittsburgh as it was awarded a free kick two minutes in, but Sam Bassett’s shot sailed wide right.  The Riverhounds continued in their attempts to break through the Rowdies’ defense and controlled possession throughout the game with 55.6%.  In addition, Campuzano made impressive saves to keep the game close.

It wasn’t until the 77-minute mark that Tampa Bay’s Cicerone led an open MD Myers with a nice pass deep into the Hounds end.  Campuzano attempted to come out to stave off the attempt, but Myers’ quick shot into the goal beat Campuzano before he could get set, giving the Rowdies a 2-0 lead.

The score remained the same until the final minutes of the match when Tampa Bay’s Evan Conway took a Myers pass across the box and scored during stoppage time for the game’s final goal.  The Riverhounds finished the game with only two shots on goal and Campuzano made four saves.  Tampa Bay is 2-0 for the season.

The Riverhounds will play their first home match of the season when they take on Steel City FC in the opening round of the U.S. Open Cup at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, at Highmark Stadium.  The game was rescheduled due to inclement weather on St. Patrick’s Day.

Steel City FC is a pre-professional team from USL League Two, and the winner will host Virginia Dream, another amateur squad, in round two.  The single elimination tournament will end in October.