Hounds end four-game unbeaten streak against Rowdies

July 30, 2017 | By Rachael McKriger

On June 22, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds hosted Tampa Bay at Highmark Stadium and notched a 2-0 victory over the Rowdies, who are in their first USL season. The former NASL club hosted the Riverhounds on Saturday night, and flipped the score in their favor.

The Rowdies picked up three points against the Hounds at Al Lang Stadium. The match was the third in eight days for the Riverhounds.

A four-game unbeaten streak followed the Riverhounds down south. Three of the last four draws the Riverhounds earned a single point in occurred on the road.

In Tampa Bay, the hero was Alex Morrell. Morrell, who is in his first season with the Rowdies, scored his first and second professional USL goals with the club, in the 11’ and 76’ minutes. The first goal was unassisted, while the second was assisted by Schäfer.

“This one’s going to build his confidence even more,” Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell said. “He’s gotten better and better game by game.”

“I’ve been working on that all week in practice,” Morrell said. “I got like 10 or 15 balls every other day just working on that back post volley. I knew as soon as I saw that it went over (the defender’s) head that I was going to volley it.”

The Riverhounds received two yellow cards in the match, with the first shown to Gale Agbossoumonde (44’) and the second to Tobi Adewole (75’). However, the Rowdies had three yellow cards shown to Tamika Mkandawire (3’), Kyle Porter (67’) and Matt Pickens (75’).

In goal, Riverhounds head coach Dave Brandt elected to start Trey Mitchell over Keasel Broome. Mitchell made two saves – both coming against Schäfer.

As for the Rowdies, Pickens made five saves, denying shots on goal from Stephen Okai, Romeo Parkes and Chevaughn Walsh.

The Riverhounds will return to Highmark Stadium on Saturday to host the Richmond Kickers. The match is slated to kick off at 7 p.m.

The Riverhounds currently sit in the No. 12 slot in the USL’s Eastern Conference. The Hounds are only one point away from playoff contention, as they have 23 points.

The Kickers sit in the No. 14 slot, holding onto 16 points.