Riverhounds best Toronto FC II on a late Neco Brett goal
Pittsburgh snuck by Toronto FC II, thanks to a Neco Brett score.
The phrase “Keep your hopes up high and your head down low” is most known thanks to the band A Day To Remember. That is exactly what the Riverhounds did against Toronto FC II, earning a hard-fought 1-0 victory. On paper, this game seemed to be a write off win for the Riverhounds, but after tying FC Cincinnati and beating Nashville SC, Toronto almost escaped Highmark Stadium with a tie… almost.
Just like Wednesday night, the Riverhounds were on the attack from the opening whistle, with Neco Brett taking a good shot on net within the first minute of play. Toronto responded in the 3rd minute with what seemed to be a great attack, but the linesman called the play offside. From that moment on, Toronto controlled the majority of the first half action, thanks to their constant on-ball pressure.
In the 14th minute, Toronto had a breakaway that the Riverhounds thwarted in what could have been a foul. After a long stretch of both teams not having the ability to sustain possession, the Riverhounds formulated an attack, but Ray Lee’s shot was blocked. Soon after, the Riverhounds were awarded a free kick, that found its way to Tobi Adewole, whose shot hit off the crossbar. Towards the end of the half, the Riverhounds had two attacking runs broken up by what seemed to be apparent fouls, but play continued and the half ended 0-0.
As the second half started, it seemed to be a repeat of the first half where both teams couldn’t hold possession and any attacking chance was either called offside or broken up by what should have been a foul. Toronto had the next two legitimate scoring chances in the 69th and 75th minutes, but both times Dan Lynd was able to keep the ball out of the net. The game seemed destined to end in a tie, until the Riverhounds reached down deep and were rewarded with an 81st-minute goal by Neco Brett that made all of Highmark Stadium come to life.
Although there were no more goals, there a few scary moments toward the end of the game. In the 88th minute, Dan Lynd punched the ball away, while simultaneously getting ran into by a Toronto player, causing him to lay writhing in pain, but he was able to gather himself and finish the game. A few minutes later, Joe Greenspan fought for a ball and was kneed in what appeared to be the kidney area, dropping him to the ground, but like Lynd, he was able to gather himself and finish the game.
Milestones:
- Thomas Vancaeyezeele came into the game as a sub, ending his streak of playing EVERY minute of the 2018 season.
- Kevin Kerr celebrates his 150th career appearance for the Riverhounds, becoming only the second player in the team’s history to do so.
Next Time out:
- The Riverhounds hit the road for an away match against Bethlehem Steel FC on Sunday, August 12.
- Toronto FC II host the Richmond Kickers on Sunday, August 12.
