The Hounds battle strong for 90 minutes but falter in extra time.

What a night! In a packed Highmark Stadium we saw some very entertaining soccer, and despite the score line it was one of the best games I’ve experienced. Sitting here this morning I’m still trying to process it all.

D.C. United came out with a stronger line up than expected, but the Hounds rose up to the challenge for most of the game. Even after going down early they kept up the pressure and were able to draw a PK not long after. It was a back and forth game that overall looked pretty even from my vantage point. Great stretches of pressure from both squads. It wasn’t until the end, and especially in extra time, that the Hounds really started to stumble against the MLS side. Conditioning is where the difference between the two levels of play really shows. The Hounds gave it their all for 90 minutes and were running on fumes by the end. D.C. United had just a little more gas, and that’s all it took.

Even with the loss the Hounds should be extremely proud in their performance. A difference bounce here, a slightly different touch there, and things could’ve been completely different. They gave D.C. United hell and took an MLS team to extra time. That’s better than what a lot of other USL teams did in the Open Cup this year. With all eyes in Pittsburgh on the team they played with a ton of heart and sent a lot of new fans home impressed. Other than the score line last night was about as perfect as things could’ve been.

At the risk of being self-congratulatory I have to give mad props to the fans in attendance and the Steel Army. We put out a call to pack the section and to be as loud as possible. You all did not disappoint. Last night was rocking and we’ve already received a lot of positive feedback. There were several times I just stood there in awe of the section. We showed that there is a large, passionate soccer fan base here in Pittsburgh. And it wasn’t just the supporters section! The grand stands were as loud as I’ve ever heard them and reacted to calls just as passionately. Even after D.C.’s third goal very few people left, and the standing ovation for our boys when the clock hit 120 made my heart swell with pride. That’s the kind of atmosphere we want every match, and the kind of support the Hounds need for this team to really take off. If this was your first time at a Hounds game either with us or in the grand stands, and you had as much fun as I did, we hope you come back more often! Bring your friends! We’re building something special here that’s unlike anything else in Pittsburgh.

We’re back in business this Saturday as the regular season continues when F.C. Montreal comes to town. Kick off is at 7pm. Tailgate starts at 4pm.

Notes

• The Hounds possession really started to suffer as they got tired. Towards the end there were a lot of errant passes and increasingly more long balls that didn’t quite work. Besides conditioning a friend of mine also quipped that the ability to keep possession is another defining difference between a USL and MLS team.
• Set pieces killed the Hounds. The higher the level the more accurate and dangerous they are. This isn’t the crap shoot a USL corner kick usually is. Plus the D.C. United players were able to out muscle the Hounds inside the box, leading to dangerous headers. Definitely something the Hounds need to focus on in practice if they make it to this round next year.
• Those are the only real negatives, and I don’t want to knock the team too hard. Everyone put on a great performance.

What They’re Saying

Matt Gajkta – DKonPittsburghSports.com

“I don’t know how it looked from the outside, but I thought we dominated,” Kevin Kerr said after another tireless effort in the attacking midfield. “We created a lot of chances, so it does sting.”

Only one of those chances bore fruit: Rob Vincent’s match-leveling penalty-kick goal midway through the first half. But there were plenty of opportunities for the Riverhounds to snatch a lead in their bid for an upset. Chief among those were forward Mike Green’s point-blank shot late in the opening half, and Vincent’s sizzling drive from the edge of the penalty area in the second. Both were denied by impressive United keeper Andrew Dykstra, giving his teammates time to earn the result.

Dejan Kovacevic – DKonPittsburghSports.com

Which leads me back to that list I’d begun compiling up there, the one where I was trying to peg what, exactly, might have made this whole event feel so quintessentially Pittsburgh even though the sport isn’t close to any mainstream foothold.

And that’s when it hit me: These D.C. United people were really rattled to have been here.

That’s Pittsburgh, my friends.

Because there might not be another city on the continent that knows how to tick off outsiders with our unrivaled passion for sports than this one.

Olsen was livid. His assistant coach, Chad Ashton, became so furious at one point — it was never clear about what, exactly — that he was ejected from the match in the 66th minute, much to the delight of the taunting, finger-pointing fans who serenaded him with invectives the whole way off the pitch. The players hardly were an exception, either, losing their cool on multiple occasions while the Riverhounds just kept playing.

And playing well, I should add.

John Krysinksy – Pittsburgh Soccer Report

As I rolled in last night after the match, my oldest son came home a few minutes later and remarked, “Man, if the Riverhounds had that kind of crowd for every game, that would be something.”

…

The packed house, announced as 3,918, filled completely around the stadium into the river side standing room only area, with many fans following the Riverhounds directive to wear gold, brought a great deal of energy to the match.

“I’ve been in big stadiums for sell out games, and little stadiums that have been sold out. And this was great tonight,” said Ben Olsen, D.C. United’s Head Coach.

“This crowd was unbelievable. When we were out there early, during warm-ups, there had to be a good thousand or so people already in their seats. The Steel Army (Riverhounds supporters) were already there — singing and chanting,” said Kevin Kerr.

There were moments throughout the match where the fans were shaking the stands (and giving us a bit of an uneasy feeling in the press box!). The Steel Army, in their usual spot filling in the South end of the field, were bright, loud and set the tone.

…

As the match ended on Wednesday, most of the crowd had remained for the full 120 minutes stood up and applauded both teams for a pretty hard fought effort.

A fitting end to a memorable night in which showed that Pittsburgh fans have great appreciation for a well-played soccer game

Around the League

• Somehow the Charlotte Independence are the only USL team to make it to the 5th round.

#UNLEASH