By @SAdyson
RWB Adria at Pittsburgh Riverhounds
7:00 PM – Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
The Hounds are coming off a huge win against Phoenix FC, 2-1. In front of a home crowd, Jose Angulo scored twice and the Hounds’ D, led by Andrew Marshall and Sterling Flunder, kept the Wolves blanked for almost 90 minutes.
Now, the US Open Cup begins. As we know, anything can happen in these games. A team from rural Michigan, Chattanooga, or God-knows-where-else can easily pose a threat to the Hounds’ chances in the Cup.
Today, the Hounds square off against RWB Adria, a small, NSL club from Chicago that was founded by Croatian immigrants and actually still has some Croatians rostered. The Hounds need to take care of business early to make sure that Adria does not hang around in this game for very long.
LAST MEETING: N/A
HOUNDS PLAYER TO WATCH: Jose Angulo, F – Angulo scored both of the Hounds’ goals in the convincing 2-1 win against Phoenix FC this past Thursday. Jose was brought in by the Hounds after the New York Red Bulls decided not to pick up his contract for this season. You had better believe he is playing with a chip on his shoulder, and he is finally finding his groove as a goal scorer for Pittsburgh. Watch for him to terrorize Adria’s back line and generate opportunities for the Hounds.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
Ante Loncar, Manager of RWB Adria (via On the Fire)
“It’s been five years since we’ve played in the Open Cup. Over two hundred amateur teams enter the qualification rounds, but only eight of us get a shot to play a team like this. We’re honored.”
While he knows the task ahead for Adria is difficult, Loncar hopes Evans and company might have their eyes set on bigger and better things that lie ahead.
“We’re coming into their house, so obviously they’re going to expect to win. If they beat us, they’ll probably get a NPSL or PDL team in the second round, which would pretty much make them a lock to play an MLS team in the third round.”
PROBABLE RIVERHOUNDS STARTING XI: Gilstrap, Marshall, Flunder, Seamon, Costanzo, Vincent, Kerr, Motagalvan, Dallman, Arteaga, Angulo
#UNLEASH
