By @SAdyson
Rochester Rhinos (1-6-2) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (2-4-4)
7:00 PM – The Highmark, Pittsburgh, PA
Tailgate with the Steel Army 4:00 – 6:20 PM in the East Lot behind Saddle Ridge by Station Square, march to commence to the Highmark at 6:30 pm through Station Square
Watch on-line LIVE on @UNATION
We are at a crossroads.
The FO has asked us to no longer use smoke in the supporters’ section, and on top of that, we have been asked to keep our chanting more “PG.”
Before the Riverhounds decide to micromanage their supporters’ club, they need to better manage the team that they are putting on the field and start generating some three-point outings. Soccer can succeed in Pittsburgh, but only if the team itself fully commits itself to excelling night in and night out.
On the flip side, the Riverhounds sit at 2-4-4 in USL-PRO–9 out of 13 on the table. At times, the defense has been porous. At other times, the midfield cannot maintain possession in the center of the field. And at other times, the forwards cannot capitalize on scoring chances coming through the other team’s penalty area.
Last game, we saw a glimmer of hope. We saw a goalkeeper (that at the beginning of the season was riding the bench) aggressively shut out a team that had been up by one man for most of the game. We saw two forwards score brilliant goals against an Antigua side that was ready to put up a fight.
Tonight, we play our rivals from up north–the Rochester Rhinos. 3 points or bust.
LAST MEETING: August 18, 2012 — Sahlen’s Stadium — 1-0 Rhinos
HOUNDS PLAYER TO WATCH: Greg Blum, G – Standing at 6′ 6″, the “Monongahela Monster” has taken advantage of the opportunity given to him by Evans by holding the Antiguan side scoreless last Friday at the Highmark. Blum has shown a tenacity in the box that the Hounds have been lacking, and the defense has been playing more confidently in front of him. Look to Blum to have another big game against a Rhinos team that will surely be hungry for some momentum heading into June.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: Democrat & Chronicle
The Rhinos must refocus on climbing into the USL PRO League playoff chase. At 1-6-2, their margin for error is as thin as their roster. They … travel to ninth-place Pittsburgh on Saturday. That factored into how Ercoli pieced together a makeshift lineup on Tuesday against Rochester’s MLS affiliate. Seven starters had 10 or fewer matches as a Rhino.
“The reality of it was we knew we weren’t going to have all of our best players out there, so we looked at it, took the percentages and said, ‘What players do we want to save for Friday and Saturday?’ ” Ercoli said.
@scottishthug‘s Prediction:
PROBABLE RIVERHOUNDS STARTING XI: Blum, Costanzo, Marshall, Flunder, Seamon, Vincent, Motagalvan, Kerr, Dallman, Arteaga, Seth
#UNLEASH
