7pm – Highmark Stadium
Match Officials, as assigned by PRO:
REFEREE: Mr. Brandon Artis
AR1: Mr. Eric Tattersall
AR2: Mr. Lucas Feathers
4TH: Mr. Nathaniel Buck
When you lose non-stop at the beginning of the season, yet still find yourself alive late in the season, every game becomes huge. Niko has gone to call all the remaining games “cup finals”. I disagree. In a cup final, you could at least play defensively for the 120 minute draw and take your chance with the spot kicks. The Hounds have no such luxury. The needs all the points, all the time. Today, the quasi-expansion LA Galaxy II make their maiden journey to Pittsburgh where the Riverhounds look to pounce on LA’s woeful showing in Harrisburg.
The big news for the Hounds is that, 2013 league MVP, Jose Angulo is unavailable for the home side. Jose suffered an injury early in last Sunday’s match in Sacramento, which has turned out to be a dreaded high ankle sprain. The Trib’s Matt Grubba shared the news to everyone yesterday…
The @PghRiverhounds said today that Jose Angulo (high ankle sprain) is ruled out for tomorrow’s game against LA Galaxy II.
— Matt Grubba (@Grubba_Trib) August 1, 2014
Angulo’s absence creates an opening up top for the Hounds which might be difficult to replace. Joe Ngwenya hasn’t been able to play a full 90 minutes and Jhonny Arteaga has only recently gotten back onto the field from his seemingly never-ending injury. Does that clear that way for Minnesota United FC loanee Mackenzie Pridham to get his first start with the club? Is Houston’s Jason Johnson in Pittsburgh and available to the Hounds? A big question to have on the day of a big game.
For the Galaxy babies (Starburst Galaxy?), it’s all about finding form after no-showing in Harrisburg. For being a top four team in the league, Los Dos are terrible in the Eastern time Zone, compiling a 0-4-0 record. The next point they get in the East will be their first.
This is an opportunity for the Hounds. They only face LA II once, and its home. This seemingly small detail when the schedule was released could be a huge factor, but only if the team jumps on the advantage. Come out early and pounce before the Galaxy have their legs under them, then never give them a chance to get back into it. If the want to be a playoff team, this is the type of game they need to control in every facet for every minute.
Judge Smails could probably best describe this one…
#UNLEASH
