Weekend Recap: Rage Against the Dying Light

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The Riverhounds pull off the impossible 6-5 win against rival Harrisburg.

Miracle on the Mon

Hell of a week for Pittsburgh soccer huh? After an emotional late win on Wednesday in the U.S. Open Cup the Hounds were back in action on Saturday against the Harrisburg City Islanders. This had the makings of another trap game, and for a while it looked like it was exactly that. The Hounds came out sluggish and allowed the City Islanders to pepper Hulings early. Another back line injury, this time to Pasher, and by the time the first half ended the Hounds were looking at a 3 goal deficit. That’s not to say the Hounds didn’t have chances in the first half. They tested Nobel with a couple good strikes and clanged one off the post. Unfortunately the City Islanders in the first half were not the ones we saw at the opener and held strong. There’s a reason they’ve only allowed 5 goals in their last 6 games.

I don’t know what Steffens says at half time to these guys to make them the prolific second half scoring team that they are. Whatever it is, it works. Forget playing “Renegade” at Steeler games, they need to put Steffens on the jumbo tron. Going into this game 63% of the Hounds goals scored this season have been in the second half. This number will jump to 72% by the time the clock hit 90.

The Hounds came out of the locker room with a fire lit under them and put up two early goals within the first 6 minutes. After quite an electric back and forth half we were treated to the most amazing final minutes in team history. There are no words. The highlights do all the talking.

Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

The Riverhounds are home again this Saturday for an unusually early kick off against St. Louis FC. Kick off is at 2pm, tailgate starts bright and early at 11am.

Notes

  • We’re seeing a new Riverhounds. In the past being down 3-0 spelled doom. In the past they were the ones to get scored on late. It’s finally different. We saw this almost happen in the game against New York Red Bulls II. This past weekend we saw it finally come to fruition. No longer can you count out this team. They will fight until the final whistle.
  • I believe this was the first time we’ve seen Soumah and boy did he introduce himself with a beautiful arcing header.
  • Vincent should wear 18 if he’s going to keep scoring from there.
  • Why can’t the Hounds keep a clean sheet in regular season play? Fortunately they can pretty much score at will.
  • The Hounds are on pace for a 70 goal season.

What They’re Saying

Matt Gajtka – DKonPittsburghSports.com

An improbable 5-5 draw was set, or so the nearly 2,000 fans might have thought.

But taking advantage of the visibly disheveled Islanders, who had entered on a five-game unbeaten streak and had allowed five total goals in their past seven games, Moloto and Kerr teamed up to create one last offensive thrust in the 94th minute. After stepping inside on the left wing, Kerr fed Moloto cutting through the Harrisburg City defense. With seemingly everyone in a powder-blue jersey collapsing on him, Moloto earned his third assist of the night with a one-touch pass back to Kerr, who slotted home the most dramatic goal of his career from point-blank range.

“Nobody else makes that pass,” Steffens said of Moloto’s under-the-gun decision. “Everyone else looks to turn and shoot.”

Fortunately for the Riverhounds, he didn’t. Despite struggling to find confidence earlier this season, the nifty South African import has two goals and three assists in his past three games, all wins.

John Krysinsky – Pittsburgh Soccer Report

Then the Hounds really came apart with a few defensive lapses.

Both Stephen Okai and Anthony Arena stepped forward to challenge for a ball in the 37th minute, and Danny DiPrima got behind both of the them and into the box where he sent a right-footed blast past Hulings.

Moments later, Arena was trying to clear the ball, and lost possession. Harrisburg’s Jose Barrel swept in to take the ball away — darting toward the goal to send an easy finish past Hulings.

Trailing 3-0, and playing poorly, Steffens let his team have it at halftime.

“I had a little tantrum. Said a few words,” remarked Steffens.

“Yeah, he wasn’t happy. We heard about it,” confirmed Vincent.

https://twitter.com/landondonovan/status/605122130116616192

Around the League

  • WHO CARES!? GO WATCH THE HOUNDS GAME AGAIN!

#UNLEASH

ISAVesty

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