The Pittsburgh Riverhounds saw their six-match unbeaten streak come to an end Saturday night, falling 2-0 to Brooklyn FC in a physical, emotion-filled contest at F.N.B. Stadium. Brooklyn’s first-ever visit to Pittsburgh spoiled the holiday atmosphere while also ending the Riverhounds’ impressive 476-minute shutout streak.
Despite the final scoreline, the Hounds controlled much of the opening half. Pittsburgh fired the first six shots of the match, applying early pressure through Charles Ahl and Eliot Goldthorp. Goldthorp’s left-footed volley forced Brooklyn goalkeeper Lukas Burns into one of his best saves of the evening, while Ahl continued to create opportunities with his movement and work rate.
Brooklyn weathered the early storm before nearly grabbing the lead late in the first half when John Klein headed a corner kick just wide. Tempers also began to rise before halftime as Stefan Stojanovic received a yellow card for a late challenge on Ahl, foreshadowing what was to come after the break.
The breakthrough arrived shortly after halftime. Former Riverhound Thomas Vancaeyezeele pushed forward down the right flank before finding CJ Olney Jr. at the top of the penalty area. Olney settled the bouncing pass and unleashed a strike into the upper left corner to give Brooklyn a 1-0 advantage.
The match reached its boiling point in the 76th minute. Following a dangerous foul on Lasse Kelp, Stojanovic appeared to headbutt the Riverhounds defender, triggering a mass confrontation between both teams. During the ensuing melee, Brooklyn captain Tommy McNamara and Pittsburgh striker Albert Dikwa became involved in a separate exchange that resulted in Dikwa striking McNamara. After sorting through the chaos, the referee issued straight red cards to both Stojanovic and Dikwa, reducing each side to 10 men.
Pittsburgh struggled to generate quality chances following the dismissals, and Brooklyn capitalized deep into stoppage time. Former Riverhound J.C. Obregón slipped a pass into Abdoulaye Kanté, who calmly finished to seal the 2-0 victory.
Charles Ahl was named the Modelo Man of the Match after another industrious performance. The midfielder won nine of 14 duels, completed nearly 86 percent of his passes, connected on seven of eight passes in the attacking third, recorded two shots, and drew four fouls.
The loss came before a regular-season record crowd of 6,376 fans at F.N.B. Stadium, though weather delayed kickoff by one hour due to lightning. Pittsburgh will now turn its attention to its final Prinx Tires USL Cup group-stage match against Loudoun United FC on July 11, still holding slim hopes of advancing with help from results elsewhere.
- Riveters Season Comes To Painful End On Late Goal From Aurora FC
- Shamrocks Edge Salmonbellies Despite Late New Westminster Comeback
- Coquitlam Doubles Up Nanaimo, Takes Third Place
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds Unbeaten Run Snapped By Brooklyn FC In Heated Independence Day Clash
- Burrards Snap Burnaby’s 3-Game Win Streak
