The Pittsburgh Riverhounds continued their August surge Saturday night, earning a 1-0 road victory over Brooklyn FC behind a late free-kick winner from Sam Bassett at Maimonides Park.
Bassett broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute, curling a right-footed free kick over the Brooklyn wall and inside the near post for his fourth goal of the season. The strike was Bassett’s first since returning from an injury that sidelined him for more than a month during June and July.
The victory moved Pittsburgh to 10-8-3 and gave the Hounds consecutive wins for the first time since April. They are now 3-0-1 in August and moved into the top four of the Eastern Conference with the result.
While Bassett provided the decisive moment, goalkeeper Nico Campuzano was equally important in securing all three points.
Campuzano finished with five saves and was tested early when a free kick into the Pittsburgh penalty area was redirected toward goal. The Hounds goalkeeper got a hand to the ball and pushed it off the crossbar before Robbie Mertz cleared the danger.
Pittsburgh created its best first-half opportunity from a set piece of its own. Bassett delivered a corner that Victor Souza flicked toward Eliot Goldthorp at the back post, but Brooklyn goalkeeper Jackson Lee stopped Goldthorp’s attempt.
Campuzano remained busy after halftime. He denied Markus Anderson from inside the box in the 65th minute before making a leaping save to push Callum Frogson’s header over the crossbar in the 79th.
Four minutes later, Pittsburgh finally found its breakthrough.
Jackson Walti played a diagonal ball to Junior Etou down the left side, where Etou cut inside and drew a foul from Ryan McLaughlin roughly 20 yards from goal. Bassett stepped up and delivered the match-winning strike.
Brooklyn still had an opportunity to equalize, but Campuzano produced one final save, diving to his left to deny CJ Olney Jr. and preserve the clean sheet.
It was Campuzano’s third shutout of August and continued a strong defensive run for Pittsburgh.
The Riverhounds now face a quick turnaround as they remain on the road for their final midweek match of the regular season. Pittsburgh will travel to face El Paso Locomotive FC on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 9 p.m.
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