September 10, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
PITTBSURGH – A potential playoff preview looked the part, as Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and Louisville City FC played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night at Highmark Stadium.
The Hounds (15-7-7) and Louisville (18-5-6) hold on to their spots in fourth and first, respectively, in the USL Championship Eastern Conference. Goalkeeper Jahmali Waite made two saves for his seventh shutout of the season, while Louisville goalkeeper and former Hounds backstop Kyle Morton made one save and was helped by a goal-line clearance to keep his clean sheet.
Former Hounds coach, general manager and TV broadcaster Gene Klein was honored at halftime with a celebration of his induction last night as the sixth member of the Riverhounds SC Hall of Fame.
First half
The Hounds worked to keep a territorial edge and prevent Louisville from pressing high up the field, and they had some success, forcing Louisville into taking five yellow cards in the match, the first after just 15 minutes to Wes Charpie.
Arturo Ordóñez nearly opened the scoring in the 13th minute after Jelani Peters headed the ball back across goal on a set piece. Ordóñez’s header beat Morton, but bounced just wide of the left post.
Waite made his biggest play of the night in the 28th minute, when he came off his line to deny Wilson Harris with a brave sliding grab. Trainers checked on the Hounds goalkeeper after the collision, but he remained in the game.
The Hounds had a late penalty shout when Mekeil Williams was knocked over before the ball arrived from an Alex Dixon cross in the 41st minute, but play was waved to continue.
Second half
A wild play in the 53rd minute saw the Hounds nearly pull ahead via an own goal after an Albert Dikwa cross from the right side. Louisville’s Oscar Jimenez turned the ball toward his own goal, and as players scrambled to keep it from going over the line, it was Jimenez who recovered in time to clear it off the line.
The Hounds continued to press with Dikwa nearly winning the ball off the feet of Morton at one point, but neither team was able to get on the end of passes in the box.
Substitute Edward Kizza nearly stole the win for the Hounds in stoppage time when he caught the defense napping on a ball back toward Morton. Kizza was first to the ball, but the Louisville goalkeeper was far enough off his line to have the angle cut off on the shot.
The close nature of the match was borne out…