Late Tulsa Goal Bounces Hounds from Cup

May 7, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release

PITTSBURGH – A second deep run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup wasn’t in the cards for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, as a late goal by Phillip Goodrum gave FC Tulsa the victory in a Round of 32 match tonight at Highmark Stadium.

The Hounds started a different 11 from the team that started Saturday’s league win over Miami, but the changed lineup put in a strong effort in a match where both teams had chances.

Tulsa advances to face the winner between Union Omaha of USL League One and Sporting Kansas City of MLS in the Round of 16.

First half

The Hounds nearly got the early breakthrough from a pair of Tulsa miscues.

Babacar Diene nearly scored in the opening minute after forcing a turnover, but his effort was blocked away at close range. Emmanuel Johnson tried his luck from distance in the fifth minute, and his shot was mishandled by Tulsa goalkeeper Joey Roggeveen, going off his hands and through his legs but barely wide of goal.

Both teams settled into the match, with Tulsa having more of possession at 58.8 percent, but the Hounds getting a few more looks at goal with an 15-11 edge in shots – 9-4 in shots inside the box. The Hounds’ best moments came on the counter, with Johnson having a chance on 30 minutes after Diene played through a foul, while Nate Dragisich – making his first pro start – had the ball picked off his feet just before getting into the box with a late chance.

Second half

Tulsa nearly struck first with their own transition moment in the 56th minute, but Bradley Sample hustled back to slide the ball away from Goodrum before he could receive a pass 12 yards from goal. The visitors put the ball in the net from the ensuing corner kick, but Milo Yosef was offside on the final touch.

The Hounds had their own corner kick opportunity turned away when Pierre Cayet won a header at the back post, and Sample had a good chance turned save in the 74th minute after being set up by Junior Etou, who entered the match as a substitute.

But the deciding moment came in the 88th minute, when the Hounds were unable to clear a long throw-in. The ball bounced to Goodrum, and the former 20-goal scorer showed his quality with a shot powered into the far side of the net.

The match was the professional debut for Hounds goalkeeper Gabriel Perrotta, who made three saves, and center back Jake Lent-Koop, while Pittsburgh native Dragisich and fellow midfielder Aidan O’Toole made…