July 6, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Monterey Bay FC News Release
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania – Monterey Bay F.C. (7-8-4, 25 points) finished off a 1-0 smash and grab win over Riverhounds SC (3-9-6, 15 points) at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Ousseni Bouda scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time in his first-ever start for the Crisp-and-Kelp, while goalkeeper Carlos Herrera earned a clean sheet and matched his career-high in saves with eight in his first start of the season to lift Monterey Bay to victory away from home.
Nearly 15 minutes into the match, Herrera fired the ball ahead in an attempt to play Alex Dixon over the top on the counter, but the Pittsburgh goalkeeper cleared it away and into the stadium’s neighboring river, the 13th ball lost to the river of the season thus far. The hosts then earned a free kick four minutes later from just outside of the left corner of the box, but it was punched away by Herrera to deny an opportunity on net. Walmer Martínez whipped a great-looking ball into a wide open Rafa Baca inside the box in the 24th minute, but Baca was caught offside. Less than a minute later, Riverhounds SC put together an attack on the other end, but the shot by Robbie Mertz was saved by Herrera at the right post. Pittsburgh’s Edward Kizza had a point-blank look at goal from just outside the six-yard box in the 39th minute, but his shot was stonewalled by Herrera to keep the hosts off the board and the sides went scoreless into the halftime break.
Pittsburgh started the second half the same way they ended the first half, with what looked to be a great chance from Mertz, but his shot was parried away by Herrera once again. Monterey Bay’s first shot of the night came in the 52nd minute when Dixon attempted to chip the goalkeeper at the end of a long ball, but his shot missed just wide of the left post. Monterey Bay began to pile on the pressure around the hour mark, but Pittsburgh defense held serve against a solid spell of majority possession. As the Crisp-and-Kelp’s run of possession continued in the 62nd minute, Baca whipped a hopeful ball into the box towards Bouda, but the goalkeeper managed to punch it away. Another chance came immediately for the Union with Adrian Rebollar leading the counter, but the opportunity ended with a shot from Dixon missing wide left.
Riverhounds SC earned an opportunity in the 83rd minute with a ball pinging around the box, but the header by Babacar Diene was…