Pittsburgh Riverhounds selling tickets briskly for match with Wigan Athletic FC
By Larry Snyder
A gung-ho crowd of supporters put a blitz on prime grandstand seating, with pre-game ticket sales moving briskly for the international match-up between our Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Wigan Ahtletic FC of England.
The event is scheduled for July 19 at 7 p.m. and will be the first-ever international soccer match held at Highmark Stadium. Interest in the exhibition is high, with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds facing the current F.A. Cup holder.
The event takes another step forward through the support of local businessman Frank B. Fuhrer. His generous sponsorship helped move the event forward in 2013, and is laying a foundation for future years of international matches on the banks of the Monongahela.
With this year’s event now known as The Frank B. Fuhrer International Friendly and Fireworks, featuring Wigan Athletic FC, the new sponsorship agreement sets the groundwork for an annual international match to be held at Highmark Stadium in Station Square each summer during the international touring window.
Mr. Fuhrer is the previous owner of the Pittsburgh Spirit indoor soccer team from 1979-1981, and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1996.
The match against Wigan Athletic will kick off with a training session on Thursday, July 18 at Highmark Stadium, where ticketed fans are offered an experience with some of the world’s best soccer players. The session will conclude with autographs and pictures, including the opportunity to meet one of the top coaches in the game, Wigan manager Owen Coyle.
Riverhounds Reinforcements: On Thursday, the Riverhounds (5-4-6) will put their 10-game unbeaten streak on the line at Station Square as they host the Charlotte Eagles (6-2-7) at 7 p.m. The Eagles shut out the Hounds 2-0 when the two teams met April 26 in Charlotte.
The Los Angeles Blues (5-6-5) will visit Highmark Stadium at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The Blues and the Hounds fought to a 0-0 draw back on May 5 in L.A.
Hounds forward Jose Angulo is tied with Mauricio Salles De Allencar of VSI Tampa Bay FC for third in the USL Pro for shots on goal with 35 apiece.
Goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap has 39 saves this season to go along with his four wins, three shutouts, and a 1.23 goals-against-average.