Pittsburgh Riverhounds Open USL Pro Season With Tie At Orlando
By Larry Snyder
The Riverhounds earned a point in the standings with a 1-1 tie Saturday in Orlando against the SC Lions. (Photo: Riverhounds.com)
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds opened their season on the road with a 1-1 draw against the defending champion Orlando City Lions on Saturday night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
After a scoreless first half, 2013 USL Pro MVP Jose Angulo stole possession from Lions’ center back Robert Valentino in the 48th minute, and found the back of the net from the left side on Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo to put the Hounds on top 1-0.
Lions’ defender Luke Boden would even the score in the 58th minute after a head-to-head collision between Valentino and Pittsburgh goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap sent the ball in his direction. Instead of stopping play with the two players down in the box, the referee allowed the game to continue, which gave Boden the opportunity to fire a shot from the left wing into the top corner of the net.
Riverhounds coach Justin Evans had Greg Blum take over for Gilstrap, who couldn’t continue. Blum, an Ambridge, Pa., native, made a number of critical saves as the Lions continued to push forward with multiple attacking players in the final 20 minutes. Orlando (0-0-2) outshot Pittsburgh 17-7 with 12 of the shots coming in the second half.
The Riverhounds (0-0-1) continue their road trip as they visit City Stadium to take on the Richmond Kickers (0-0-1) at 5 p.m. next Saturday. Pittsburgh opens at home Apr. 12 against Wilmington.