Pittsburgh Riverhounds Down Real Salt Lake Reserves 5-2

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds survived a wild first 45 minutes, and took command of the second half to defeat Real Salt Lake Reserves 5-2, on Friday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium for their fourth win in their last five matches.

Jose Angulo’s hat trick, all on penalty kicks won in the first half, along with late goals by Rob Vincent and Jason Johnson secured an important road victory as the Riverhounds continue their quest to make a late-season run at a USL PRO playoff berth.

It was an ideal start for the Riverhounds.

In the 5th minute, as the Riverhounds sent a ball into the penalty box, Real Salt Lake’s Aaron Maund collided with Joseph Ngwenya as he was getting a touch on the ball in the air.

It was a double bonus for the Riverhounds. A penalty kick was awarded and Maund was sent off with a red card, for a dangerous tackle, providing Pittsburgh with a man advantage for the final 84 minutes.

Angulo was called on, and he came through to give the Hounds the 1-0 lead with a left footed shot that sailed into the lower left side of the goal.

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With 1-0 lead, and with a man advantage, the Riverhounds appeared to get too complacent, too soon.

Real Salt Lake didn’t waste any time, responding with nice combination passes that ended inside the left side of the box with Sebastian Saucedo putting through the equalizer in the 8th minute.

Then came a stunning breakdown on the defensive end in the 28th minute for the Hounds, as John Stertzel’s perfectly placed cross from the right side found Devan Sandaval to give Real Salt Lake Reserves a 2-1 lead.

Fortunately for the Riverhounds, Angulo and Ngwenya weren’t done putting pressure on Real Salt Lake’s young defenders.

Angulo’s nifty skill work on the ball on the left side the box along the end line drew a foul in the box in the 38th minute. This time, Angulo went top shelf on his second penalty, blasting the ball into the roof of the goal to level the score.

In the waning moments of the half, Ngwenya won a ball just inside the box, and was fouled by Kwame Watson-Siriboe.

Angulo calmly finished off his hat trick with a nicely placed ball on the left side, and the Riverhounds went into the locker room with 3-2 lead.

The Riverhounds took a defensive approach in the second half, holding off a few dangerous chances, along with solid play from goalkeeper Mike Lisch to keep the home team from getting the equalizer.

Vincent took advantage of space on the right side in the 81st minute to give the Hounds a much needed insurance goal, with a right footed strike from 21 yards.

Jason Johnson, on loan from Houston Dynamo, scored his first goal for the Riverhounds, heading through a cross from Matt Dallman for the final tally in the 85th minute.

For Angulo, last year’s USL PRO MVP and top goal scorer, it was his first trick in two seasons with the Riverhounds. With eight league goals this season, Angulo’s back in contention for the USL PRO goal scoring race, currently tied for 4th with LA Galaxy II’s Chandler Hoffman and Richmond’s George Davis.

With the win, the Riverhounds (5-10-5, 20 points) thrust themselves right into the logjam of teams fighting for the remaining USL PRO league playoff berths.

Interim head coach, Niko Katic’s starting eleven included: Lisch, Dallman, Andrew Marshall, Anthony Arena, Sterling Flunder, Mike Green, Kevin Kerr, Vincent, Danny Earls, Ngwenya and Angulo.

Jason Johnson entered for Ngwenya in the 67th minute. Angulo was replaced in the 70th minute by Seth C’deBaca, Earls left in the 88th minute for Miro Cabrilo.

Earls picked up a yellow card in 56th minute for a tackle from behind and Jason Johnson in 60th minute for running into the goalkeeper.

The Riverhounds continue their road trip, seeking their fifth win in their last six games, in their a first-ever match at Sacramento on Sunday night. The game has been moved from it’s original start time to 10 p.m. EST.

Game Report Courtesy Of The Pittsburgh Riverhounds

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