Pittsburgh Riverhounds MatchDay: Hounds Take On FC Dallas Reserves
By Larry Snyder
With playoff hopes still alive along the banks of the Monongahela River, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds take the pitch against the FC Dallas Reserves on Sunday for their final home game for August.
This afternoon’s contest is the first and only match between the two squads this season. It is set to get underway at 3 p.m.
For those in the Steel Army unable to make to Highmark Stadium, the game will be streamed live on the USL Pro’s YouTube channel.
Pittsburgh (7-12-5, 26 points) could claim one of the final USL Pro playoff spots as just four points separate eighth place from 13th in the league. The Hounds have three games remaining, two on the road and one at home, following today’s match.
Interim head coach Niko Katic’s crew are looking to come back from a 3-1 road loss last Saturday to Arizona United FC. The team was without midfielders/assists leaders Joseph Ngwenya and Danny Earls, defender Andrew Marshall, and leading scorer Jose Angulo.
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Both Earls and Ngwenya will be back in action this afternoon, while Angulo, who has been working out with the team, will be a game-time decision. Forward Mackenzie Pridham will be unavailable due to a family obligation.
There could be a little bit of rust on the FC Dallas Reserves as they have been idle since a 3-0 loss back on July 11 against the Rochester Rhinos.
The FC Dallas Reserves are 3-2 on the season under head coach Marco Ferruzzi. In their five matches they have put up seven goals on the scoreboard while allowing six. They are in first place in the Major League Soccer Reserves standings.
FC Dallas players to watch include forward Tesho Akindele, 22, who comes into this afternoon’s match as the scoring leader with two goals in five contests, while midfielder Danny Garcia, 20, has two assists. Goalkeeper Raul Fernandez, 28, is 2-1 this season.
The Hounds close out August on the road as they travel to the Queens Sports Complex in North Carolina on Friday for a 7 p.m. match with the Charlotte Eagles. After the contest, they load up the team bus and head over to Blackbaud Stadium in South Carolina for a game Saturday against the Charleston Battery.
Pittsburgh closes out the regular season on the South Side when they host Arizona United SC on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.
Riverhounds Reinforcements: For Week 22, forward Mackenzie Pridham and midfielder Robert Vincent both earned honorable mention accolades on the USL Pro Team of the Week.