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Loudoun United faced Pittsburgh in the third of four games between the two on the road for the first time this season, after beating the Hounds 2-1 in the last game between the two at the end of June. On the road, Loudoun found themselves on the back foot early and couldn’t catch up despite attempts to, losing SCORE in front of 3,483 at Pittsburgh’s Highmark Stadium.
The lineup saw the first 2021 starts for midfielder Michael Gamble and defender Alexxon Saravia, along with a return to the lineup for Jeremy Garay, who had missed the previous two games due to injury. Michael DeShields remained out to injury, while Jovanny Bolivar was given the night off following appearances in all three D.C. United friendlies (and one Loudoun one) over the last 10 days. Jacob Greene and Kimarni Smith started on the bench to round out the D.C. United contingent.
The Hounds were keenly aware that they wanted to start on the front foot following a lackluster performance against Loudoun in the last game between the two (a Loudoun win), so they started out firing thanks to Russell Cicerone:
✏️ Official scoring change
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) July 17, 2021
We're told this goes in the book as @R_Cicerone7's sixth goal of the season, and @DikwaAlbert gets the assist.
You be the judge... who got the last touch? Either way, still 1-0 good guys!#UNLEASH #PITvLDN pic.twitter.com/uYqm3QpS1A
Things stayed that way until halftime, when Smith and Darluis Paz came on for Landry Houssou and Garay, respectively, in an attempt to bring more attackers on to overwhelm the Hounds defense. Pittsburgh brought on substitutes to counter which they did for a time, but Loudoun could not find anything to put past Daniel Vitiello.
Loudoun (2-11-0) stay on the road to play at the Tampa Bay Rowdies next Saturday, July 24 at 7:30 pm at Al Lang Stadium.
Box Score
USL Championship Regular Season - Game 13
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1 (Dikwa 6)
Loudoun United FC 0
Lineups:
Pittsburgh (4231): Daniel Vitiello; Jalen Robinson, Shane Wiedt, Preston Kilwien, Daniel Rovira; Daniel Griffin, Todd Wharton (Louis Perez 75); Alex Dixon, Albert Dikwa (Thomas Williamson 76), Kenardo Forbes (C); Russell Cicerone (Anthony Velarde 75)
Loudoun (3412): Jermaine Fordah; Alexxon Saravia (Tyler Gabarra 73), Timmy Mehl (C), Robby Dambrot; Ted Ku-DiPietro, Landry Houssou (Kimarni Smith 45), Jeremy Garay (Darluis Paz 45), Matt Di Rosa (Jacob Greene 51); Michael Gamble (Massimo Ferrin 58); Giovanni Montesdeoca, Kairou Amoustapha
Bookings:
Pittsburgh - Rovira 68
Loudoun - Di Rosa 8, Saravia 42, Smith 77