Important Early-Season Roadtrip Starts Tonight In Pittsburgh For Saint Louis FC

After two exciting wins at home, Saint Louis FC (2-0-1) goes on the road for two matches this week. The trip gets under way tonight in Pittsburgh at 6 PM (CST) against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1-1-1). Tonight’s game can be streamed live on YouTube.

After tonight’s match, STLFC will stay on the road face FC Cincinnati on Saturday at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The match will be the home opener in Cincinnati and can be seen live in St. Louis on KPLR 11. The match will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

After playing to a draw with Louisville City FC to open the season, the local club has won two games in a row in much the same fashion. In the home opener, Preki’s club took an early 2-0 lead on Ottawa Fury FC before finding the game tied late in the game. SIUE product Christian Volesky scored in stoppage time to send the 5,566 St. Louis fans on hand home happy.

Last week, a converted penalty in the 74th minute and an 84th minute goal from Seth Rudolph gave STLFC three points over New York Red Bulls II, the defending United Soccer League champions.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds started their season off in similar fashion to Saint Louis, drawing NYRBII 3-3. After a 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati in Week 2, Pittsburgh got their first win of the season last week, 2-1 in Charleston.

The Riverhounds added a player earlier this week that could make his debut tonight. Defender Joe Greenspan was loaned to Pittsburgh by Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer on Monday. Greenspan played his college soccer at the U.S. Naval Academy and is currently a member of the U.S. Navy Reserves. Riverhounds head coach Dave Brandt coached Greenspan at Navy.

Writing in Riverhounds blog The Howler, Anthony Picardi says Pittsburgh could rely on their counterattack against STLFC.

“Head coach Dave Brandt’s counterattack scheme is starting to hit its stride. This offensive approach culminated on Hertzog’s game-winning tally against Charleston on April 8. Pittsburgh will continue to rely on counterattack opportunities, such as this one, in its match against Saint Louis FC.”

Saint Louis FC has shown a strong prowess on the counterattack this season and Preki teams have been known for years as being very offensive-minded. This could lead to quite the exiciting game and maybe a comparison or two to 3-on-3 overtime in the NHL.

Saint Louis FC newcomer Jose Angulo played two seasons in Pittsburgh and is the club’s fourth leading scorer all-time. Angulo has started one game this season in St. Louis and came one just before the halftime whistle last week. He converted the penalty in the second half against NYRBII and assisted on Rudolph’s game-winner.

Christian Volesky leads Saint Louis FC in scoring with two goals and an assist on the season. Corey Hertzog leads Pittsburgh in scoring the three goals in three games. Volesky has taken two shots on the season, while Hertzog has amassed 13. The Riverhounds forward leads the USL in the category.

Need to get in the mood for tonight’s game? Listen to the latest episode of the This Is Silly! podcast from the St. Louligans.

Watch Saint Louis FC take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on April 12, 2017 below.

Saint Louis FC vs Pittsburgh Riverhound 4/12/17

 

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