Kevin Kerr celebrates his successful penalty in front of the Steel Army section. — PAUL WINTRUBA/RIVERHOUNDS
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Sights, sounds and the scene at Highmark Stadium …
• Kevin Kerr converted a penalty and set up emphatic strikes by Robbie Vincent and Tyler Pasher in the Riverhounds’ 5-1 rout of Toronto FC II tonight, raising the team’s goal total through five matches to 13, third-most in the USL.
Which is pretty much what Mark Steffens had promised for his first season in Pittsburgh.
“We have that capability and mindset,” the coach was telling me on the pitch afterward. “We want players playing to their strengths, and we want to attack. I thought we did that from the start.”
They did, but they also were down at the 17-minute mark to the developmental club of Toronto’s MLS franchise: Mo Babouli, a swift, strong 22-year-old forward who looked like he already belongs on the parent roster, easily converted in front of a backpedaling Willie Hunt and Anthony Arena.
Everything changed in the 41st minute, when Kerr was tripped from behind by Toronto’s Tarik Robertson: Kerr planted his shot casually inside the right post and, because Robertson earned a red card for a violation as the last man back, the visitors had to play with 10 men for the duration.
From there, in Steffens’ words, “We had a blast.”
Sure looked like it:
• The tiebreaking goal by Vincent, in the 56th minute, was the prettiest on a night with plenty of company: Kerr emerged at midfield with a three-on-two advantage and, upon luring both Toronto defenders his way, sweetly dished into space to his left and allowed Vincent to sprint into a rocket.
“I was just putting it somewhere I knew Robbie could do damage,” Kerr said. “He did.”
Kerr had three goals, Vincent two, in the Riverhounds’ opener, their other five-goal output. Not coincidentally, with both quiet between then and now — especially Vincent — the offense was limited to a goal a game. That won’t cut it, not with how well they fit Steffens’ preference for rapid, aerial counterattacks. In this context, Kerr and Vincent can’t be supplementary players, as they might have been viewed beforehand. They’ve got to lead.
• I’d identify Pasher with a position — he’s technically a full-back — except that would be silly. He roams all over the pitch as if he’s traversing the northern ice floes of his native Canada.
Any reins on him at all?
“On Tyler?” Steffens replied. “Wouldn’t matter if I did.”
Two minutes with Pasher about tonight, his style and a recent summons to Team Canada:
• Matt Dallman’s run of lousy luck only multiplied: He finally appeared in his first match after needing a month to recover from a hip injury and, only 23 minutes into this one, injured his left ankle and emerged on crutches to congratulate his teammates. Steffens didn’t sound optimistic about a speedy return.
In Dallman’s stead, expect Danny Earls to continue delivering most of the crosses and corners.
• Tickets sold for the game were 1,639, but the actual crowd looked to be about two-thirds that. I’m told that advance sales are looking up deeper into the summer, but consider this yet another sign of how hard the Riverhounds have to work not only to unite a ridiculously divided local soccer community — all fragmented based on valuable youth instruction dollars — as well as convincing the general public they’re here to stay in the aftermath of bankruptcy.
Much work remains on both counts, to put it mildly.
Three seasons at Highmark Stadium, and this may have been the most fun. The Hounds were clearly the better side and they they decided to let that show on the score sheet. I can't believe the calibre of player that Steffens has convinced to play in Pittsburgh. More than a few guys on that roster that could probably by plying their trade elsewhere.
It helps that Steffens' Dutch-based attacking style allows his players -- not just Pasher -- so much freedom. Athletes love having a license to create.
matt.gajtka
4-25-2015, 11:08 pm
DK on the scene = 5 goals on the board.
Pasher is a revelation...he's taken that burst up another level from the preseason. A blast to watch.
Red card is negative but not that bad. I have watched many teams hold their own after a Red Card and even score to win a game with 10. Say you are playing 4-4-2 and a player gets a Red Card. Switch to 4-4-1 and your defense is pretty much the same, you just lose a striker.
BuccoAficionado
4-26-2015, 10:50 am
JAL, just as often the team that goes a man down presses to equalizes after going down, or is just overwhelmed by the other side, and 5-1 or worse score lines happen. Usually in a soccer story, a team going a man down is included in the lede; the impact on the game is that dramatic.
BuccoAficionado
4-26-2015, 11:00 am
I should add a man going off early, i.e. the 41st minute, is that important to the eventual score line/outcome.
JAL
4-26-2015, 12:23 pm
When a team is behind and presses they can give up scores when 11 on 11 because they move more players forward leaving them open to counter-attack. Opta and Castrol Performance Analysts found that from 1992 to 2000 a team even who loses a player in the first 60 minutes goes on win 11.8% of the time.
BuccoAficionado
4-26-2015, 7:28 pm
Sure JAL, when a Chelsea or Arsenal go a man down against a minnow (using EPL as an example), there is most of your "Castrol" or whatever 11.8%. When two teams are on equal footing or one is superior, lopsided scores usually occur when the red card booking happens early in a match. I don't need dilapidated data disputing an undeniable futbol fact, he said dripping with alliteration.
steeltalk
4-25-2015, 11:42 pm
That cross by Earls, I believe, was great. I've never seen the RH, going to have to change that. Shout out soccer fans- subsciber outing.
Problem is, if you follow Pasher, you kind of lose the flow because he's all over the pitch. Heck, he couldn't even stand still in that interview up there! But I agree.
Jason Jones
4-26-2015, 7:16 am
Did I miss the Saturday site stuff post? I don't see it. Its my second favorite post of the week after the Friday insider.
No, but I did. I chose to drive rather than fly to New York and, in doing so overnight both ways, flat-out forgot all about it. It'll be back.
Jason Jones
4-26-2015, 3:11 pm
Thanks!
DFlash02
4-26-2015, 7:22 am
What a shame about Dallman. He has such great control of the ball for corners, crosses, anything aerial really. Was such a joy to watch last year. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.
Even in the short time he played last night, his presence is obvious. You described his abilities perfectly.
Mark
4-26-2015, 8:41 am
wish they had this when I was still in the area. would have been a lot of fun to go to a game. soccer supporter sections are what all sports teams should have
It's talked about constantly. Seems now to be more of a question of when they pull that trigger.
Dejan Kovacevic
4-26-2015, 10:42 am
It's been discussed. Won't happen this season.
Aerow
4-26-2015, 12:03 pm
To be successful, and even survive, the Riverhounds need much more than simply the youth soccer market. Although a major part of the bankruptcy reorganization plan was increased revenue from their youth soccer programs. I'm not sure if that's realistic. I would not be surprised if they have maxed out that market.
Even depending on the youth soccer market for attendance is dicey. Families heavily involved in soccer often can't get to games. For example, last weekend was a huge tournament weekend. I counted 64 girls teams from PA West attending the Nike Cup in Ohio. My daughter was playing at PDA in New Jersey and there were more PA West teams there. This weekend is the boys weekend at the Nike Cup and I bet there are easily over 50 boys teams in Ohio. Plus the spring season is in full swing and there are lots of games late on Saturdays and even on Sunday.
It's really not going to be easy but the Hounds have to expand beyond the youth market and the even smaller soccer fan market. A high scoring fun game to watch will certainly help I would think.
It frustrating that the team isn't doing more to reach the young adults that are staying in town after college in greater numbers. With the amount of people staying in the area due to a growth of tech and healthcare jobs, there is a potential fan base that just needs to be breached.
espo.steelarmy
4-27-2015, 9:00 am
Well said. In fact, they need to basically forget about the adult PA West leagues too. No matter what the Hounds do to court that group it just doesn't produce any return on investment. Marketing needs to go towards FANS not former and current athletes. The 18-35 market looking to get out and have a good time should be the target demographic. They need to market the "supporters" culture. That is what has worked in Seattle, Portland, Orlando, Detroit and the rest of the soccer clubs in North America who draw capacity crowds week in and week out.
Dejan Kovacevic
4-27-2015, 9:49 am
Fantastically put. Yes 1,000 times over.
DMFH
4-26-2015, 2:40 pm
Are the Hounds still doing an all-out rebranding or is that on the back burner now? The bankruptcy seems to have taken the momentum they built up with the new stadium. You never know what might give you a pick-me-up. Of course, winning will do that better than anything.
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, born and bred Pittsburgher and professional sports writer since 1990, was named one of the nation's top four columnists by the Associated Press Sports Editors (2011) and National Headliners (2013).
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
DK on Pittsburgh Sports is a subscription site. One month is $4, one year $24, three years $54. That last level is just $1.50 per month. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
April 25, 2015
On the scene: Another handful for Hounds
30by Dejan Kovacevic • On the scene • Tags: Riverhounds
Kevin Kerr celebrates his successful penalty in front of the Steel Army section. — PAUL WINTRUBA/RIVERHOUNDS
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Sights, sounds and the scene at Highmark Stadium …
• Kevin Kerr converted a penalty and set up emphatic strikes by Robbie Vincent and Tyler Pasher in the Riverhounds’ 5-1 rout of Toronto FC II tonight, raising the team’s goal total through five matches to 13, third-most in the USL.
Which is pretty much what Mark Steffens had promised for his first season in Pittsburgh.
“We have that capability and mindset,” the coach was telling me on the pitch afterward. “We want players playing to their strengths, and we want to attack. I thought we did that from the start.”
They did, but they also were down at the 17-minute mark to the developmental club of Toronto’s MLS franchise: Mo Babouli, a swift, strong 22-year-old forward who looked like he already belongs on the parent roster, easily converted in front of a backpedaling Willie Hunt and Anthony Arena.
Everything changed in the 41st minute, when Kerr was tripped from behind by Toronto’s Tarik Robertson: Kerr planted his shot casually inside the right post and, because Robertson earned a red card for a violation as the last man back, the visitors had to play with 10 men for the duration.
From there, in Steffens’ words, “We had a blast.”
Sure looked like it:
• The tiebreaking goal by Vincent, in the 56th minute, was the prettiest on a night with plenty of company: Kerr emerged at midfield with a three-on-two advantage and, upon luring both Toronto defenders his way, sweetly dished into space to his left and allowed Vincent to sprint into a rocket.
“I was just putting it somewhere I knew Robbie could do damage,” Kerr said. “He did.”
Kerr had three goals, Vincent two, in the Riverhounds’ opener, their other five-goal output. Not coincidentally, with both quiet between then and now — especially Vincent — the offense was limited to a goal a game. That won’t cut it, not with how well they fit Steffens’ preference for rapid, aerial counterattacks. In this context, Kerr and Vincent can’t be supplementary players, as they might have been viewed beforehand. They’ve got to lead.
• I’d identify Pasher with a position — he’s technically a full-back — except that would be silly. He roams all over the pitch as if he’s traversing the northern ice floes of his native Canada.
Any reins on him at all?
“On Tyler?” Steffens replied. “Wouldn’t matter if I did.”
Two minutes with Pasher about tonight, his style and a recent summons to Team Canada:
• Matt Dallman’s run of lousy luck only multiplied: He finally appeared in his first match after needing a month to recover from a hip injury and, only 23 minutes into this one, injured his left ankle and emerged on crutches to congratulate his teammates. Steffens didn’t sound optimistic about a speedy return.
In Dallman’s stead, expect Danny Earls to continue delivering most of the crosses and corners.
• Tickets sold for the game were 1,639, but the actual crowd looked to be about two-thirds that. I’m told that advance sales are looking up deeper into the summer, but consider this yet another sign of how hard the Riverhounds have to work not only to unite a ridiculously divided local soccer community — all fragmented based on valuable youth instruction dollars — as well as convincing the general public they’re here to stay in the aftermath of bankruptcy.
Much work remains on both counts, to put it mildly.
Share this: