VAUGHAN, Ontario (July 8, 2015) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds notched a second successive shutout win Wednesday night with a 2-0 victory over Toronto F.C. II in the Baby Reds’ inaugural game at the recently renovated Ontario Soccer Centre.
Kevin Kerr fired home his seventh goal of the season to give the Hounds a great start on nine minutes. Defender Anthony Arena capped a 100-yard sprint on the counter attack to slide home the clincher in injury time after Toronto had thrown every player forward for a corner kick.
Pittsburgh’s second away victory of the year lifts them to a 7-5-4 record (25 points) ahead of Sunday’s trip to F.C. Montreal at Stade Saputo.
Mike Green’s long throw-in led to the opening goal. Hamilton, Ontario native Miro Cabrilo flicked the ball toward the center of the 6-yard box before Fejiro Okiomah nudged it onward. Kerr pounced to strike a sharp finish beyond goalkeeper Alex Bono.
A sweeping Hounds move almost led to a second goal on 17 minutes. Rob Vincent and Stephen Okai moved the ball out to Kerr on the right. Willie Hunt charged forward on the overlap before finding Cabrilo with his cutback. The Canadian forward spun his marker inside the box before a covering Reds defender recovered to block his shot.
Vincent missed a chance to double the lead on 23 minutes when he met a Danny Ealrs inswinging corner kick. The Englishman’s header drifted narrowly wide of the far post.
The Hounds enjoyed the better of the possession and chances during the first period, outshooting the hosts by 8-2. That pattern continued after the interval. Vincent again went close with a left foot shot that sneaked inches wide on 51 minutes.
Toronto found its groove as the second half progressed without forcing Hounds goalkeeper Calle Brown into action. A late flurry led to a corner kick in stoppage time that saw goalkeeper Bono joining the attack.
Kerr took possession of a clearance deep on the left of midfield with Bono and his defenders giving chase. None of them could keep up with the streaking Arena who surged onto Kerr’s pass before slotting the ball into the empty net.
The Hounds will train in Toronto Thursday morning before driving on to Quebec for Sunday afternoon’s meeting with F.C. Montreal. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. Fans can watch a live stream of the game on Riverhounds.com.
FIFA Women’s World Cup finalist Meghan Klingenberg will be our special guest on July 18 when the Hounds return home to face Louisville City at 7 p.m. Tickets are selling fast.
-By Riverhounds PR Staff