Alex Dixon scored in the 87th minute to help the Pittsburgh Riverhounds salvage a 3-3 tie in a matchup with the Charleston Battery on Saturday night at Highmark Stadium.
Tommy Williamson sent an overhead volley from the right side of the penalty area to Dixon, who sent a one-touch rocket to the top corner of the net with three minutes left in regular time.
The second-place Riverhounds (14-7-6) are seven points behind Tampa Bay and three points ahead of Miami in the USL Championship’s Atlantic Division. Charleston (8-9-7) is in fifth place.
The Riverhounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the match was 30 minutes old.
Russell Cicerone sent a long cross from the right wing to Todd Wharton at the far post for a goal in the sixth minute.
In the 27th minute, a Kenardo Forbes corner kick went from the head of Cicerone at the back post to the head of Shane Wiedt in the middle of the goal mouth to make it 2-0.
From there, Charleston snatched momentum in a stunning fashion.
Late in the first half, Leland Archer flicked in a corner kick with the back of his head to make it 2-1.
In the 68th minute, Claudio Repetto headed in a bouncing free kick at the back post to tie the score.
In the 81st minute, Repetto struck again, hitting a falling half-volley from the penalty spot to give the Battery a 3-2 advantage and setting the stage for Forbes’ late heroics.
The Riverhounds will visit Miami in a battle for second place at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday.
