An announced crowd of more than 5,000 for the home opener at Highmark Stadium saw the Pittsburgh Riverhounds top Hartford Athletic 3-1 Saturday evening.
The triumph put the Riverhounds at 2-1-2. It was their second victory in a row, and their eight points puts them in a tie for seventh in the United Soccer League Championship Eastern Conference standings.
“I’m really excited with what we’re starting to build here,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said. “I’m thankful and appreciative of those fans coming out. Hopefully, we can keep them coming out, keep them excited about the team. I thought, overall, it was a great night for our organization.”
Hartford Athletic, a first-year team in the USL, dropped to 0-6-0. It’s goal differential, now at 11 in favor of its competition, ranks last in the conference.
Midfielder Kevin Kerr scored the game winner in the 74th minute off an assist from Ryan James.
Neco Brett then added some insurance seven minutes later on a penalty kick. It was his second score of the season. His penalty-kick goal last week against Louisville City was the lone one of the match in a 1-0 victory.
Steevan Dos Santos got the Riverhounds on the board in the 14th minute with a goal assisted by Kerr. The assist was Kerr’s 25th with the club, tying him with David Flavius for the all-time record.
“I never knew that. It’s nice,” Kerr said. “You stay around somewhere long enough, you start to rack up some records.”
Pittsburgh outshot Hartford Athletic 6-2.
Conference leader St. Louis FC (4-1-1, 13 points) pays a visit to Highmark Stadium next Saturday at 7 p.m. St. Louis lost for the first time this season with a 3-2 setback to Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday.
