Three goals in the latter half of the opening forty-five minutes allowed Pittsburgh Riverhounds to slip past Philadelphia Union II at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday night. Steeven Dos Santos scored twice and Kenardo Forbes set the USL Championship assists record with helpers on two goals.
Sven Gartung handed Quinn Sullivan and Brandan Craig their first USL starts up front and at right fullback respectively. The goalies continued to rotate with Mitch Budler returning between the sticks.
It was a difficult first half for Gartung's young team with Axel Picazo providing the only outlet down the left. Pittsburgh controlled the ball and organized well to prevent counterattacks. The home side broke through when Dos Santos finished to Budler's left from deep in the box. Defender Thomas Vancaeyezeele was on the scoresheet next, nodding home Forbes' corner.
Dos Santos closed out the half with a cheeky outside-of-the-foot finish from 35 yards out after a miscommunication between Jamoi Topey and Budler.
Gartung started the second half with three subs, bringing on Paxten Aaronson, Jack Jasinski, and Anton Sorensen. The latter immediately got to work down the left and fired the team's first two shots on frame.
Aaronson also had a chance to fire home but lifted his chance over the goalframe off a feed from Danny Flores.
The final Pittsburgh goal came off the left foot of Ryan James after a corner was played back into the box.
Gartung's men return to action on August 5th against New York Red Bulls II at Subaru Park in a match that will be streamed live on ESPN+.
