A sparse-but-vocal crowd showed up Tuesday at Highmark Stadium to watch a second-round U.S. Open Cup match between the host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and fourth-division amateur club Virginia Dream FC out of the National Professional Soccer League.
The idea that this game would be one sided because of the pro/amateur angle could give the wrong impression. The Dream FC has a roster with some talented ex-professionals, including defender Michael DeShields who was the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.
The Riverhounds’ tie-in with this? Hall of fame member David Kasper was the GM of D.C. United who selected him while at Wake Forest.
With all that said, it was a kid from Bradford, England, who made the most of his time on the pitch. Riverhounds midfielder Eliot Goldthorp registered a goal as the local 11 used a pair of second-half goals to come away with a 2-0 win and a ticket to next round in the chase for the Lamar Hunt trophy.
Both clubs got things underway in front of an announced crowd of 1,817, and much of the first 45 minutes were dominated by the professionals, who pressed the gas on offense. Goldthorp had several close calls, beginning in the 29th minute when his shot froze Dream FC goalkeeper Hector Guerrero, who watched it go just wide of the far post. Six minutes later, Danny Griffin fed Goldthorp a cross that he got a good header on, but Guerrero was there to make the save.
Goldthorp ended the first half with another opportunity, but, again, his challenge was met by Guerrero and the clubs went into the locker room scoreless.
Goldthorp came out in the second half firing away again, with near misses to break the ice in the 48th and 49th minutes, the latter being a direct kick from just outside the box that dipped just a bit too late and went over the crossbar.
It all changed in the 51st minute as Robbie Mertz sent a direct kick along the far wing, nearly 30 yards on a beeline to the back side of the far post of the 6-yard box, where Danny Griffin broke free and poked it past Guerrero for the game’s first score. It was the captain’s fourth career Open Cup strike, tying him for the all-time club mark in the event with his head coach Rob Vincent.
“I didn’t know that.” a surprised Vincent told the media afterward. “He’s probably played a lot more Open Cup games than me, so my ratio (of scoring) is better. Sometimes the best ball is to put it right in the area. Sometimes they want to make it perfect. Just get the ball in the area, and that’s what he (Robbie) did.
Goldthorp kept pressing on the attack. iIn the 58th minute, the two-time All-American from Hofstra made a move toward the 18-yard box and got just inside when he was tackled from behind and a penalty was awarded. His right foot delivered a hard strike that easily beat Guerrero to his lower left and gave the Hounds some breathing room at 2-0.
“Anytime I do get the ball, my first thought is kind of score, kind of assist, kind of play forward pass.” Goldthorp said. “So, I’m always have that belief in myself that a goal is going to come at any moment. I think that’s something that I’m good at, and that’s what I can give to the team.”
Now, Pittsburgh must wait until Thursday morning to see who and where they will play a round of 32 Open Cup match, one that most likely will offer an MLS side as the opposition. The last of their four-leg, 11-days run of matches concludes Saturday when they hit the road to face the Indy 11. The game will start just after 7 p.m. and can be seen on KDKA .