On their way to a USL Championship title last fall, it looked like the Pittsburgh Riverhounds just couldn’t lose a penalty kick shotoout.
As it turns out, they can.
Goalkeeper Matt Levy stopped two of the four penalties he faced in the shootout, giving the Charlotte Independence a 2-1 win in USL Cup group stage play Friday night.
Under USL Cup rules, games tied after regulation go to a shootout with the winning team getting two points in the standings and the losing team getting one.
All things considered, the Riverhounds (1-0-1) were probably at least somewhat happy to get the point.
For one thing, they came in with a 1-9-5 record all-time against Charlotte (2-0). For another, they trailed most of the game after Christy Manzinga scored in the 22nd minute to give the Independence a 1-0 lead.
The Riverhounds found the equalizer in the 82nd minute when Albert Dikwa sent in a long cross from the right wing that Jorge Garcia buried with a left-footed shot.
In the shootout, Levy made saves on Robbie Mertz and Charles Ahl. Dikwa and Samuel Bassett converted their attempts. Charlotte, meanwhile, went 4 for 4 against Riverhounds keeper Mitchell Budler.
The Riverhounds are idle until hosting Miami FC on Saturday, May 30.