The Pittsburgh Riverhounds made a statement Saturday night against Philadelphia Union II when they defeated their cross-state rival, 6-0, to remain undefeated in 2020.
Pittsburgh (2-0), controlled 63% of the possession, scored two first-half goals, added four more in the second half, including two from Steevan Dos Santos six minutes apart, and outshot Philadelphia Union II (0-1-1), 15-4.
Displaying the form typical of a Bob Lilley-coached team, Ropapa Mensah scored the first goal of the game on a counter-attack in the 29th minute. Danny Griffin delivered a pass that led the forward enough for an easy shot past the goalkeeper.
How 'bout that for a counter?#PHIvPIT | @RiverhoundsSC pic.twitter.com/0nBRyGeMtp
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) July 19, 2020
Eight minutes later, it was Griffin on the scoring end as he tallied the second goal of the game. The Wethersfield, Conn., native finished off a pass-happy team attack with a left-footed strike through a group of Union players crowded in front of the net.
Bob. Lilley. Soccer.
That's it. That's the tweet.#PHIvPIT | @RiverhoundsSC pic.twitter.com/9Hr1cZpkf8
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) July 19, 2020
Pittsburgh continued to keep its foot on the gas in the second half. Kenardo Forbes fed Anthony Velarde in the 59th minute for Pittsburgh’s third goal of the night. Then Lukas Fernandes tallied his first professional goal eight minutes later when Griffin tallied his second assist of the night on a pass from the middle of the box.
PILE IT ON. #UNLEASH #PHIvPIT pic.twitter.com/JKrvZivuuc
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) July 19, 2020
Dos Santos took over from there. The veteran striker from Mindelo, Cape Verde, entered the game in the 81st minute and scored just seconds later. He tallied his second goal of the game six minutes after that to cap off the scoring for the Riverhounds in convincing fashion.
.@RiverhoundsSC putting on an absolute SHOW tonight ?.#PHIvPIT pic.twitter.com/War0As9uV6
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) July 19, 2020
The Riverhounds play their first home match of the season at 6 p.m. Wednesday when they host Indy Eleven at Highmark Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
