This is a little bit of a different match report for me, so indulge me a bit. First let me state that I'm probably going too irate some nerves in the front office of the Hounds organization with a complaint. I'm sorry if I do but it's a legit question and one that I would like an answer to.
The second way this report differs from the usual drivel I write for this fine website is that I spent the last half of the game sitting with the Mutts and the rest of the Hounds Hooligans. It was a nice change of pace and gave me a perceptive I don't normally get sitting in the press box.
First my question. As I walked into the game I was handed a piece of paper with various cheers and songs on it by one of their employees. In big black bold letters it asked me to "Listen and Join In On the Fun!" Ok, don't mind if I do.
I was thinking that a cheerleader or at least an intern with a bullhorn to help the crowd along would do the cheers, but there was no break in the usual music and announcements. Another Hounds employee or intern informed me that they had passed out some 250 sheets but with no one to lead the cheers it seemed a moot point.
Suddenly the Hounds are knocking on the door for a playoff spot. They were able to win their fifth consecutive game, a new franchise record, off a Thiago Martins goal in the tenth minute of play. Martins is now tied for the league lead in points, 31, and also became the Riverhounds all time record holder for goals in a season (14) with his goal last night.
The newfound success to the Hounds, according to Justin Evans is interim coach Ricardo Iribarren; "He's like David Blaine, the magician, right now."
At first I thought the Hounds were a bit undersized. The Syracuse Salty Dogs appeared to be the bigger of the two teams and easily run through the midfield for most of the first half. It only took them five minutes to record their first shot of four in the first half.
Five minutes later it was the Hounds that would draw the only blood of the evening. Ricardo Villar would cross the ball to Gary DePalma on the right side. His pass got a little help from Syracuse defender Lars Lyssard, whose misplayed header gave DePalma some space to perfectly pass the ball to Martins. Martins easily tapped the ball past the onrushing keeper for the goal. Martins later thanked DePalma for the "perfect ball."
The Salty Dogs best chance came in the 30th minute of play. Shooting from the arc Michael Millwood's shot beat goalkeeper Randy Dedini and struck the post on his left only to go out of bounds.
Pittsburgh would threaten again the 38th minute, Martins danced around the Dogs Mike Kiamse and found himself one on one with keeper Paul Nagy. Nagy timed his run perfectly and stuffed Martins at the edge of the six-yard box.
The first half ended without much more occurring.
I decided that during the second half I would mosey on over to the Hounds Hooligans and visit with the Mutts and other diehards, who were banging drums and signing their lungs out.
The early part of the second half would be all Pittsburgh, it started with two good shots by Gary DePalma in the 49th and 51st minute. The second shot was like something out of the "Matrix" as he twisted in air to get off the shot.
Syracuse would attack in the 57th minute as defender Michael Green was beaten by Gabriel Valencia. Keeper Randy Dedini quickly smothered Valencia's cross. Three minutes later, Michael Millwood would shoot from 20 yards out and watched helplessly as the ball just cleared the crossbar.
The home crowd nearly erupted again as a Ricardo Villar attempt would force Nagy to dive for it but his untouched shot sailed wide in the 64th minute.
Michael Millwood nearly tied it up in the dying seconds of the 66th minute when his rising shot went through Randy Dedini's fingertips and chipped the paint off the crossbar before going out. Syracuse was unable to do much with the corner that followed. Millwood's shoot would be the last time that the Salty Dogs would threaten the Pittsburgh net for the rest of the night.
Pittsburgh would have one last attempt in the 87th minute, Martins realizing that Nagy was far off his line tried a long shot from some 40 yards out. He nearly pulled it off but his shot went wide.
Notes and comments
Sitting with the Mutts/Hooligans for the second half of the game was a lot of fun. Some of my favorite moments was chant of "Score one for Sherri!", who is Midfielder Joey Worthen's girlfriend.
Another moment I won't soon forget was when they offered Salty Dog midfielder Shaun Tsakiris some balloons to play with and threatened to take his lucky charms. Tsakiris was a bit shorter than the man defending against him.
Don't ask me how or why, but a stuffed green frog has taken on magical powers. One of them, sorry but I don't remember his name, told me that the Hounds have not lost since the frog has been coming to the games. Here's hoping the "rally frog" can make it to every game here on in.
SHOTS 1 2 TOTAL
SYRACUSE 4 3 7
PITTSBURGH 4 4 8
Substitutions
Team Minute Player In Player Out
Pittsburgh 61 Worthen Chulis
Syracuse 63 Tsakiris Gentile
Syracuse 70 DelGado Kirmse
Pittsburgh 72 Flavius Korol
Syracuse 74 Mack Millwood
Pittsburgh 79 Potteiger Jacquette
Syracuse 83 Bardales Neto
Pittsburgh 89 Glowienka DePalma
Cautions/Ejections
Team C/E Minute Player Reason
Pittsburgh C 22 Chulis UB
Syracuse C 45 Lyssand UB
Pittsburgh C 52 Korol UB
Syracuse C 53 Semedo UB
Syracuse C 81 Cooks DT
Pittsburgh C 85 Martins UB
Pittsburgh C 86 Villar DT
