skip navigation

Hertzog Strike Leaves Riverhounds, Fury FC Level

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 10/14/17, 9:36PM EDT

Share

Pittsburgh standout notches 14th goal of season in 1-1 draw at Highmark Stadium


Photo courtesy Gracey Evans / Pittsburgh Riverhounds

PITTSBURGH – A late equalizer from Corey Hertzog helped the Pittsburgh Riverhounds earn a 1-1 draw against Ottaw Fury FC in what was the season finale for both squads at Highmark Stadium on Saturday. The opening strike came in the ninth minute when a free kick off the foot of Carl Haworth came in from the right wing and made its way through traffic to find Nicholas DePuy, who redirected it past Pittsburgh keeper Matthew Perrella for his second goal of the campaign – both of which came in the final five matches. Fury FC played from in front for over an hour before Eddie Edward and Kay Banjo came together near the edge of the box in the 76th minute. Riverhounds star Hertzog stepped up and buried the ensuing penalty to record his 14th tally of the season and put the two sides on level terms. Neither side was able to break the deadlock prior to the final whistle as Pittsburgh finished with a 8-12-12 mark overall (36pts) while Ottawa closed the year at 8-10-14 (38pts).

Scoring:
9’ – OTT – Nicholas DePuy (Carl Haworth)
77’ – PGH – Corey Hertzog (penalty)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. The goal marked the 27th for Hertzog in his two seasons with the Riverhounds as the former Orlando City man has continued to establish himself as one of the premier attacking forces league-wide. With several games yet to be completed around the league, Hertzog currently stands alongside Real Monarchs SLC standout Chandler Hoffman as the only two players to record at least 13 goals in USL play in each of the last two years.
     
  • 2. Despite Hertzog’s late intervention, the Riverhounds’ inability to secure results at Highmark Stadium reared its head one final time in the 2017 season. With the draw, Pittsburgh finished winless in its last four matches at home down the stretch, and heads into the offseason with just one victory in its last eight appearances at home overall. For the year, head coach Dave Brandt’s side posted four home wins, the second-lowest total in the Eastern Conference. Conversely, Ottawa saw yet another chance for three road points slip through its fingers and closes the season without a victory in its last 11 outings away from TD Place.
     
  • 3. The matchup between Fury FC and the Riverhounds was the lone fixture on the final weekend of regular season play that did not feature at least one team headed to the USL Cup Playoffs. Next season, Pittsburgh will be aiming to make its first playoff appearance since 2015 when the squad placed fifth in the Eastern Conference before falling to the upstart New York Red Bulls II in overtime, while Ottawa will look to build on the lessons learned during the club’s first season of USL competition.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Matthew Perrella, Pittsburgh Riverhounds – The reigning USL Save of the Week winner bounced back from conceding early to stop the last six shots he faced, keeping Pittsburgh within one goal and allowing Hertzog the opportunity to even the score

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos