PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Sept. 8, 2018) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC gave a whole new meaning to Friday night lights.”

Normally reserved for the sport of American football, Friday night lights were shone on the field of Highmark Stadium. Pittsburgh hosted in-state rival, Bethlehem Steel FC, for a match. While Pittsburgh remains in a healthy playoff position, Bethlehem is attempting to keep a sixth-place slot.

Friday night didn’t help Bethlehem’s case.

Pittsburgh launched four goals past Steel FC goalkeeper John McCarthy.

Joe Greenspan scored his second goal in two straight matches in the 17th minute, kicking the scoring off for Pittsburgh. Kenardo Forbes, Neco Brett and Jordan Dover also found the back of McCarthy’s net. For Brett, the goal was his 14th of the year.

Dover’s goal was only his second of the season. After the match, the Canadian defender said that it was “finally nice to be rewarded for another good performance.”

“We’ve been performing fairly well over these past few games,” Dover said. “It’s just things haven’t quite gone our way. I think we’ve been a little bit unlucky.”

Dover — a former Rochester Rhino — connected with Ray Lee and Forbes on his goal. He said that playing with Forbes, who has been donning the captain’s armband with Kevin Kerr injured, is one “of the easiest things I’ve ever done.”

“It’s give him the ball and pretty much run forward,” Dover said. “It’s just waiting for the ball to appear in front of my feet and it’s always nice playing with him.”

“His vision is amazing.”

Goals scored: 4️⃣
Goals scored by: Joe Greenspan, Kenardo Forbes, @necobrettj, @J_dover
Points earned: 3️⃣ #PGHvBST pic.twitter.com/u3kIVlYYZK

— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) September 8, 2018

Lilley commends solid performance

Only one goal went past goalkeeper Michael Kirk.

In the 35th minute, James Chambers slid one past the goalkeeper on a penalty kick. The original foul was given up by Greenspan.

Other than the penalty kick, Bethlehem could not record another goal. The Steel FC took six total shots, with two registering on frame.

Kirk made one save against Chambers.

Bob Lilley, Riverhounds SC head coach, said that the match was overall open.

“We had good moments in the game where we looked dynamic, but frankly even at 2-1 up we were open,” Lilley said. “Had they came back and tied us again, we could have been in trouble… They had a lot of balls in space in the second half where had they been a little more clinical we would have been picked off a few times more in the second half.”

Overall, Forbes said that the victory is a “big win” for the team.

“We went four matches, drew three, lost one,” Forbes recalled. “It’s a big result at home.”

What’s Next?

Pittsburgh, currently sitting in second place of the USL Eastern Conference with 49 points, has another test at home against Louisville City FC, Saturday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m.

Louisville is right on Pittsburgh’s tail, sitting in third place with 47 points.

After the Saturday match, Pittsburgh has another home match at Highmark Stadium against Indy Eleven. The match will begin at 7 p.m. on Sept. 22.

PA Nights. #UNLEASH pic.twitter.com/wJDJ4jjPGp

— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) September 8, 2018

PHOTO: Joe Greenspan, left, celebrates his goal — the first of four for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC against the Bethlehem Steel FC — on Friday, Sept. 7, at Highmark Stadium. Photo courtesy of Chris Cowger/Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.

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