Reggae Boy Kelly’s brace gives Riverhounds emphatic win

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (CMC):

Veteran Jamaican marksman Dane Kelly netted a double to move his tally for the season to six as Pittsburgh Riverhounds thrashed Atlanta United 2, 4-0, in the United Soccer League here Saturday night.

Playing in front of 5,200 spectators at Highmark Stadium – the largest post-pandemic crowd seen at the northeastern United States venue – the 31-year-old Kelly netted on either side of the break while Luis Argudo (29th) and Russell Cicerone (76th) added strikes to complete the rout.

The victory was a critical one especially coming on the heels of Pittsburgh’s first defeat of the season last week at Las Vegas Lights and another loss last Tuesday to Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati US in the Open Cup.

“We lost two in a row, and we definitely didn’t want to lose three in a row, especially being at home,” Kelly said afterwards.

“Before the game, Bob (head coach Bob Lilley) talked to us about how many fans were here and that we needed to impress them. That’s what we did.”

Kelly put the hosts ahead in the 20th minute following a slick build-up. Daniel Rovira clipped a ball out to the right side of the 18-yard box, where Alex Dixon collected and squared into the box for Kelly to rifle home his shot from eight yards.

The hosts doubled their lead nine minutes later, a long, searching ball out from the centre circle finding Nathan Dossantos wide on the left, and the 23-year-old Canadian whipping his cross into the box for the advancing Argudo to bundle in from close range.

Up 2-0 at the break, Pittsburgh heaped more pressure on Atlanta when Kelly found the nets again in the 56th minute, latching on to a through-ball from fellow countryman Kenardo Forbes and coolly slotting past goalkeeper Vincent Reyes.

Kelly’s sixth goal of the campaign left him tied with Las Vegas’ Danny Trejo at the top of the scoring charts.

ENERGETIC

With the game already out of reach for the visitors, Cicerone scored the fourth with a quarter of an hour remaining, producing a composed finish from 10 yards after being put through by the energetic Forbes.

“I’m glad we were able to reward the crowd. It was great that we had that many fans here,” Lilley said.

“I think the energy in the stadium really helped us get through that second half and see the game through.”

In the southwest, Jamaican midfielder Kevon Lambert also scored as Phoenix Rising came from behind to beat Miami FC 2-1 at Phoenix Rising Stadium in Chandler.

Joshua Pérez gave the visitors a 27th-minute lead before Lambert equalised on the stroke of half-time, tapping in from close range after Miami failed to clear after a save from goalkeeper Connor Sparrow.

Luis Seijas then wrapped up the points for the hosts with two minutes of regular time remaining when he unleashed a spectacular left-footed, long-range drive that left Sparrow with little chance.

Pittsburgh are second in the Eastern Conference with 16 points, two adrift of leaders Louisville City while in the Western Conference, Phoenix are fourth on 15 and three behind leaders Colorado Springs.