PITTSBURGH – Miami FC came from behind to bring a point back to Florida after a goal late in the first half saw Miami manage a 1-1 draw with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Highmark Stadium on Saturday night.
It only took nine minutes for the Riverhounds to open the scoring as Russell Cicerone had the ball in the back of the net. The goal came largely thanks to the work of Alex Dixon whose run on the left allowed him to cross in for Cicerone who duly put it away.
Miami fought but took until the final 15 minutes of the half to start to threaten their opponents’ goal. In stoppage time the pressure told as Christiano Francois used his speed to get on the end of a through-ball. He beat his defender and then shot across the face into the back of the net to give his side a perfect spark into the break.
Both goals could have been avoided as just moments before the eventual goal scorer went very close to getting the goal, sending a warning that was not heeded by their opponent. Cicerone was just beaten to a header by Connor Sparrow. While before Miami’s goal a shot went agonizingly over the bar.
Miami again shot over the bar early in the second half but from then on it was Pittsburgh who looked the more likely side. They really took it to Miami around the hour mark, despite that they struggled to make that possession count with Sparrow doing well in the Miami net.
The visitors’ defense learned their lessons from the opening goal and stood firm to deny Pittsburgh and take what could be a valuable point when the season shakes out.
Photo courtesy The Miami FC
Florida Soccer Report 