The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC clawed back from a first-half deficit to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday night at Protective Stadium. A rare goalkeeping miscue put the Hounds behind early, but Augi Williams’ second-half equalizer, his fifth of the season, salvaged a deserved point on the road and kept Pittsburgh level at .500 on the year (7-7-7).
Birmingham opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Ronaldo Damus unleashed a knuckling shot from distance that slipped through the hands of Eric Dick. The Hounds dominated possession, holding 60 percent overall and 69 percent in the first half, but struggled to convert control into chances. Their lone first-half shot underscored a need for sharper execution in the final third.
Head coach Bob Lilley made tactical adjustments at the break, introducing Junior Etou and newly acquired forward Chase Boone, both of whom played pivotal roles in the tying goal. In the 66th minute, Etou won a key challenge in the Legion half and fed Boone on the left flank. Boone’s first-touch cross found Williams inside the six-yard box, where the veteran striker settled and rifled home his 81st career USL Championship goal, tying him for second all-time.
The Hounds nearly snatched a winner minutes later when Boone picked out Jackson Walti at the top of the box, but Walti’s shot sailed high. Dick redeemed himself with two crucial saves in the second half, including a composed stop through traffic in the dying minutes. Augi Williams earned Modelo Man of the Match honors, winning 7 of 14 duels and drawing three fouls in a gritty performance.
Pittsburgh continues its three-match road swing next Saturday, Aug. 30, with a trip to face the Tampa Bay Rowdies. With postseason positioning still up for grabs, the Hounds will look to build on their resilience and turn possession dominance into three points.