Chase Boone’s late finish in the 89th minute delivered a vital 2-1 road victory for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds over Hartford Athletic at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, Connecticut. The winner was Boone’s first goal for the Hounds and it moved Pittsburgh to a 9-9-7 record while extending their dominance over Hartford with a 13th win in 17 meetings. The result keeps the Hounds firmly in the playoff conversation and hands a tough blow to a Hartford side fighting for position.
The Hounds struck early when Charles Ahl opened the scoring in the third minute. A high diagonal from Luke Biasi found trouble in the box and Ahl was on the penalty spot to tuck a low finish past Hartford goalkeeper Antony Siaha. Hartford answered eight minutes later from a corner as Emmanuel Samadia delivered and Adrián Diz Pe timed a header into the center of the net to level the match at 1-1.
Defensive work set the tone for Pittsburgh through the half as Luke Biasi produced two game-saving moments. Biasi retreated to deny Michee Ngalina from getting the ball over the goal line in the 23rd minute and later nodded away a close-range chance at the back post. Biasi finished the night with five clearances and three recoveries and he also supplied the cross that led to Ahl’s early goal.
Hartford made a halftime change, bringing John Berner on for Siaha after a late collision. Chances were scarce in the second half, though Hartford’s leading scorer Kyle Edwards nearly tested the lead with a header that sailed just wide in the 67th minute. The decisive sequence arrived in the 89th minute when Bertin Jacquesson lofted a ball forward, Danny Griffin flicked it to Brigham Larsen, and after Larsen’s shot was blocked the rebound spilled to Chase Boone, who finished into an open net.
The match finished under tension after a late altercation between Hartford’s Marlon Hairston and the Hounds’ Danny Griffin following a tackle near the top of the box, and referee Greg Dopka ended the contest after conferring with both coaches while stoppage time remained on the board. Although the game was entered in the standings, the league could look into the late game incident. Luke Biasi was named Modelo Man of the Match for his defensive interventions and overall influence. The Riverhounds return home to Highmark Stadium to face Las Vegas Lights FC at 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 27.