PITTSBURGH (June 3, 2017) – Orlando City B (4-4-3, 15 points) overcame an early goal from the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (4-5-3, 15 points) to take three points with a 2-1 victory Saturday night at Highmark Stadium. Hadji Barry scored his second goal of the season before assisting Zach Ellis-Hayden’s first professional goal in the second half.
“The players deserve enormous credit for the way they adapted to the conditions tonight. We spoke before the game that if Pittsburgh make it a battle then we out-battle and out-fight them, which is what we did, and if they try to make it a footballing game that we outplay them, which we did," OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis said. "We managed the game well in the second half, defended resolutely and ground out a really hard-earned three points."
Pittsburgh got on the board first when former Lion Corey Hertzog’s strong strike off Kevin Kerr’s corner delivery found the back of the net in the 30th minute.
OCB equalized 12 minutes later after a hectic play in the Pittsburgh box. OCB built up a nice spell of possession with several threatening looks, but it was the rebound off Danny Deakin’s shot from distance that fell to Barry, who slotted it past former Lions goalkeeper Trey Mitchell.
Zach Ellis-Hayden scored the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute. Austin Martz started the play by passing into the box to Barry, who one-touch passed to Ellis-Hayden at the top of the box. The Canadian right back fired a left-footed shot into the top corner to equalize.
“Zach Ellis-Hayden’s goal was a fantastic goal,” Pulis added. “A goal that’s worthy of winning any game. Delighted for him to get his first professional goal in such a fantastic moment.”
Goalkeeper Earl Edwards, Jr. had a strong evening in net, stopping several promising shots from the Riverhounds. The 43rd overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft tipped a hard shot over the bar early on and made three saves off Hertzog in the second half to preserve the lead. Edwards Jr. finished with a season-high eight saves.
In addition to Edwards Jr. and Barry, First Teamers Pierre Da Silva and Seb Hines were in the starting XI, while First Team defender Conor Donovan and midfielder Moussa Sane were available substitutes. Orlando City Development Academy product David Loera made his third appearance of the season when he came on for Martz in the 72nd minute.
The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Wednesday, June 7, against the Rochester Rhinos for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
