Riverhounds play to 2nd straight scoreless draw

Another match with a point, but also without a goal.

For the second consecutive game, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds played to a scoreless draw, this time at Rhode Island FC Saturday night.

The Hounds (0-3-2) now have one goal in five contests, but secured their second point of the young season.

Saturday marked the first time the Hounds traveled to expansion side Rhode Island and had their first matchup against former standout striker Albert Dikwa.

Dikwa scored 20 goals for Pittsburgh last season and is the reigning USL Championship Player of the Year.

While the Hounds kept Dikwa and the rest of the Rhode Island attack at bay, their struggles to find the net continued.

It wasn’t without a lack of chances, especially in the second half.

In the 77th minute, the Hounds were stoned twice by Rhode Island keeper Jackson Lee.

Lee stopped an initial shot by Edward Kizza and tipped a rebound attempt by Emmanuel Johnson over the crossbar.

In stoppage time, the Hounds appeared to have a chance at a counter, but Johnson was taken down by Rhode Island defender Collin Smith.

Both players were assessed yellow cards, Smith for the foul and Johnson for arguing for a red card.

Then, Kizza had a chance on a misplay on a clearance by Lee, but his long-range shot was cleared away from the net by the Rhode Island defense.

It was a chippy affair with eight yellow cards doled out, five to the Hounds and three to Rhode Island.

The Hounds will try once again to get an elusive first victory of 2024 next Saturday at Phoenix Rising FC.