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Riverhounds Still Looking For 1st Win, Fall 2-1 To Orlando City B

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The Riverhounds dropped their second home game of the young 2016 season, losing 2-1 to Orlando City B Friday night at Highmark Stadium.

The Hounds were playing a man short for the majority of the game. Midflielder Kevin Kerr was shown a red card for a sliding tackle on Orlando's Tyler Turner midway through the first half.

The ref's decision to send Kerr off did not sit well with the players or Hounds coach Mark Steffens.

"Fine me, it was a terrible call," Steffens defiantly said afterwards when venting his frustration over the game's officiating.

Pittsburgh seemed disoriented and struggled to find their footing after Kerr's sending off and Orlando quickly capitalized, making it 1-0 in the 40th minute.

Tyler Turner picked up the ball in the midfield and breezed through the Hounds' defense before slotting it past Hunter Gilstrap low to the far post.

The Hounds have surrendered the opening goal in all of their games this season and that changes the way a team has to play said Romeo Parkes after the game.

"That's really difficult for us, the three games we had to chase, it is not good enough," he said.

Pittsburgh came out in the second half determined to get the equalizing goal despite being down to 10 men and created some scoring chances early. The best of which saw Parkes connecting with a Conor Branson cross, but his header was well saved by Orlando goalie Mark Ridgers.

Any chance of a comeback was diminished in the 67th minute when Turner got his second goal of the night to double Orlando's lead. Turner got on the end of a cutback pass from Hadji Barry to make it 2-0 to the visitors.

However, there was some late hope for the Riverhounds. Parkes won a penalty and converted it at the beginning of second half stoppage time. Ultimately, it was too little, too late for the Hounds, who failed to get an equalizer in the short remaining time left in the game.

Mike Green did have one last chance, but his shot was blocked off the goal line by an Orlando defender.

The Hounds seem to be repeating the trend of getting off to slow starts, failing to win in their opening three games. It will not get easier for Pittsburgh as they have two games on the road this week. First, they will travel to Louisville City Wednesday night. The Hounds then will head down south the play the Charleston Battery on Saturday evening.

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