By Terry O’Neil / Pittsburgh Riverhounds
By ADAM TROXTELL
A battle at the middle of the Eastern Conference standings turned into the most dramatic match of the season so far.
Three goals in stoppage time lifted the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to a sensational 6-5 win against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday. Kevin Kerr decided the all-Pennsylvania affair with minutes remaining, completing a miraculous turnaround.
The City Islanders were 3-0 up by halftime, as the goals were scored in a 10-minute interval. Yann Ekra, Danny DiPrima and Jose Maria Barril seemingly set the visitors up for a good night.
Three minutes into the second half, Rob Vincent struck back for the Riverhounds. Amara Soumah made it 3-2 in the 52nd minute, but Jason Plumhoff and later Garrett Pettis restored Harrisburg’s two goal lead.
Danny Earls scored his second goal of the night in the 90th minute, and Rob Vincent’s free kick a minute later equalized. Kerr’s goal rounded out a memorable night.
Here is more from this weekend’s action in USL:
LATE MENDIOLA STRIKE SINKS SWITCHBACKS
Last-minute drama was not reserved for Pittsburgh alone as LA Galaxy II benefited from a late strike to top the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 2-1.
Raul Mendiola struck in stoppage time, picking up a pass from Jack McBean in the box and sending a left footed shot into the net. Daniel Steres handed Los Dos a lifeline just before halftime with an equalizer in the 45th minute.
The hosts were forced to respond after Miguel Gonzalez handed the Switchbacks a surprise lead in the 17th minute. The result handed Galaxy II its fifth win in six matches.
ANOTHER WIN VS. MONTREAL KEEPS RHINOS UNBEATEN
The Rochester Rhinos have had FC Montreal’s number this season.
Steevan dos Santos struck in the ninth minute for the only goal necessary in a 1-0 Rhinos win, their third against Montreal this season. The Eastern Conference leaders now have four wins in their last six games and two draws.
Fortes shrugged off two defenders before slotting the game winner home. Montreal now has five losses in six games and is rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
KICKERS TOP RED BULLS II, GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS
In an effort to keep pace with the Rhinos, the Richmond Kickers got back to winning ways in a 4-2 victory against New York Red Bulls II.
Goals from Brian Ownby, Jason Yeisley and Eli Garner put the Kickers up 3-0 by halftime. George Davis sealed the deal with a converted penalty kick in the 66th minute.
Christopher Tsonis’ goal with about 10 minutes left kept things interesting, but it wasn’t enough to deny the Kickers from its first league win in three outings.
TIMBERS 2 BOUNCE BACK AGAINST ROUGHNECKS
Just as Portland Timbers 2 appeared to be heading toward a third straight defeat, up stepped Michael Nanchoff.
The on-loan Timbers player equalized in the 63rd minute and scored the winner in a 3-1 win against the Tulsa Roughnecks. Kyle Venter handed Tulsa the lead in the 17th minute before T2 was awakened from its slumber in the second half.
Nanchoff struck back before converting a penalty kick in the 74th minute to put T2 ahead. Kharlton Belmar applied the dagger in the 90th minute.
Here are the results from this weekend’s USL action:
Richmond Kickers 4, New York Red Bulls II 2
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 6, Harrisburg City Islanders 5
Rochester Rhinos 1, FC Montreal 0
Louisville City FC 1, Saint Louis FC 1
Charleston Battery 1, Wilmington Hammerheads 0
Tulsa Roughnecks 1, Portland Timbers 2- 3
Orange County Blues 1, Seattle Sounders 2- 1
Sacramento Republic 1, Real Monarchs 1
LA Galaxy II 2, Colorado Springs Switchbacks 1
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2- 2, Arizona United 0
OKC Energy FC 1, Austin Aztex 0