PITTSBURGH – Aaron Molloy notched a goal and assist while Phillip Goodrum also found the net as Lexington SC rallied late for a 2-1 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in a preseason exhibition on Saturday afternoon at Highmark Stadium.

The Hounds took the lead in the 17th minute when Albert Dikwa opened the scoring for the Hounds. The 2023 Golden Boot winner was first to get to a long ball forward from goalkeeper Nico Campuzano and with little support produced a lobbed finish off the bounce that dropped under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.

Lexington nearly leveled three minutes later when a ball played across from the left side found Marcus Epps on the right, only for the veteran forward to strike his finish off the crossbar.

Campuzano was called into action in the second half as Lexington continued to threaten with three saves, the best being a diving stop to push behind a half-volley by Lexington’s Alfredo Midence in the 59th minute. The visitors finally pulled even in the 87th minute from a set piece, as Molloy served a ball into the box that Goodrum was able to head inside the near post.

The match appeared headed toward a draw before Molloy surprised everyone by going for goal with a booming free kick roughly 50 yards from goal. The perfectly placed drive stayed under the bar to put the visitors ahead with only a short stoppage time to play.

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES 1, SARASOTA PARADISE 0: Tampa Bay Rowdies midfielder Pedro Dolabella scored the only goal to lift the hosts to victory in the inaugural edition of the Cochol Cup, honoring former USL executive John Cochol, against Sarasota Paradise at Al Lang Stadium.

Rowdies forward Karsen Henderlong had a chances to put the hosts ahead in the 21st minute with a header inside the box that was parried off the line by Sarasota’s keeper. The visitors had their own quality chance on net 20 minutes later but were denied by Rowdies goalkeeper Austin Pack.

Dolabella finally broke the deadlock in the 65th minute. The Brazilian rose to meet a corner kick deftly delivered by teammate Marco Micaletto to the back post, powering it into the back of the net for his second goal of the preseason.

Dolabella celebrated the Rowdies go-ahead goal by running to the corner and proudly displaying an armband with the initials “JC” in memory of John Cochol worn by players from both teams on Saturday.

“It really puts things in perspective,” said Rowdies Head Coach Dominic Casciato. “For me personally, I’ve worked at every single level in the USL, from USL League Two, USL League One, and the USL Championship. I know all the good work that John did to grow the league and grow the game in this country. So, we’re just really delighted to be able to support his family.”

SPORTING CLUB JACKSONVILLE 2, CHARLESTON BATTERY 1: Kieran Sadlier scored the game-winning goal early in the second half as Sporting Club Jacksonville took victory against the Charleston Battery at Hodges Stadium.

Sporting JAX jumped out to an early lead as a defensive mistake on a long ball forward by the Battery allowed Ahmad Al-Qaq to break into space on the right, and his low cross intended for Sadlier was redirected into the net by a Charleston defender.

The Battery hit back shortly before halftime as Laurent Kissiedou found the net, but the hosts regained the lead seven minutes into the second half when Sadlier fired home into the top-right corner off an assist by Zeke Soto to earn Jacksonville the result.

SAN ANTONIO FC 5, HOUSTON DYNAMO 2 (2): Nelson Flores Blanco scored a pair of goals as San Antonio FC pulled away for victory against Houston Dynamo 2 at Toyota Field, while Santiago Patiño, Cristian Parano and Christian Sorto also found the net for the hosts.

SAFC capitalized on its early attacking pressure when Patiño finished off a free kick from Jorge Hernandez in the 14th minute. Houston followed with a pair of goals to take the lead before the break, but Blanco pulled the hosts level nine minutes after halftime as he shot home a long, direct pass from Mitchell Taintor at the the top of the box.

The El Salvador international added his second in the 74th minute with a headed goal off a corner kick to pull San Antonio back ahead before Parano added his name to the scoresheet with 10 minutes to go, finding space between a pair of Dynamo defenders to slot home. Five minutes later, some excellent team build-up play set up Emil Cuello for a low cross that Sorto tapped in to wrap up the scoring.

NEW MEXICO UNITED 2, COLORADO RAPIDS 2 (0): Dayonn Harris and Greg Hurst scored either side of halftime to earn New Mexico United victory against Colorado Rapids 2 at the Santa Ana Soccer Complex on Saturday afternoon.

Harris struck first in the eighth minute as he capitalized on a rebound inside the penalty area, burying the opportunity to give United the early advantage. United maintained its lead until the halftime break before Harris played provider, setting up Hurst five minutes into the second half to double the advantage.

Rapids 2 threatened to get back into the game in the final third of the contest, but New Mexico held firm defensively to see out the shutout and victory.

Preseason Results

Brooklyn FC 1, Loudoun United FC 0

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 4, Union Omaha 0