Joao Souza’s Brace Lifts Panthers To 3-1 Home Victory Over #19 Denver

Monday, September 25

Pittsburgh, PA

7 PM

Pitt

4-3-2, 1-1-1

#19 Denver

5-2-3, 1-0-0

Denver

Pittsburgh

Joao Souza’s Brace Lifts Panthers To 3-1 Home Victory Over #19 Denver

9/25/2023 9:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Photo Gallery

PITTSBURGH – Behind a brace from midfielder Joao Souza, the Pitt men's soccer team (4-3-2, 1-1-1 ACC) collected another home victory over a ranked opponent as they downed #19 Denver 3-1 on Monday night. The two-goal effort for Souza marked the first of his collegiate career as the Panthers improved to 4-1-1 at home on the year.

ESSENTIAL GAME INFO
Pitt starting XI: Cabral Carter, Jackson Gilman, Felipe Mercado, Albert Thorsen, Joao Souza, Mateo Maillefaud, Noah Hall, Filip Mirkovic, Mathys Lefebvre, Massimo Murania, Eben McIntyre
Denver starting XI: Dylan Akau, Jason Belloli, Dominic Kallay, Oje Ofunrein, Tyler Schommer, Sam Bassett, Lukas Fisher, Ian Smith, Aidan Semelsberger, Jake Smith, Isaac Nehme
Records: Pitt (3-3-2, 1-1-1 ACC) | #19 Denver (5-1-3, 1-0-0 Summit)
Location: Ambrose Urbanic Field | Pittsburgh, PA
Attendance: 704

SCORING INFO
Pitt Goals: Joao Souza 2 (3), Albert Thorsen (3)
Pitt Assists: Noah Hall (1), Filip Mirkovic (7), Jackson Gilman (2), Eben McIntyre (1), Santiago Ferreira (1)
Denver Goal: Jason Belloli (1)
Denver Assist: Sam Bassett (5)

HOW IT HAPPENED – FIRST HALF

The Panthers opened the scoring in the third minute as Noah Hall sent a cross into the box from the right wing and Joao Souza back heeled the ball into the left corner of the goal for his second of the season
In the 11^th minute, Eben McIntyre headed a Mateo Maillefaud cross towards the right corner but a Denver defender cleared it right off the line and out of play to save the goal
Pitt doubled the lead in the 14^th minute as Joao Souza finished his brace after a great long ball from Filip Mirkovic sent him in to the right of the Denver keeper. Souza beat the keeper to the left corner for his third of the season
Just over two minutes later, the Pioneers responded with a goal of their own as Jason Belloli headed home his first of the season after a great corner was sent into the box by Sam Bassett
In the 34^th minute, Felipe Mercado had a shot from the top of the box that just soared over the cross bar and out of play

HOW IT HAPPENED – SECOND HALF

The Panthers extended their lead to 3-1 in the 54^th minute as Albert Thorsen finished off a cross from Eben McIntyre with the left foot. Santiago Ferreira started the play with a great run and collected his first career assist on the play
In the 67^th minute, Massimo Murania had a great chance but his shot was blocked away by a Denver defender
The Pioneers had a pair of chances in the 85^th and 88^th minutes but Cabral Carter came up with a pair of big saves to preserve the home win for the Panthers

MATCH STATS

The two teams were tied with eight shots each while the Pioneers held the 6-2 edge in corner kicks in the win for Pitt
Massimo Murania and Joao Souza led the Panthers with two shots each in the win
Goalkeeper Cabral Carter made two saves in the win for the Panthers

MATCH NOTES

With the win, Pitt improves to 2-0-1 all-time against Denver
Pitt is now 47-2-3 when scoring the first goal of the match since the beginning of the 2019 season including a 4-1-0 record this season
Pitt improved to 36-5-6 (.830) at home since the start of the 2019 season. The .830 winning percentage is the best in the ACC and seventh best in the NCAA over the span
With his assist on Souza's second goal, senior Filip Mirkovic is now tied for the program lead with 26 career assists. He also leads the ACC and ranks second in the NCAA with seven assists on the year
Santiago Ferreira and Eben McIntyre each recorded their first career assists in the win for the Panthers

UP NEXT

Pitt stays at home Friday night as they welcome ACC foe North Carolina to Ambrose Urbanic Field for a 7:00 pm tilt. Friday's match will air live on ACC Network Extra