TEMPE, Ariz. -- After a commanding 3-1 victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads on Sunday night at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium, the Phoenix FC Wolves will remain at home this week in hopes of launching their first winning streak.
The Wolves will host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Pittsburgh (0-4-1) is looking for its first win, while Phoenix (2-3-1) will be trying to even its record with a second straight victory.
Phoenix got off to a fast start in Sunday night's victory, scoring six minutes into the match when Wilmington defender Uriah Bentick, trying to clear a cross from Wolves midfielder Scott Morrison, headed the ball into his own net.
Netinho scored in the 35th minute to make it 2-0, but Wilmington's Jamel Wallace cut the lead in half five minutes later.
Phoenix put the game away after Wilmington's Shawn Nicklaw got a red card for a hard tackle on Jose Ramos in the 60th minutes. The Wolves capitalized on their man advantage when Diego Faria scored in the 83rd minute.
The Phoenix defense held Wilmington (1-2-0) to just one goal off of four shots.
"This was really our most complete game of the season," said head coach David Robertson. "The players are really starting to play well together; they know and expect where everyone else will be on the field. They're comfortable out there and they are letting the game come to them instead of forcing it. We are in a great place right now, and we hope to keep growing and getting better as a team."
Friday's game will see starting goalkeeper Andrew Weber and defenseman Renan Felipe Boufleur eligible again after each sitting out a one-game red card suspension.
Forward Darren Mackie, who has played just 29 minutes in one appearance this season, remains questionable as he recovers from a groin injury. Beyond that, the Wolves are close to full strength. Ramos missed the first four games of the season with a dislocated toe, but has seen 134 minutes in the last two games and has made a significant impact with his footwork and ability to create scoring opportunities.
