DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - Duke continued their unbeaten run with a commanding 4-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday evening at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils (7-0-3) extended their winning streak to five matches while Pittsburgh (4-5-2) suffered their first loss in three games.
Alessandro Arlotti opened the scoring for Duke in the 48th minute with a well-placed header off assists from Kenan Hot and Jose Ortega. Aridon Racaj doubled the lead in the 60th minute, connecting with a cross from Drew Kerr and Trevor Burns. Ulfur Bjornsson then sealed the result with two late goals - first in the 79th minute from Thomas Vold's assist, followed by his second in the 84th minute with Jamie Kabussu providing the setup.
The first half saw Duke establish control early, with Hot testing Pittsburgh's defense with a shot in the 8th minute that sailed high. Max Simpson followed with another attempt in the 9th minute as the Blue Devils pressed forward. Pittsburgh's best chance came through Casper Svendby in the 49th minute, but his effort missed the target. The teams entered halftime scoreless despite Duke's seven first-half shots.
Duke's dominance materialized on the scoresheet after the break, starting with Arlotti's header just three minutes into the second half. The Blue Devils maintained their pressure, with Racaj's goal coming from a well-worked team move. Bjornsson's late brace highlighted Duke's superior finishing, with both goals showcasing clinical execution in the final third. Pittsburgh struggled to generate meaningful chances, managing just two shots on target throughout the match.
The final statistics reflected Duke's control, as they outshot Pittsburgh 19-8, including a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal. Both teams earned six corner kicks, while the match saw five yellow cards distributed - three to Pittsburgh (Albert Thorsen, Casper Svendby, and Jackson Gilman) and two to Duke (Jose Ortega and Kenan Hot).
Bjornsson's two-goal performance led all players, while Kabussu and Vold each contributed crucial assists. Duke goalkeeper Eryk Dymora recorded two saves for the clean sheet, while Pittsburgh's Jack Moxom made five saves despite conceding four goals. Hot was particularly active in midfield, generating multiple scoring opportunities throughout the match.
Duke's tactical approach emphasized wide play and quick transitions, effectively stretching Pittsburgh's defense. The Blue Devils' substitution pattern, including the introduction of Bjornsson, proved decisive as fresh legs helped maintain their high-pressing style. Pittsburgh attempted to counter through Svendby and Jakob Lopping but struggled to break through Duke's organized defensive structure.
The victory maintains Duke's impressive unbeaten start to the season, with the Blue Devils showing why they're among the conference's top teams. Pittsburgh's road difficulties continued, though they showed moments of promise through Gavin Wetzel and Tomas Bedouret's link-up play.
Duke's comprehensive performance featured contributions across the pitch, from Dymora's steady goalkeeping to Bjornsson's clinical finishing. The Blue Devils will look to extend their winning streak when they host Elon on October 7, while Pittsburgh aims to rebound in their next match at Stanford on October 11.