USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Game Day: Hounds vs. Sacramento Republic FC

Published on July 7, 2023 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


PITTSBURGH - USL Championship eyes will be on Highmark Stadium this Saturday night, as the Riverhounds - tied atop the Eastern Conference - host Western Conference-leaders Sacramento Republic FC with the best overall record in the league at stake.

It is the third all-time meeting between the teams but the first in Pittsburgh, yet the surroundings won't be unfamiliar to some of Sacramento's regulars as former Hounds Danny Vitiello, Russell Cicerone and Shane Wiedt all return as Republic players. Vitiello currently leads the race for the league's Golden Glove, an award he won in Pittsburgh in 2020, and Cicerone is tied for second in the Golden Boot race with nine goals this season, a total he shares with former teammate Albert Dikwa.

Last year's meeting between the teams finished was played in the Californian capital, and the elder statesmen of each side, Rodrigo López of Sacramento and Kenardo Forbes of the Hounds, scored within three minutes of each other to settle the match as a 1-1 draw on Oct. 9 that served as a playoff tune-up for both clubs.

López will not take part in this year's meeting with an injury, and neither will his namesake midfielder for Sacramento, Arnold López, who is serving a one-match suspension. The Hounds, on the other hand, got good news with the return of Dikwa to full training this week. The team's top scorer was upgraded to questionable for this week, leaving only Gold Cup quarterfinalist Jahmali Waite ruled out completely ahead of match day.

The Hounds also added forward Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. ahead of the match, a signing designed to add more firepower to a team that is undefeated at home and in its last 10 league matches, but has only scored more than two goals in a match once during that stretch. The Republic will be a tough nut to crack, as Sacramento leads the league with just 11 goals allowed - one fewer than the Hounds - and has not given up multiple goals in a league match this season.

Fans who show up early to the Tailgate Zone will be able to enjoy $5 IC Light cans and $3 Auntie Anne's items, along with the usual assortment of refreshments and entertainment, from 5 p.m. until kickoff. Those specials are applicable to the Tailgate Zone only.

Gates will open at 6 p.m., and the pregame activity will include ball delivery from Pittsburgh Penguins broadcaster and Stanley Cup-winner Phil Bourque. Bourque will be signing autographs during the match near the East Gate as part of the 412 Celebrity Series, and hockey and soccer fans alike can stop down and say hello to "The Old 2-9er."

Tickets for the match are still available through Ticketmaster and at the Highmark Stadium Box Office, and the top-of-the-table showdown will be broadcast live on Pittsburgh's CW and streamed through their website in the Pittsburgh area. Out-of-market fans are still able to stream the match via ESPN+.

Match info

Riverhounds (8-2-7) vs. Sacramento Republic FC (9-2-6)

Date: Saturday, July 8

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Highmark Stadium

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Odds: Hounds +105 / Draw +230 / Sacramento +240 (FanDuel)

TV: Pittsburgh's CW

Streaming: ESPN+ (national), Pittsburgh's CW (local)

Live statistics: USL Championship Match Center

Live updates: @RiverhoundsSC on Twitter

Match hashtags: #PITvSAC and #HOUNDTAHN

Check out the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 7, 2023


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