USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Game Day: Hounds vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

August 4, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


PITTSBURGH - What has become a regular top-of-the-East clash renews for the first time this season when the Tampa Bay Rowdies head north to face the Hounds as the USL Championship enters the final third of its season.

The Hounds enter the weekend still holding on to first place, but with the third-place Rowdies only three points back and with two matches in hand, Saturday's contest could give one team the inside track toward the top spot at season's end.

The match helps wind down the Summer of Soccer at Highmark Stadium, as the Hounds play the ninth of 10 home matches in a 13-game stretch that began at the start of June. The team will want to continue their almost-spotless home form - the Hounds are 11-1-3 at Highmark in all competitions this season - against a Rowdies team that has only won once in seven trips to Pittsburgh since 2015.

The Hounds got back on track after an early scare last week; the team scored four unanswered goals to rally for a 4-2 win over Memphis 901 FC. The source of the goals was a bright spot, as well, with scoring coming from different positions and situations. Joe Farrell scored the team's 1,000th all-time goal by hammering in a loose ball from a set piece, Dani Rovira's overlapping run put him in position for the second, JC Obregón notched his first since signing with the team at the start of July, and first-year striker Tola Showunmi found the net for the second straight game.

Attacking in numbers like that has been something coach Bob Lilley has preached, but he would also like to see his team return to its defensive strength after conceding multiple goals in three straight games. Boosting the defense is the return of Nate Dossantos and Luke Biasi, both of whom saw their first action last week after returning from injury, and the return of two lineup regulars will allow the Hounds to keep players fresh and adjust the lineup based on matchups.

On the other end of the field, the Rowdies will be playing their second match under the direction of newly appointed coach Nicky Law, who is only a year separated from facing the Hounds on the pitch as a member of the Rowdies and Indy Eleven prior to that.

Law's side has plenty of firepower for the Hounds to contend with, led by a trio of high-scoring players: J.J. Williams (eight goals), Cal Jennings (eight goals) and Charlie Dennis (seven goals). They will be shorthanded by one key player on the back end, however, as veteran defender Forrest Lasso is serving a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation.

Saturday's match will be Throwback Night at Highmark Stadium, presented by Zed's, so expect to hear plenty of your favorite 90s music hits and keep an eye out for other blasts from the past during the match. Prior to the game, we will recognize the next honoree as part of our Change Makers "Winning Women" series, wrestling coach Amanda Lebec, and KDKA meteorologist Mary Ours will be on hand to perform the national anthem.

The Tailgate Zone opens at 5 p.m. with food from Pizzeria Davide, and gates open at 6. Fans who enjoy collectibles will want to be in line early, as the first 500 fans through the gates will receive a limited edition Amo bobblehead.

Tickets for the game are still available through Ticketmaster or at the Highmark Stadium Box Office. The match will be shown live locally on Pittsburgh's CW and streamed nationally via ESPN+.

Match info

Riverhounds (11-4-8) vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (11-5-5)

Date: Saturday, Aug. 5

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Highmark Stadium

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Odds: Hounds +120 / Draw +220 / Tampa Bay +210 (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: #PITvTBR and #HOUNDTAHN

Check out the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 4, 2023


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