Hounds Blank Birmingham, Win 2nd Straight

Sports stats



USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Hounds Blank Birmingham, Win 2nd Straight

March 29, 2025 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Riverhounds made it two wins in two home matches with a goal on each side of halftime, defeating the Birmingham Legion, 2-0, tonight at Highmark Stadium.

Robbie Mertz and Danny Griffin scored for the Hounds (2-1-1), goalkeeper Eric Dick made a pair of saves for his second straight shutout, and the Hounds remained unbeaten in six matches at home against the Legion (0-2-2).

The win was the 100th Hounds win at Highmark Stadium, which opened in 2013. The team holds a 100-49-55 record at their South Shore home.

First half

As with the team's previous three matches, the Hounds came out controlling the ball, holding 60.6 percent of possession in the first 45.

From the first corner of the match, defender Luke Biasi nearly got his first goal with a flicked header that missed just wide across the face of goal. Mertz created a chance with his work rate shortly afterward, winning the ball along the goal line and creating a shooting angle that forced a save by Birmingham's Matt Van Oekel.

In the 25th minute, Mertz set up Jackson Walti with a delicate pass to a wide area of the box, and Walti struck a shot that cracked the underside of the crossbar but stayed out of the goal.

Mertz got the Hounds on the board by following the play after Bradley Sample 's shot from 18 yards was blocked. The rebound came to Mertz on the left side, and he hit a composed shot into the bottom-left corner of the net.

Second half

The Hounds continued to look for a second goal, but sat in a more defensive posture, allowing the Legion to have a nearly identical possession edge with 60.8 percent of the ball.

Augi Williams had the ball in the net in the 67th minute after being played through between defenders, but the offside flag was raised to negate the goal.

The flag stayed down three minutes later, however, as Beto Ydrach slipped a rolling pass between the Legion center backs. Griffin ran on to the ball and slid to put it into the net past an onrushing Van Oekel, giving the Hounds' captain his second goal in as many games.

Dick made his only two saves of the match in the final 15 minutes, and Hounds Academy player Pablo Linzoain, a Fox Chapel High School student, entered the match as a late substitute for the 18-year-old's third career match as an amateur player at the pro level.

Modelo Man of the Match

Robbie Mertz netted the game's opening goal by pouncing on a rebound, the most notable of many times he was in the right place. He had a team highs of eight total crosses, five touches in the Legion box and two chances created, and he rounded out the performance by winning the ball seven times, two off the team lead.

What's next?

The Hounds have a week off before heading to the Lowcountry to face the Charleston Battery on Saturday, April 12. The team will also find out its opponent in the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup next week after Second Round games conclude Wednesday.

Riverhounds SC lineup (4-2-3-1) - Eric Dick; Junior Etou (Max Broughton 74'), Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach, Luke Biasi; Jackson Walti, Bradley Sample (Illal Osumanu 64'); Robbie Mertz (Pablo Linzoain 89'), Danny Griffin, Aidan O'Toole (Jason Bouregy 64'); Augi Williams (Brigham Larsen 89')

Birmingham Legion FC lineup (4-1-4-1) - Matt Van Oekel; Moses Mensah (Tyler Pasher 82'), Ethan Kos (Ramiz Hamouda 46'), Jake Rufe, Santiago Suarez; Enzo Martinez; Tabort Etaka Preston (Danny Trejo 74'), Roman Torres, Kobe Hernandez-Foster, Dawson McCartney; Ronaldo Damus

Scoring summary

PIT - Robbie Mertz 36'

PIT - Danny Griffin 70' (Beto Ydrach)

Discipline summary

PIT - Aidan O'Toole 15' (caution - reckless foul)

BHM - Ronaldo Damus 72' (caution - reckless foul)

Check out the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Statistics

• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...

United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 29, 2025


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central