Hounds Served Well by Home Field against MLS

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USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Hounds Served Well by Home Field against MLS

May 5, 2025 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


For only the fourth time in Hounds history, the team will play host to an MLS side in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 this Wednesday at 7 p.m. when they host New York City FC at Highmark Stadium.

The Hounds are 3-7 all-time against MLS clubs in the Open Cup, but the Hounds have been strong when defending their home field, holding a 2-1 record. This year's squad will aim to make history repeat itself against NYCFC, but before the big midweek match, look back at the three previous contests played in Pittsburgh:

2001 First Round: Riverhounds 2, Colorado Rapids 0

In only the third year of the Hounds' existence - and just their second Open Cup match overall - the Hounds scored a shock win over the Rapids at Bethel Park High School in front of a surprisingly sparse Wednesday night crowd of 1,660.

The Rapids were not in form entering the match, but they still put out a starting lineup with an abundance of experience, including U.S. internationals Marcelo Balboa, Robin Fraser and Paul Bravo, and Salvadorian international and one of the stars of the early MLS, Raul Diaz Arce.

In an evenly played match - the teams finished tied with 10 shots apiece - the Hounds struck first in the 56th minute when Alfredo Ulloa got on the end of a David Flavius cross to put the team in front.

It remained a one-goal game until stoppage time, when Phil Karn put a shot into the top left corner of the net for the final margin of the win that kicked off the club's first run to the quarterfinals. That run only came to an end when the Hounds suffered their first loss to an MLS side, losing 3-2 on an extra-time golden goal on the road against the Chicago Fire, which was led by former Barcelona legend and Bulgarian international Hristo Stoichkov.

The Hounds won their first-ever meeting with an MLS club, defeating the Colorado Rapids in 2001. (Photo: Jeffrey Gamza/Riverhounds SC)

2015 Fourth Round (Round of 32): D.C. United 3, Riverhounds 1 (extra time)

D.C. United became the first MLS club to play at Highmark Stadium when they were handed a road match at the Hounds, and they were greeted by a raucous, near-capacity crowd (at the time) of 3,988.

The crowd was stunned early, however, as DC took the lead just eight minutes into the match when Facundo Coria turned a corner kick that was flicked across goal into the net.

The Hounds responded positively to conceding and got back on the front foot, applying pressure on the DC back line that eventually led to Kevin Kerr being taken down in the box by Kofi Opare. Rob Vincent converted the penalty kick in the 24th minute, becoming the only Hounds player to score three goals in a single cup run after scoring in each of the previous two rounds.

The two sides battled to the 90 minute mark level at 1-1, sending the match into extra time. But set piece defending hurt the Hounds again, as Opare made amends for his earlier foul by turning in a corner kick in the 92nd minute. Nick DeLeon added the insurance goal in the 104th minute, but the Hounds had acquitted themselves well on the night, particularly Vincent, whose contract rights would be acquired by D.C. United in the next offseason.

Rob Vincent, now the Hounds' assistant coach, scored in three straight U.S. Open Cup matches in 2015, the last coming at Highmark Stadium against D.C. United. (Photo: Terry O'Neil/Riverhounds SC)

2023 Round of 16: Riverhounds 1, Columbus Crew 0

Arguably the most famous win in Hounds history, a then-record crowd of 6,107 packed Highmark Stadium clad mostly in white to match the team's new alternate kits.

Expectations were high after the team already had dispatched the New England Revolution in the previous round, earning the club's first road win over an MLS team, and the allure of a Pennsylvania/Ohio matchup drew national and heightened local media attention, including appearances by Hounds players and coach Bob Lilley on CBS Sports Golazo and SiriusXM FC programs in advance of the match.

The Hounds came out with a game plan against a Crew side they had faced in the preseason, allowing the possession-heavy hosts to have the ball in their own half until picking opportune moments to press.

The critical moment came in the 22nd minute, as the Hounds forced a crew turnover in the attacking half of the field. Robbie Mertz got the ball at his feet and weighted a ball forward into the path of top scorer Albert Dikwa, and the soon-to-be USL Golden Boot winner slotted the ball home to ignite a stands-rocking celebration at Highmark.

The Hounds defended well to close out the match, and goalkeeper Jahmali Waite needed to make only three saves to finish off the shutout and book the club's second trip to the quarterfinals.

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