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USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Open Cup Game Day: Hounds at FC Cincinnati

April 18, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


CINCINNATI - After a handful of near misses over the past eight years, the Riverhounds will get another chance to knock off an MLS side when they face FC Cincinnati in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The Hounds, who are 1-5 all-time against MLS teams, have suffered some narrow (and in some cases, unlucky) losses against teams from the higher division since 2014. In that year, the team was knocked out 2-1 by the Chicago Fire in a match that was abandoned in the 48th minute due to weather.

The next year, the Hounds hosted D.C. United and took them all the way to extra time before falling 3-1 after playing to a 1-1 score through 90 minutes. And in the most recent edition of the cup before the pandemic, the Hounds were beaten 1-0 on the road at the Columbus Crew, a match where the Crew had the better of play, but the Hounds still had their chances to steal a result.

If they are to secure the win, it will take a reversal of history against FC Cincinnati, which had the Hounds' number during their time in USL. The Hounds are 0-5-4 all time against FCC, and though the Hounds did take a 2-1 win in the 2021 preseason, that match is hardly instructive with the amount of lineup shuffling and roster turnover for both clubs in the year since.

The Hounds still have a clean bill of health coming off Saturday's first loss of the year in Las Vegas, and they were able to keep a handful of regulars fresh for the match. Jelani Peters did not play a league match for the first time in 2022, while Dani Rovira, Albert Dikwa, Alex Dixon, Nate Dossantos and Luis Argudo all played off the bench in varying amounts. Second Round goal-scoring star Toby Sims also did not play Saturday, while history suggests two games in four days is nothing that will keep Danny Griffin from his spot in the middle of the park.

FC Cincinnati's selection will be interesting to watch. The team played in Atlanta last Saturday, but their reserve team played at New England on Sunday, which might limit any potential roster shuffling ahead of the match. Brandon Vazquez has scored five of Cincinnati's eight goals this season, and Luciano Acosta remains their most dynamic midfield creator, but both have played nearly every minute after seven MLS matches. If they give way to less-seasoned replacements, it could make the match even less predictable.

The forecast calls for a chilly morning in Cincinnati, but temperatures are expected to steadily rise, hitting the high of 53 shortly before kickoff. And take note: It's a 7 p.m. start after originally being announced at 7:30.

The match will be streamed via ESPN+, but if you don't have the streaming service, another great option is visiting our partners at Mike's Beer Bar, who will be hosting the team's official watch part on the North Shore.

Match Info

Riverhounds vs. FC Cincinnati

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round

Date: Tuesday, April 19

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Odds: Hounds +370 / Draw +280 / Cincinnati -160 (FanDuel)

Streaming: ESPN+

Live updates: @RiverhoundsSC on Twitter

Match hashtag: #CINvPIT and #USOC2022

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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.

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