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USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Open Cup Game Day: Hounds at FC Cincinnati

June 5, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


CINCINNATI - Old foes who happen to be two hottest teams in American soccer meet in what will be the biggest match they have played in their shared history, as the Hounds face FC Cincinnati on Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The Hounds are unbeaten in nine straight matches going back to an April 22 loss on the road at El Paso Locomotive FC, a run that includes the team's three previous Open Cup wins, all in shutout fashion. FC Cincinnati boasts a run extending a week longer and spanning 11 matches since their last defeat, April 15 at St. Louis City SC, and they - like the Hounds - hold an undefeated record on their home field in 2023.

The teams met a year ago in the Open Cup, when Cincinnati got two goals in extra time from Álvaro Barreal to knock the Hounds out in the Third Round of the cup after a scoreless first 90 minutes. But this time, the stakes are much higher.

The Hounds are trying to become the first Western Pennsylvania team to reach the Open Cup semifinals since 1958, and Cincinnati is trying to equal their best Open Cup run ever, a 2017 trip to the semis in their second year as a USL team.

The Hounds were able to rest some regulars for all or part of their last match against Phoenix. Luke Biasi, Nate Dossantos, Robbie Mertz, Joe Farrell and Albert Dikwa all appeared off the bench or not at all on Saturday, and Dani Rovira also remained out of the 18 after being upgraded to questionable on the injury report. That means Edward Kizza, who was sent off late in the Hounds' win over the Columbus Crew in the Round of 16, is the only player unavailable to coach Bob Lilley as he serves the suspension for his red card.

Defense has been the Hounds' calling card throughout this tournament, having yet to concede a goal in three matches (officially four, adding the Second Round withdrawl of Rochester NY FC). With their successive 1-0 wins at the New England Revolution and at home over the Columbus Crew, the Hounds became the first lower-division club in Open Cup history to shut out consecutive MLS opponents.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, has been successful with virtually any lineup it throws on the field, having lost just once in 19 matches this season. In the Round of 16 against the New York Red Bulls - a match that went to penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw - Cincinnati fielded a rotated but still potent lineup that included leading scorer Luciano Acosta, defensive mainstays Yerson Mosquera and Nick Hagglund and midfield pivot man Obinna Nwobodo. The Hounds are likely to face a similar mix of MLS starters and bench regulars Tuesday from coach Pat Noonan's team.

Tuesday's quarterfinal will be a return to Bleacher Report's B/R Football platform for the Hounds. The match will be free to stream via the B/R Football YouTube channel, as well as directly through the B/R Football mobile app.

Match info

Riverhounds vs. FC Cincinnati

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals

Date: Tuesday, June 6

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati

Odds: Hounds +500 / Draw +300 / Cincinnati -210 (FanDuel)

Streaming: B/R Football YouTube and B/R Football mobile app

Live statistics: USL Championship Match Center

Live updates: @RiverhoundsSC on Twitter

Match hashtags: #CINvPIT, #HOUNDTAHN and #USOC2023

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