USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Preview: Riverhounds SC at Charleston Battery

Published on July 6, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


PITTSBURGH - Tropical Storm Elsa is bearing upward toward South Carolina, and the USL Championship has adjusted accordingly.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will still take on the Charleston Battery on Wednesday, but the match has been moved up to a 4 p.m. kickoff to ensure the teams are able to play before the arrival of inclement weather. The match will be played without fans in attendance, but it will be streamed on ESPN+.

The clubs are the two oldest currently playing in the USL Championship, and the matchup provides an opportunity for the clubs' supporters groups to revive the Old Guard Shield, the annual trophy contested between the five oldest USL clubs at the time - Charleston, Harrisburg, Richmond, Pittsburgh and Rochester. The Hounds are the shield holders, having won it in 2019, while the Battery won the shield in its inaugural season of 2017.

This matchup marks the first time the Hounds will travel to Patriots Point since it opened in 2020, having previously played at Charleston's former home, Blackbaud Stadium. The clubs last met on Sept. 14, 2019, at Highmark Stadium. Steevan Dos Santos scored the match's lone goal in the 69th minute to give the Hounds a 1-0 win.

Saturday, the Hounds (6-4-2) notched their second straight home win, downing the Charlotte Independence, 1-0. Anthony Velarde's goal in first-half stoppage time capped off a dominant effort from the Hounds on both sides of the pitch. The Hounds tallied season highs with 14 shots and nine shots on goal, and they didn't allow a single Charlotte shot in the first half.

Meanwhile, Charleston dropped a 1-0 result to the Tampa Bay Rowdies last Friday. Sebastián Guenzatti provided the difference by converting a penalty kick in the 68th minute.

Although the Hounds have not done well against Charleston historically, posting a 7-13-13 all-time record and 3-7-7 road record against their Atlantic Division rival, they've been better in recent years. The last time the Hounds lost at Charleston was a 3-1 defeat on May 9, 2015.

To see Riverhounds SC's complete 2021 schedule visit riverhounds.com/game-schedule.

MATCH INFORMATION

Date: Wednesday, July 7

Time: 4 p.m.

Location: Patriots Point Soccer Complex, Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Streaming: ESPN+

Live Statistics: USL Championship Match Center

Live Updates: Twitter at @RiverhoundsSC and #CHSvPIT

Check out the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 6, 2021


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