Preview: Riverhounds SC at Tampa Bay Rowdies
May 6, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
PITTSBURGH - Riverhounds SC begins its 22nd season of competition on the road, as they fly down to St. Petersburg, Fla. to face the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium. Kickoff time is 7:30 p.m. on Sat., May 8, and the match will be televised locally on 22 The Point and streamed via ESPN+.
The Hounds are one of the last USL Championship teams to kick off their season in this third week of game action, while the Rowdies (1-0-0) opened up their season last Saturday with a thorough 3-0 win over the Charlotte Independence paced by two Sebastián Guenzatti.
The two teams didn't play during the pandemic-affected 2020 season with the league broken down into smaller groups based on geography, but in this year's realignment, the Hounds and Rowdies will meet four times as Atlantic Division opponents.
The Hounds are 2-2-3 all-time against Tampa Bay, but history favors the Rowdies on their home field, as the Hounds are 0-1-2 all-time at Al Lang Stadium. The Rowdies also have been a tough nut to crack for coach Bob Lilley, who is 0-1-3 against them in four meetings as the Pittsburgh boss, which includes a 2-0 loss on the road in the 2019 season opener.
For the Hounds, this season offers a chance to reach the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season, something the club has never achieved. With the high number of new acquisitions, especially among the attacking players, it's possible as many as a dozen players make their first appearance for the club, though stalwarts like goalkeeper Danny Vitiello and midfielders Kenardo Forbes and Danny Griffin are expected to start.
To see Riverhounds SC's complete 2021 schedule visit riverhounds.com/game-schedule.
MATCH INFORMATION:
Date: Saturday, May 8
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Television: 22 The Point
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Statistics: USL Championship Match Center
Live Updates: Twitter at @RiverhoundsSC and #TBRvPIT
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