USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Preview: Riverhounds SC vs. Charleston Battery

Published on September 24, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


PITTSBURGH - The USL Championship's longest-running active rivalry resumes with the third of four matches this season between Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and the Charleston Battery. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at Highmark Stadium and will be televised on 22 The Point and streamed via ESPN+.

The Hounds (14-7-5) are still trying to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Rowdies atop the Atlantic Division, but they must also keep racking up points in their final six games to hold off Miami and surging Charlotte to hold on to the second spot and a home playoff game. Charleston (8-9-6), meanwhile, sits 10 points outside of the final playoff spot but with games in hand on both Miami and Charlotte that could set up a tight race if the Battery can turn things around.

Charleston is winless in its past five games, going 0-2-3, and their offense has struggled in that stretch. The Battery has just four goals in its last five matches, and only one of those - a Robbie Crawford strike against Atlanta - came in the run of play, with the others coming from a corner kick and two free kicks.

The Hounds, meanwhile, were shut out for the sixth time this season - and the third time by Charlotte - in a 1-0 loss on the road at the Independence last Saturday. The team hopes it can find its scoring touch back home, where the Hounds put five goals past Loudoun on Sept. 11, led by a pair from captain Kenardo Forbes.

The Hounds and Battery have battled since 1999, and Charleston holds a 13-8-14 lead in the all-time series. The Hounds are 2-0-2 in clubs' the last four meetings, including a 1-1 draw on July 7 and a 3-2 win Aug. 6 this season, both of which were on the road.

Coincidentally, the match falls almost exactly 20 years after the only playoff meeting between the Hounds and the Battery in their long history. The Hounds defeated the Battery in both legs of their USL A-League first round playoff, 2-1 and 3-1, on Sept. 20 and 22, 2001. The Hounds would lose 4-2 on aggregate in the quarterfinals that season to the Rochester Raging Rhinos.

Off the field, the match will be the Hounds' annual Faith & Family Night, presented by 101.5 WORD-FM and 98.3 K-Love. Fans are welcome to move to Section 108 after the match, where Hounds players and coaches will be interviewed by a WORD FM host.

The Tailgate Zone will be open to all fans two hours before the match with music from Star 100.7 FM. Hounds Session Copper beer, drinks, and food from the Los Gingos Tacos and Bridge City Brinery all will be on sale from 5 p.m. until the end of halftime.

Tickets for Saturday's game can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Highmark Stadium Box Office. To see the complete 2021 schedule, visit riverhounds.com/game-schedule.

MATCH INFORMATION

Date: Saturday, Sept. 25

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Highmark Stadium

Tickets: Ticketmaster

TV: 22 The Point

Streaming: ESPN+

Live Statistics: USL Championship Match Center

Live Updates: Twitter at @RiverhoundsSC and #PITvCHS

Check out the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 24, 2021


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