One trophy can open the door to an opportunity at another for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
With a win against Penn FC (9-13-8), the Hounds (14-4-11) not only clinch the Keystone Derby Cup, presented by K&L Gates and the Pennsylvania Lottery, but they can also clinch their first postseason berth since 2015 – all of which will be decided after kickoff at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at FNB Field.
“Having a rivalry game, there’s a different fire in the boys’ eyes,” defender Tobi Adewole said. “Having the Keystone Derby be winner take all in the final game is definitely something we are going to hold in our heads. Going into the game, it definitely adds more fuel to the fire.”
This will be the first time the rivals face off since late May, as both of their first couple matchups occurred early in the season. Each previous meeting ended similarly with a 0-0 result under the lights of Highmark Stadium.
Now with the Keystone Derby on the line, Pittsburgh will travel to Harrisburg for the first time this season. The trip to FNB Field will spark memories for a couple Hounds. Mouhamed Dabo, who leads the Black and Gold in minutes over the last 11 games, played for the rival club from 2016-17, and Andrew Lubahn suited up for the then-known-as City Islanders during the 2015 campaign.
“It’s a former club, but it’s cool having played for them to see what strides they have made as the league has grown,” Lubahn said. “It’s cool to be a part of it to see, but I think from the fan’s perspective, from our perspective, it’s an in-state rivalry and everybody wants to be the best in the state. There’s a lot of pride coming into this game.”
Just last year, the Hounds won the Keystone Derby on enemy soil, defeating their rivals by a score of 3-0 to bring the trophy back to Pittsburgh. The club also clinched the inaugural 2015 Derby Cup at Harrisburg en route to earning a postseason bid. With this in mind, the Black and Gold will want history to repeat itself come Wednesday.
“The Derby Cup is a goal of ours, so we want to win that,” Lubahn said. “Additionally, to get a home [playoff] game [at Highmark Stadium], we want to make this place a fortress. I think it’s a hard place for other teams to play.”
Currently, the Hounds sit in third place in the Eastern Conference and can jump up to second place with a win against Penn FC. The club also holds a grip on a home playoff game, as the top four teams in the table will host postseason matches. The margin between the Hounds and fifth place is eight points.
“Some may think we’re going to get complacent because it’s getting toward the end of the season and we’re getting all these wins,” Adewole said. “We’re in a good place, but we have to go out with the same intensity we’ve been giving this whole season.”
