People flooded stands at Highmark Stadium, as it was a moment not possibly worth missing. For it’s not every day Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has a chance to battle an MLS squad, let alone play stride for stride and take a top-tier team to extra time.
On June 17, 2015, former USL All-League First Team honoree Rob Vincent notched the tally that pushed Pittsburgh to extra time against D.C. United in a fourth round match of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. And it was a moment Pittsburgh soccer fans will never forget.
As they eventually fell 3-1 to D.C. United after the overtime period, the Hounds may have another opportunity to host an MLS squad at Highmark Stadium. But that’s under one condition – they must first defeat FC Cincinnati in a third round Open Cup match at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Highmark Stadium.
“Just give it our best, especially at home,” forward Neco Brett said about the upcoming tournament game. “Trying to win each and every game at home.”
Tying FC Cincinnati earlier this season, 2-2, in league play at Nippert Stadium, Pittsburgh will have its hands full with the Queen City squad on Wednesday. Cincinnati currently leads the USL Eastern Conference, but perhaps most impressively is coming off a deep run in the 2017 Open Cup.
Last year, FC Cincinnati defeated two MLS teams en route to its semifinals finish. As their opponent this week has already proven the USL’s ability to advance in the single-game elimination tournament, the Hounds will aim to begin a late round run of their own.
“We all aspire to play at the highest level possible, and a lot of guys on our team have played in MLS or want to get to MLS, so it’s a good chance to see how you stack up against them,” midfielder Noah Franke said. “It would be really cool to show them, just because we’re USL, doesn’t mean we can’t hang with them.”
Third Round Success
In club history, Pittsburgh holds a 3-1 record in the third round of the Open Cup. The last time the Hounds played a third round match came in 2015, when they defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 1-0, to advance to play D.C. United in a fourth round showdown.
Highmark Advantage
Riverhounds SC has posted a 5-2 record at Highmark Stadium in Open Cup matches, and will look to continue this success against FC Cincinnati on Wednesday. Despite this .714 winning percentage, the Hounds have dropped their last two matches at their home venue.
Final Note
When scoring at least two goals in Open Cup play, Pittsburgh has logged a 9-1 all-time record. The team’s only loss when scoring at least two goals came during a 2001 sudden-death overtime 3-2 defeat to the Chicago Fire (MLS).
