PITTSBURGH (Sept. 10, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC moves into the final quarter of its season with its fourth and final meeting of the year with Loudoun United FC, a 7 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Highmark Stadium. The match will be televised on 22 The Point and streamed on ESPN+.
The Hounds (13-6-5) are riding a five-match unbeaten streak after Alex Dixon scored a 90th-minute goal to earn a 1-1 tie last Saturday at San Antonio FC. Every point is valuable in the current Atlantic Division race, as the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Hounds and Miami FC continue to jostle for position with only the top two getting a home playoff game.
Some regular starters got additional rest in San Antonio, as Kenardo Forbes, Russell Cicerone and Dixon all entered the game at halftime, while Mekeil Williams entered later and Danny Vitiello and Dani Rovira got a full 90 minutes off. Expect most, if not all, of those players back in the starting 11 for the Hounds, who have at least six days between games for the rest of the season.
Loudoun (3-16-2), on the other hand, is coming off a 5-0 loss Wednesday night at home against Charlotte, a game in which the home team was reduced to 10 men after Landry Houssou was sent off. The DC United affiliate has a clean injury report, but Houssou will miss Saturday’s match, and there might be some heavy legs after playing more than 50 minutes with 10 men.
The Hounds did drop their first points to Loudoun earlier this season, falling 2-1 on the road June 30. Wins on the road June 2 and at home July 17 have run the Hounds’ all-time record against Loudoun to 7-1-0, and three points again will be the goal hosting the side at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. A deeper dive into the matchup can be found in our regular 3 Things feature.
In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the U.S., Saturday will be Heroes and First Responders Night at Highmark Stadium. Highlighting the day’s events will be an Oath of Enlistment ceremony for the newest class of U.S. Air Force airmen before the game, and a special retirement ceremony to honor Lt. Col. Christopher Griffiths after 30 years of service to the U.S. Army and Army National Guard.
Outside the stadium, the Air Force, National Guard and Pittsburgh EMS will have some of their vehicles on display for families and kids to enjoy, and the U.S. Coast Guard will present the colors for the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner.
The Tailgate Zone also returns before the match at 5 p.m., featuring live music, Hounds Session Copper and other beverages, and food from the trucks of Haskel’s Deli and The Sandwich Guy. The Tailgate Zone remains open through halftime and is open to all ticketed fans.
Tickets for Saturday’s game can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Highmark Stadium Box Office. To see the complete 2021 schedule, visit https://www.riverhounds.com/game-schedule.
MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Sept. 11
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 #PITvLDN
