Match Info
Riverhounds (2-0-1) vs. Loudoun United FC (2-0-1)
Date: Saturday, April 2
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Highmark Stadium
Odds: Hounds -370 / Draw +420 / Loudoun +800 (FanDuel)
Tickets: Ticketmaster
TV: 22 The Point
Streaming: ESPN+
Live statistics: USL Championship Match Center
Live updates: @RiverhoundsSC on Twitter
Match hashtag: #PITvLDN
PITTSBURGH (April 2, 2022) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC looks to keep its undefeated start to 2022 intact in its second home game of the year when the team hosts Loudoun United FC at 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium.
The Hounds (2-0-1) have a chance to equal the best four-game start in team history with a win; the only other time the club took 10 points out of 12 from its first four matches in a season was the team’s second year of play, 2000. Loudoun (2-0-1), on the other hand, has been one of the league’s biggest surprises to start the year, winning its first two after a last-place finish in 2021 and last week scoring a 0-0 draw on the road in Miami.
Defense has been the story for both teams in the opening three weeks of the season. Loudoun has yet to concede a goal in three matches, and goalkeeper Luis Zamudio has not had to make more than two saves in any of his three shutouts, an indication that the early success has been no fluke.
But Loudoun getting a result in Pittsburgh would require them to break the historic trend. The Hounds are 8-1-0 all-time against their D.C.-area opponents, which includes a perfect 4-0-0 mark at Highmark. Loudoun’s only win in the series came by a 2-1 score on June 30 of last season in Virginia, but even that was the only points the Hounds dropped in four meetings, which includes a 5-0 rout the last time the two met on Sept. 11.
The Hounds have been good but not flawless defensively with only two goal allowed in three matches — that total includes the one in last week’s 1-1 draw at Detroit, which came via the penalty spot. Center backs Jelani Peters and Arturo Ordóñez have played all 270 minutes so far this season, along with holding midfield stalwart Danny Griffin, providing the defensive stability Bob Lilley seeks from his side.
Offensively, Albert Dikwa became the first Hounds player to bag multiple goals this season when he netted his second of the year in his first start this season at Detroit. The Hounds already have shown a willingness to rotate players in and out of the lineup at the forward spots, a trend that should continue with the first midweek match of the season looming Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup.
Fans coming to the match will be able to check out the Tailgate Zone beginning at 5 p.m., where Totopo and Hoshi will have their food trucks parked for folks enjoying the live music played by TJ the DJ and drinks including Riverhounds Amber Lager by Straub.
Tickets for the match are available via Ticketmaster and at the Highmark Stadium Box Office, and don’t forget to check out @RiverhoundsSC on Twitter for details about a special BOGO ticket offer for the two USL Championship home matches in April.
The game will be televised locally on 22 The Point and streamed via ESPN+. Temperature at kickoff is expected to be a cool 51 degrees, but no precipitation is in the forecast for the entire day.
