Match info
Riverhounds (1-0-1) vs. Miami FC (0-1-1)
Date: Friday, March 24
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Highmark Stadium
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Odds: Hounds +102 / Draw +260 / Miami +215 (Bet Rivers)
TV: CW Pittsburgh
Streaming: ESPN+ (national), CW Pittsburgh (local)
Live statistics: USL Championship Match Center
Live updates: @RiverhoundsSC on Twitter
Match hashtags: #PITvMIA and #HOUNDTAHN
PITTSBURGH (March 23, 2023) — The first home game of the new season is only a day away for the Hounds, who will host Miami FC in a 7 p.m. kickoff this Friday, March 24, to begin the 11th season of play at Highmark Stadium.
Home openers haven’t always gone the Hounds way at Highmark, with the team sporting a 3-5-2 record in those matches, but last year the Pittsburgh crowd was sent home happy with a 2-1 win over Hartford Athletic. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since another positive result for the Hounds, a 4-1 win last July 9 in which the Hounds downed Miami by scoring three of their goals from set pieces.
Albert Dikwa was the undisputed Man of the Match last Saturday for the Hounds, as the 25-year-old striker from Cameroon scored his first professional hat trick to lead a 3-1 victory at Memphis 901 FC. That feat earned Dikwa his second USL Championship Player of the Week honor, and teammate Pat Hogan joined him on the league’s Team of the Week after a strong defensive outing and an assist on the game’s opening goal.
The Hounds have a clean injury report but will be without goalkeeper Jahmali Waite, who has been called up to the Jamaican National Team for their CONCACAF Nations League match against Mexico this Sunday at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. That means one of Christian Garner or Jonathan Gomes will make their pro debut by getting the start in goal against Miami.
On the Miami side, it has been a low-scoring start to the season for Anthony Pulis‘ side, which drew 1-1 with Tulsa and fell 1-0 to New Mexico in a pair of home matches. That doesn’t mean the visiting team is without weapons, as the Hounds are all too familiar with the danger posed by Florian Valot. The Frenchman scored Miami’s goal against Tulsa and has a pair of goals against the Hounds from his time with New York Red Bulls II, including the opening goal of the Hounds’ 2017 home opener.
In addition to the action on the field, there are plenty of new features to enjoy at Highmark Stadium.
New concessions offerings include a premium loaded nachos stand, which will feature pulled pork nachos and walking tacos for Friday’s opener. Auntie Anne’s brings the best of their pretzel offerings to the stadium in two locations — in the East End concession stand and in the Tailgate Zone.
The Tailgate Zone will again open at 5 p.m., and this year the area is open to all fans without first needing to scan your match ticket. Fans will be able to get the Riverhounds Amber Lager by Straub, the new “Olimpico” rum & cola canned beverage from Quantum Spirits, and special souvenir cups will be sold in both 24 oz. draft beer and 16 oz. double cocktail sizes. The Sandwich Guy food truck will also be back in the Tailgate Zone on Friday, along with our DJ keeping the music playing and the start of the new Hounds cornhole tournament.
The night’s events will be capped off with a special Laser show after the match, so fans can stay in their seats and enjoy the spectacular display of sound and vision. Tickets for the match are still available through Ticketmaster, and season tickets and Flexbooks are on sale through the Highmark Stadium Box Office.
Friday’s home opener will be shown live on Pittsburgh’s CW (WPCW-19) and streamed for free in the local market on the KDKA/CW website. The match will also be streamed nationally on ESPN+.
Downloadable Game Notes
