Match info
Riverhounds (9-2-8) vs. Detroit City FC (4-10-5)
Date: Saturday, July 15
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Highmark Stadium
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Odds: Hounds -210 / Draw +280 / Detroit +550 (FanDuel)
TV: Pittsburgh’s CW
Streaming: ESPN+ (national), Pittsburgh’s CW (local)
Live statistics: USL Championship Match Center
Live updates: @RiverhoundsSC on Twitter
Match hashtags: #PITvDET and #HOUNDTAHN
PITTSBURGH (July 14, 2023) — The Hounds are back on home turf after a huge midweek win, but another test is on tap with Detroit City FC coming to Highmark Stadium for a Saturday night matchup between teams whose fortunes are moving in opposite directions.
A second-half goal by Golden Boot co-leader Albert Dikwa gave the Hounds a 1-0 win at Louisville, but the team had to return home and rest up with a mere 69 hours from final whistle Wednesday to the 7 p.m. kickoff this weekend. Detroit, on the other hand, was only able to muster a 1-1 draw midweek against Loudoun United FC, which left Le Rouge without a win in the last five matches.
The Hounds have some extended streaks on the line, starting with a 12-match unbeaten run in USL Championship play dating back to April 22 — a span of 84 days since the last defeat. Highmark Stadium has lived up to its Fort Highmark reputation; the Hounds are 9-0-3 in all competitions at home and have a 13-match home unbeaten streak dating back to last season. And with only one goal allowed in the team’s last 724 minutes of play, the Hounds also have seven clean sheets in their past eight matches.
Keeping the shutout streak intact will once again be Jahmali Waite, who returned to Pittsburgh on Thursday after traversing the country while taking part in Jamaica’s run to the Gold Cup semifinals. Luis Zamudio, who started the past five matches in goal, was recalled a few days early from his loan — which was scheduled to end after Saturday’s match — and is back with D.C. United.
As the third game in eight days, look for the Hounds to pull some different faces into the 18 and the starting lineup as they try to keep legs fresh, especially after a hot and physical match in Louisville left some players with minor knocks.
Detroit bears some similarities to Louisville, most notably being another team that defends well but has struggled to find the net. Despite being four points adrift of the playoff positions, Detroit ranks sixth in the Championship with only 20 goals allowed by the club and standout goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher, who has played all 19 matches.
Their low position on the ladder is a result of the offense misfiring with a league-worst 13 goals. Le Rouge is not without threatening players, however, as Dario Suárez leads them with three goals, and Maxi Rodriguez — who scored in each of the 1-1 draws with the Hounds last season — remains influential in Detroit’s lineup.
Fans will want to be lined up to arrive early at Highmark Stadium, as only the first 500 fans will receive limited edition stadium replicas that have drawn plenty of attention on social media. Gates open at 6 p.m., and lines are expected to form before opening.
The Tailgate Zone also will be open starting at 5 p.m. with a special tasting and Happy Hour presented by Cinderlands Beer Co., as well as the regular food, drink and music that always make the Tailgate Zone a great gathering spot before the match.
Tickets for the match are still on sale through Ticketmaster and at the Highmark Stadium Box Office, but pre-paid parking in the West Lot was almost completely sold out as of Friday afternoon. Once sold out, additional parking is available at other Station Square lots, and the area is accessible from Downtown and the South Hills via Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s light rail (“The T”) and multiple bus routes.
The match will be shown live on Pittsburgh’s CW and streamed locally via the KDKA/CW website. Nationwide, the match will be streamed via ESPN+.
Downloadable Game Notes
