(Sept. 26, 2026) — Substitute Yaniv Bazini scored in the 90th minute, sending the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to a 1-0 defeat at Orange County SC tonight at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, Calif.
It was the second straight loss by that score for the Hounds (11-11-5), who held a 14-11 edge in shots in the match. The team has lost consecutive matches for the first time since July 25 and 29.
Orange County (10-7-9), meanwhile, continues to have the Hounds’ number, holding a 7-1-3 record against Pittsburgh since the teams first met in 2011.
First half
Orange County came out on the ball more, on the way to having 57.7 percent of possession for the match, but it was the Hounds who created the best early chances.
A free kick in the 11th minute served to the front of goal by Charles Ahl was headed to the front of net by Owen Mikoy. Albert Dikwa tried to turn the loose ball into the net, but his effort was blocked away by the traffic in front of goal.
Dikwa continued to be a presence in the box, logging a match-high four shots, and he put a pair of headed efforts toward goal but off target in the first 20 minutes.
Ahl had the best chance of the half when he swiped the ball from the Orange County defense to get into the box alone in the 29th minute. Orange County goalkeeper Alex Rando was quickly off his line to make the close-range save — one of three on the night — and then cover the rebound.
The half ended with Orange County’s Kevin Partida having a shot from distance saved by the Hounds’ Nico Campuzano; it was the only shot on target in the half for the hosts.
Second half
Orange County came out trying for goal early, as Ousmane Sylla and Marcelo Palomino both took shots from distance that missed the target in the opening 10 minutes of the half.
The Hounds had fewer chances after the break — only four shots, compared to 10 in the first half — and their most dangerous moment came in the 63rd minute when Perrin Barnes forced a save by getting to the front of goal and redirecting a ball across from Dikwa on the right side.
The decisive moment came at the end of the 90 minutes, when the Hounds were unable to get a ball clear from their box. A header by Mikoy fell to Bazini’s feet at the edge of the box, and the Orange County forward controlled the ball on his chest before striking it on a hop into the left side of the net.
Modelo Man of the Match
Charles Ahl was dangerous throughout the night, winning the ball on the press and setting up chances. He finished with three shots (one on target), a team-best three chances created, won 6 of 10 duels, connected on 37 of a team-leading 44 passes and won four free kicks.
What’s next?
The Hounds have their final off weekend of the season next, and they will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 10 when they host Hartford Athletic in a crucial matchup for Eastern Conference playoff seeding. Hartford (9-5-12) currently sits a point ahead of the Hounds for a spot in the top four and a home playoff match.
Riverhounds SC lineup (4-3-3) — Nico Campuzano; Illal Osumanu, Owen Mikoy, Victor Souza, Perrin Barnes; Robbie Mertz, Jackson Walti, Sam Bassett; Charles Ahl (Junior Etou 85’), Albert Dikwa (Trevor Amann 78’), Yu Tsukanome (Eliot Goldthorp 63’)
Orange County SC lineup (4-4-2) — Alex Rando; Ryan Doghman, Tyson Espy, Tom Brewitt, Jaylin Lindsey; Chris Hegardt (Mataeo Bunbury 86’), Kevin Partida (Stephen Kelly 46’), Ousmane Sylla, Marcelo Palomino (Efren Solis 71’); Lyam MacKinnon (Yaniv Bazini 63’), Mouhamadou War (Sydney Wathuta 63’)
Scoring summary
OC — Yaniv Bazini 90’
Discipline summary
OC — Marcelo Palomino 45’ (caution – persistent infringement)
PIT — Jackson Walti 80’ (caution – tactical foul)
