PITTSBURGH (Oct. 10, 2026) — Trevor Amann and Charles Ahl scored, and the defending USL champion Pittsburgh Riverhounds are playoff bound for the ninth consecutive season after a 2-1 win over Hartford Athletic tonight at F.N.B. Stadium.
Amann started the scoring for the Hounds (12-11-5) just six minutes into the match before Michee Ngalina tied the score for Hartford (9-6-12) shortly before halftime. Ahl broke the deadlock midway through the second half after assisting on Amann’s opener, and the Hounds held on to win for the 14th time in 20 meetings with Hartford.
The win moves the Hounds into fourth in the Eastern Conference with two matches to play, but trailing teams Louisville, Hartford and Rhode Island — the Hounds’ next opponent — each have one match in hand in the race for a home playoff match.
First half
The Hounds were in front with the first shot on target in the match, which came after Ahl tracked down a ball near the left corner flag. Ahl had time to tee up a cross on his right foot, and Amann made the near post run to head the ball into the goal for his 12th goal of the season and eighth in league play.
Amann forced a save out of Hartford goalie Antony Siaha less than five minutes later, and then Ahl put a shot on target that created a second chance, but Robbie Mertz couldn’t turn the high-bouncing rebound back on target.
Hartford was held without a shot for the first 40 minutes of the match, but their first netted the tying goal.
Emmanuel Samadia sent a cross into the box from the left, and Ngalina met the pass with his head to turn the ball into the right side of the net. It was Ngalina’s fifth career goal against the Hounds, tying him with Lexington’s Cameron Lancaster for the most by an active player.
Second half
The Hounds continued to threaten early after the break with dangerous crosses from substitute Eliot Goldthorp and Perrin Barnes, while Hartford got its own early chance from a long-range shot by Barry Coffey that only missed slightly right of the goal.
The Hounds were back in front in the 66th minute after recovering the ball near midfield and pushing forward with a full team passing move. Barnes played a pass back to Danny Griffin, who sent Mertz toward the goal line right of the net with a low pass. Mertz hit a low pass through the goal box, and Ahl reacted first to get his right foot on the ball and lift a shot into the roof of the net. It was Ahl’s second goal of the season, and for Mertz, it was his 26th assist as a member of the Hounds, tying him with David Flavius for fourth on the team’s all-time list.
Hartford began pushing forward and playing directly, getting flagged for offside five times in the half and seven times total in the match. The Hounds’ defense held firm, allowing only five total shots and none on goal in the second half to hold on for victory.
Modelo Man of the Match
Charles Ahl was part of both of the Hounds’ goals, starting with his fifth assist of the season in Championship play and sixth in all competitions. He added the game-winning goal and also posted two chances created, connected on 24 of 30 passes and won 5 of 9 duels.
What’s next?
The Hounds head on the road for the final time in the regular season to face Rhode Island FC (11-11-5) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 in Pawtucket. Rhode Island, which beat the Hounds earlier this season in Pittsburgh, 1-0, also plays a Wednesday match against Loudoun United FC and would clinch a playoff spot with a win.
Riverhounds SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Nico Campuzano; Illal Osumanu, Owen Mikoy, Victor Souza, Perrin Barnes; Danny Griffin, Jackson Walti; Charles Ahl (Yu Tsukanome 78’), Sam Bassett, Robbie Mertz (Junior Etou 78’); Trevor Amann (Eliot Goldthorp 46’)
Hartford Athletic lineup (3-4-1-2) — Antony Siaha; Matt Real (Baboucarr Njie 76’), Jordan Scarlett (TJ Presthus 46’), Adrian Diz Pe; Emmanuel Samadia, Michael Adedokun, Junior Moreira, Sebastian Anderson; Barry Coffey (Ben Mines 76’); Sadat Anaku (Adewole Obalola 73’), Michee Ngalina (Augi Williams 73’)
Scoring summary
PIT — Trevor Amann 6’ (Charles Ahl)
HFD — Michee Ngalina 41’ (Emmanuel Samadia)
PIT — Charles Ahl 66’ (Robbie Mertz)
Discipline summary
HFD — Sadat Anaku 13’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Trevor Amann 21’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Nico Campuzano 89’ (caution – delaying restart)
PIT — Yu Tsukanome 90+5’ (caution – tactical foul)
