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One trophy can open the door to an opportunity at another for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.

With a win against Penn FC (9-13-8), the Hounds (14-4-11) not only clinch the Keystone Derby Cup, presented by K&L Gates and the Pennsylvania Lottery, but they can also clinch their first postseason berth since 2015 – all of which will be decided after kickoff at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at FNB Field.

“Having a rivalry game, there’s a different fire in the boys’ eyes,” defender Tobi Adewole said. “Having the Keystone Derby be winner take all in the final game is definitely something we are going to hold in our heads. Going into the game, it definitely adds more fuel to the fire.”

This will be the first time the rivals face off since late May, as both of their first couple matchups occurred early in the season. Each previous meeting ended similarly with a 0-0 result under the lights of Highmark Stadium.

Now with the Keystone Derby on the line, Pittsburgh will travel to Harrisburg for the first time this season. The trip to FNB Field will spark memories for a couple Hounds. Mouhamed Dabo, who leads the Black and Gold in minutes over the last 11 games, played for the rival club from 2016-17, and Andrew Lubahn suited up for the then-known-as City Islanders during the 2015 campaign.

“It’s a former club, but it’s cool having played for them to see what strides they have made as the league has grown,” Lubahn said. “It’s cool to be a part of it to see, but I think from the fan’s perspective, from our perspective, it’s an in-state rivalry and everybody wants to be the best in the state. There’s a lot of pride coming into this game.”

Just last year, the Hounds won the Keystone Derby on enemy soil, defeating their rivals by a score of 3-0 to bring the trophy back to Pittsburgh. The club also clinched the inaugural 2015 Derby Cup at Harrisburg en route to earning a postseason bid. With this in mind, the Black and Gold will want history to repeat itself come Wednesday.

“The Derby Cup is a goal of ours, so we want to win that,” Lubahn said. “Additionally, to get a home [playoff] game [at Highmark Stadium], we want to make this place a fortress. I think it’s a hard place for other teams to play.”

Currently, the Hounds sit in third place in the Eastern Conference and can jump up to second place with a win against Penn FC. The club also holds a grip on a home playoff game, as the top four teams in the table will host postseason matches. The margin between the Hounds and fifth place is eight points.

“Some may think we’re going to get complacent because it’s getting toward the end of the season and we’re getting all these wins,” Adewole said. “We’re in a good place, but we have to go out with the same intensity we’ve been giving this whole season.”

With five games left on its regular season schedule, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (14-4-11) will travel to battle Penn FC (9-13-8) at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at FNB Field. This match marks the third and final one in the Keystone Derby Cup, presented by K&L Gates and the Pennsylvania Lottery, a series in that the sides tied both previous meetings.

Winner Take All

For the first time in Keystone Derby history, the two sides enter the final meeting having tied every one of their previous matchups. This creates a winner-take-all scenario for both sides on Wednesday. The Hounds are looking for their third-ever Derby Cup (second straight) while Penn FC looks to earn its second Derby Cup.

Cloud Nine

Already having set career highs in assists and points this season, Kenardo Forbes notched another personal best last time out against Indy Eleven. Slotting home his penalty kick in the 90th minute, the midfielder now has a single-season career high with four goals. Scoring in three straight matches, Forbes will continue to be at the forefront of the Hounds’ attack, as the club looks to clinch a playoff spot this week.

Familiar Field

For the first time since playing for the then-known-as Harrisburg City Islanders in 2017, Mouhamed Dabo will return to FNB Field this Wednesday. The holding midfielder has grown into a large role with Pittsburgh, playing every minute of the squad’s last 11 games. He will look to continue his success against his former team in the final match of the Keystone Derby.

With his goal at Highmark Stadium last time out against Indy Eleven, Neco Brett recorded his 11th home tally of the season. The striker now is tied with Justin Evans and Jeremy Deighton for the 10th most home goals in club history (all competitions).

The Hounds have yet to crack the scoresheet against Penn FC this season, being shut out in both prior games (each finishing with a 0-0 result). Now as the Black and Gold offense has seemingly hit its stride, scoring at least a goal in six straight matches, the Hounds must jump out on Penn FC early this Wednesday.

Although it is seemingly out of playoff contention, Penn FC (9-13-8) has a chance at a trophy. The final match of the Keystone Derby Cup, presented by K&L Gates and the Pennsylvania Lottery, is a winner-take-all event when the club battles Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (14-4-11) at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at FNB Field.

With four games left in its regular season schedule, Penn FC sits 13th in the Eastern Conference standings. Losing four of its last five games, the club has fallen off the race for a postseason spot and is six points out of the final playoff seed.

Penn FC’s lone win in its past five matches came against Indy Eleven – a 1-0 result on Sept. 12 at FNB Field. The team from Harrisburg has a 5-6-2 record at home this season and finds itself in the midst of a nine-game homestand.

Tying its previous two meetings against Riverhounds SC, the squad can clinch its second-ever Keystone Derby this Wednesday. The last time Penn FC won the rivalry series occurred in 2016.

Leading the Penn FC attack, Lucky Mkosana paces the club with 10 goals and 21 points, in addition to leading the club in shots (47) and ranking third in chances created (24). So far this month, the striker has one goal to his name, scoring in the club’s 3-1 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC on Sept. 2.

Strengths

Balanced scoring: Thirteen different players have scored a goal for Penn FC this season.

Shot totals: The squad ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 389 total shots.

Weaknesses

Conversion rate: The club’s 11.3 percent conversion rate ranks second-to-last in the Eastern Conference.

Passing accuracy: With a 73.6 percent passing accuracy, the club ranks in the bottom five (12th) in the conference.

After a scoreless first half, five goals found the back of the net in the second stanza, as Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (14-4-11) defeated Indy Eleven (12-9-9), 3-2, on Saturday at Highmark Stadium. Here’s how the Black and Gold clinched three points at home with scoring from three different players.

49’ Ben Zemanski

The Hounds sprinted down the right flank to begin the lead-up to their first goal.

As François’ cross is blocked by Indy field players, Zemanski fields the ricochet and sends a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams to provide Pittsburgh with a 1-0 advantage.

51’ Neco Brett

Like the Hounds’ first goal, speed also created their second trip onto the scoresheet.

Depicted above, François (orange arrow) blows around the flanks of the Indy defense and heads into the penalty box. Immediately spotting an open Zemanski (green arrow), the attacking midfielder sends the ball to his teammate. At this time, the Eleven struggle to cover Black and Gold inside of the 18-yard box. In addition to Zemanski, Kenardo Forbes is left open across the goalmouth.

Once François’ ball reached his feet, Zemanski placed a shot on target that was blocked away by Fon Williams. Even though the goalkeeper saved the initial shot, the sphere rebounded back out in front of the net. Neco Brett (yellow arrow) cashed in on this loose ball in the midst of the chaos around him, providing the club with a 2-0 lead.

90’ Kenardo Forbes (penalty)

What was a chance on the offensive end for the Eleven turned into a fast break for the Hounds after defender Hugh Roberts cleared the ball from Pittsburgh’s defensive third.

Leading the break, Forbes (blue arrow) passes to Brett (yellow arrow), who charges toward the 18-yard box. Once the striker enters the penalty area, he is taken down by Indy defender Ayoze (red arrow), awarding the Black and Gold a penalty kick.

On the penalty opportunity, Forbes would elect to place his shot to the bottom left-hand corner. Fon Williams guessed wrong, and the Hounds took a 3-1 lead.

The Other Side

Indy could not muster any offense until its first shot on goal came in the 81st minute. Gathering a long ball sent into the Hounds’ defensive third, striker Jack McInerney alluded two Pittsburgh defenders before beating goalkeeper Dan Lynd, which brought the score to 2-1 at the time.

The Eleven struck once more before the final whistle, as this time they took advantage of a faulty clearance. Soon after the Hounds scored their penalty kick goal to go up 3-1, Indy drove back down the field and booted a ball into the penalty area. This cross was ultimately deflected into the Pittsburgh net by defender Joe Greenspan, brining the game to its final score of 3-2.

Tale of the Tape

After a first half that saw just one shot on target that came in first-half stoppage time, the second half featured a much higher scoring pace, as both teams combined for five total goals in this period.

The Hounds more than doubled the Eleven’s second half shot total, 11-5, despite holding 45 percent possession during this stretch. Also playing into Pittsburgh’s advantage was the shots on goal battle, as the Black and Gold totaled five more shots on net than its opposition during the game. This consistent pressure led to two goals stemming from loose balls in the penalty box in addition to the foul that led to a goal from the penalty spot.

Unlike the Hounds, Indy struggled to place shots on net, as its only one occurred in the 81st minute. Even though it cashed in on this opportunity, the club could not ultimately top three goals from the Hounds despite being beneficiaries of an own goal.

Going toe-to-toe with the reigning champions is never easy, especially when tasked with a two-goal deficit with less than five minutes to play.

As unlikely a comeback were to happen, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC had an opportunity to come away with the improbable following a Louisville City FC own goal and foul inside of the penalty area. To take a point, midfielder Kenardo Forbes would need to strike home a goal from the penalty spot – and he did.

The Hounds (13-4-11) will now attempt to carry the momentum of this late-game magic into their final match of a three-game homestand, as the squad battles Indy Eleven (12-8-9) at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Highmark Stadium.

“I wasn’t feeling nervous or anything,” Forbes said about his penalty kick goal last time out against Louisville. “I just stepped up. I knew it was a big penalty to get a point.”

This goal marked his second straight game with a tally. Sitting at three goals this year, Forbes finds himself in the midst of one of his best statistical seasons.

The Kingston, Jamaica native has already set career highs in assists (eight) and points (14). He also leads the squad with 42 chances created this season.

Playing into Forbes’ success is the growth he has had under head coach Bob Lilley. This is the fourth season the midfielder has competed in Lilley’s system, having been with him since he entered the USL with the Rochester Rhinos in 2015.

“I think Kenardo gets better every year and still has that appetite to grow and learn,” Lilley said. “It’s what’s keeping him at the top of his game. Even though the league is getting stronger and stronger, I think he is one of the best midfield players in the league – no doubt in my mind.”

Although much of his success this season has been visible on the offensive side of the ball, Forbes also impacts the game defensively. As much of the time he patrols the center of the field, he has earned many possessions for the Hounds. He is tied for the team lead with 32 fouls won and also ranks tied for third with 127 duels won.

“When you’re playing defense, it is easy to find Kenardo,” defender Thomas Vancaeyezeele said. “He’s always available and moving around. It’s easy to give him the ball, and we trust him with his passing ability. He can make good passes to the forwards.”

Being strong on both sides of the ball will be key this Saturday against Indy Eleven, as their two previous meetings this campaign have played quite differently. The first match, more of a defensive struggle, consisted of both squads combining for just one shot on target in a 0-0 result whereas their second contest was more open with the clubs combining for 12 shots on goal in a 2-2 draw.

This weekend would be an opportune time for the Hounds to notch their first-ever victory against the USL newcomer. Third-place Pittsburgh sits five points ahead of fifth-place Indy in the Eastern Conference playoff race. If the Hounds finish in the top four of the conference, they will host their first-ever postseason game at Highmark Stadium.

“Last game, we made two mistakes and it cost us two goals,” Vancaeyezeele said. “But besides that, they didn’t have any chances. We’ll try to do the same against Indy.”