Riverhounds to play for first USL Championship title
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Robbie Mertz is a player to watch in the Hounds' game on Saturday. Photo: Emilee Chinn/USSF/Getty Images
Pittsburgh's pro soccer team is one step away from glory.
Why it matters: The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will play in the USL Championship final this Saturday, the first time they have made the championship game in their 26-year history.
Catch up quick: The Hounds finished fourth in the Eastern Conference this season, and then went on a run of clutch victories in the playoffs.
- They beat Hartford Athletic in penalty kicks 4-2.
- The Riverhounds defeated Detroit City FC in PKs 4-3.
- Last weekend, they beat Rhode Island FC 1-0 on a second-half goal from Pittsburgh native Robbie Mertz in front of a record 6,745 fans.
Context: The Riverhounds play in the USL Championship league, a professional league considered a lower tier of talent than Major League Soccer.
📺 Zoom in: The final against Tulsa FC in Oklahoma is at noon on Saturday.
- Watch on Pittsburgh's CBS affiliate KDKA channel 2.
What we're watching: Defense has been key to the Riverhounds' playoff run. The team hasn't allowed a goal during regular time during the postseason.
- Mertz has scored the Hounds' only regular time goal in the playoffs, and has had consistent chances most games. Look for him to make some opportunities on Saturday.
⚽️ State of play: The team surprised many in May by defeating New York City FC — a Major League Soccer club — in a U.S. Open Cup match.
- The Hounds' impressive late-season performance also came after head coach Bob Lilley was placed on administrative leave in October by team owner Tuffy Shallenberger.
- Assistant coach Rob Vincent has taken over. The team has not explained Lilley's absence.
Between the lines: USL will go to a relegation system in a couple of years, meaning good performances from the Hounds could move them up to a higher league and poor showings could drop them down.
The big picture: Highmark Stadium, the Hounds' home in Station Square, will be expanded and more than triple its capacity up to 15,000 for soccer matches and more for concerts. The expansion is slated to be completed by 2028 to comply with USL's new upper tier.
🐶 Fun fact: The Riverhounds' mascot is a dog named AMO, an acronym of the city's three rivers: Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio.
What's next: Highmark Stadium is hosting a free watch party for fans on Saturday. RSVP here.