This time of year in Pittsburgh is the sweet spot after a viscous winter and the arrival of spring. Warmer climates make people smile. But fans of the local USL club came to Highmark Stadium on Saturday to see better play on the pitch.
What they saw was a 2-0 loss for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Since departing town in April, the Riverhounds posted a 1-3 road trip, with the aforementioned three defeats coming in league play.
Saturday’s return to Highmark Stadium provided a rematch with North Carolina FC. The teams met to start 2025 USL Championship play. The 1-1 draw March 8 left both teams looking toward their rematch.
The first 30 minutes of action saw barely anything on offense. Play picked up in the back half of the last 15 minutes of play, when NC defender Rafa Mentzingen sent a ball to keeper Jake McGuire, who promptly swung and missed with his left leg, allowing the ball to go between his legs and edge just wide of the visitors’ far post, keeping the game tied.
One minute later, the Hounds’ Augi Williams got a clean look on net, only to see NC keeper Jake McGuire make an easy save.
In the 65th minute, NC striker and former Riverhound Luis Perez found himself at the top of the box, 20 feet away. A redirect ball off a throw-in from NC midfielder Mikey Maldanodo found his right foot. Moments later it was 1-0 for the visitors.
Seven minutes later, Pedro Dolabella’s header off a cross from Maldonado went into the back of the Riverhounds net. His top corner blast made it 2-0 on a soggy pitch in front of 3,808 faithful, under the late rain.
It was a fourth straight league loss for the Black and Gold 11, who began the night in sixth place in the USL Eastern Conference, holding just seven points in six matches to start the 2025 campaign. North Carolina was one point better, just seven games in.
“We gave up two goals in the second half. It was similar to Charleston and San Antonio where we didn’t play well, all game,” Riverhounds coach Bob Lilley said. “We didn’t do well on passes. There were corners, guys were getting headers. Guys won too many balls against us. The first half they got on the end of some second balls and we blocked them, but even when we cleared them, the balls would end up back in the box.”
Lilly opened his postgame presser by saying he didn’t field a good starting 11.
“We were poor in all areas. It wasn’t enough,” he said. “There was not enough service in the most dangerous area. We didn’t find a rhythm in the game. Passing was bad. The midfielders have to be able to connect the dots.”
The loss dropped the Hounds’ record to 2-4-1 in league games. The club must rally fast, as on Wednesday along the Mon, the Riverhounds host MLS team New York City FC at Highmark Stadium in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32.
As far as conference standings after Saturday night’s games, Tampa Bay did the Hounds a favor, playing to a 2-2 draw with Birmingham FC. The Rowdies used extra time to tie the Legion, keeping the Hounds in sole possession of sixth place in the East at the quarter poll.
That didn’t give Lilley much comfort with MLS NYCFC on deck.
“They are either going to respond or not,” he said. “I’m going to put 11 players out there that will play better. Mix it up more. Not everybody is going to play 90 minutes. I hope we can get a better overall effort.”