FINAL: Keystone Derby Cup Finale – Riverhounds SC 2, Penn FC 0

GAME UPDATES

9:59 p.m.: Andy Lubahn polishes off the win — and the Keystone Derby Cup — with a goal in second-half stoppage time. Fellow substitute Neco Brett earned the assist on the play, as the two worked a give-and-go play to perfection on the counterattack.

The Hounds take the Cup for the third time in four seasons and make the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Coverage to come from Harrisburg by Matt Gajtka.

8:57 p.m.: After 45 minutes, Kay Banjo‘s first goal of the season has the Hounds ahead. Banjo crashed to the goal to poke a deflected Christiano François cross past diving Penn FC keeper Sean Lewis in the 38th minute. The Hounds outshot Penn FC 4-3, but conceded two-thirds of the possession on the soggy, but solid pitch.

7:25 p.m.: Lightning in the distance, so the match is now bumped to 8:06 p.m.

7:07 p.m.: We have been told that kickoff is tentatively scheduled for 7:41 p.m.

6:20 p.m.: After a long downpour, Penn FC team employees are currently pulling the tarp off the field here. Looking like a start time of 7 p.m., if not a little later. I’ll keep you abreast.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Penn FC

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 8:06 p.m.
FNB Field – City Island, Harrisburg

 

WATCH
ESPN+

LISTEN
Riverhounds SC Facebook Live with Matt Gajtka 

FOLLOW
Twitter:   @RiverhoundsSC – #PENvPGH

Stats: USL Match Center

PSN COVERAGE

Penn FC Scouting Report and Player Grades/Analysis – Mark Goodman

Game recap and coverage from City Island – Matt Gajtka  

KEY STORYLINES 

The in-state rivals will battling for a right to hoist the Keystone Derby Cup in what amounts to winner take all scenario, since the first two meetings earlier this season on March 31 and May 26 at Highmark Stadium ended in scoreless draws.

In addition, with a win, the Hounds will also lay claim to this season’s Old Guard Shield, a competition between the four remaining USL teams that go back to the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The Hounds can also clinch a spot in the USL playoffs with a win, while Penn FC can boost its chances as they in the hunt to finish above playoff line. The win will also move the Riverhounds closer to securing a top-four finish and a home playoff game for at least the first round of the USL playoffs.

The Hounds are coming off a three-game homestand where they were on the front foot in every match, with significant possession, shots and other attacking statistical advantages against three team above the USL Eastern Conference playoff line – Bethlehem Steel FC, Louisville City FC and Indy Eleven. The Hounds scored nine goals in these three games, but allowed four tallies. Hounds coach Bob Lilley acknowledged after a 3-2 win over the Eleven that he would like to see things cleaned up on the defensive end.

 

ANALYSIS & PLAYER GRADES: Hounds ‘need to clean things up’ on defensive end 

 

MORE ON PENN FC 

Look no further than our own Mark Goodman, who put together another one of his splendid Riverhounds Rabbi Scouting Reports:

RIVERHOUNDS RABBI SCOUTING REPORT- Riverhounds poised to throw knockout blow at Penn FC 

 

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Keystone Derby – #PENvPGH

“It will take a team effort for sure,” Harri Hawkins. Penn FC defender, said. “It starts in the front. The attackers work extremely hard to press the other team and try and win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible; same with the midfielders. Really for the defenders, its staying solid, staying focused for the whole game and trying not to give up any silly mistakes that will cost us goals.”

If you are, unfortunately, unable to make it to Harrisburg tonight, get yourself to @piperspub for the match.

It sounds like a watch party might break out. Go and eat many scotch eggs.#UNLEASH

— Steel Army (@SteelArmy) September 26, 2018

????Do you remember
the 26th night of September?
Hounds were changin' the minds of pretenders
While chasin the clouds away
Our hearts were ringin
In the key that our souls were singin
As we danced in the night, remember
How the stars stole the night away????#UNLEASH #EarthWindFire

— Steel Army (@SteelArmy) September 26, 2018

TEAM RECORDS
Penn FC overall record: 9-13-8
Penn FC home record: 5-6-2
Streak: L3

Pittsburgh overall record: 14-4-11
Pittsburgh away record: 5-2-5
Streak: W1

HOUNDS INJURY REPORT
Kevin Kerr – Out (Calf)
Kyle Morton – Out (Lower-body)

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD
May 26, 2018, at Highmark Stadium
Pittsburgh 0, Penn FC 0

March 31, 2018, at Highmark Stadium
Pittsburgh 0, Penn FC 0

SEASON LEADERS
Pittsburgh
Goals: Neco Brett (15)
Assists: Kenardo Forbes (8)
Points: Neco Brett (35)
Saves: Dan Lynd (36)
Save %: Dan Lynd (.706)
GAA: Dan Lynd (0.72)

Penn FC
Goals: Lucky Mkosana (10)
Assists: Richard Menjivar (6)
Points: Lucky Mkosana (21)
Saves: Romuald Peiser (47)
Save %: Romuald Peiser (.595)
GAA: Romuald Peiser and Sean Lewis (1.33)

LAST TIME OUT…
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh 3, Indy Eleven 2

SCORING SUMMARY:
PGH – Ben Zemanski 49’
PGH – Neco Brett 51’
IND – Jack McInerney 81’ (Juan Guerra)
PGH – Kenardo Forbes 90’ (penalty)
IND – Joe Greenspan 90’+2 (own goal)

LINEUP:
Dan Lynd – Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Tobi Adewole, Joe Greenspan, Hugh Roberts, Jordan Dover (Andrew Lubahn 86’) – Ben Zemanski, Mouhamed Dabo – Kenardo Forbes (Romeo Parkes 90’+1), Christiano François (Ray Lee 77’) – Neco Brett

Penn FC
FC Cincinnati 2, Penn FC 1

SCORING SUMMARY:
PEN – Paolo Junior 33’ (Harri Hawkins)
CIN – Emmanuel Ledesma 68’
CIN – Corben Bone 84’

LINEUP:
Sean Lewis – Harri Hawkins, Tiago Calvano (Haruna Shaibu 82’), Kyle Venter, Jake Bond (Baffoe Prince 87’) – Richard Menjivar – Paolo Junior, Dan Metzger, Calvin Rezende, Aaron Dennis – Isaac Osae (Lucky Mkosana 72’)