Hounds to host Birmingham Legion FC in Saturday’s playoff

On Wednesday night, Birmingham Legion FC kept its season alive, stunning host North Carolina FC on a stoppage time goal to advance in the USL Eastern Conference play-in game.

It was a 93rd-minute goal from J.J. Williams that helped No. 10 seed Birmingham Legion FC to a last-gasp 3-2 victory over No. 7 seed North Carolina FC in the Eastern Conference Play-In Round on Wednesday night at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

FULL TIME: 2-3 | #NCvBHM pic.twitter.com/1HwHRNMbI1

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) October 24, 2019

The Legion will come to Pittsburgh on short rest and as road warriors, a dangerous expansion side playing with house money, already having earned a post-season victory in its inaugural season.

The Hounds, who earned the top seed after beating Birmingham on Sunday evening, 1-0, on a stoppage time goal by Mark Forrest, are expecting a big crowd on Saturday night, as they seek their first playoff win of the modern USL era (since 2010).

So, we meet again… #UNLEASHthePlayoffs #TogetherWeHunt https://t.co/AJNMmStAMB pic.twitter.com/ZZ8UwMuhCp

— y-Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) October 24, 2019

 

Saturday’s Eastern Conference Playoff quarterfinal match-ups are now set as both road teams won the play-in games:

7 p.m. Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs Birmingham Legion FC

7 p.m. Louisville City FC vs Tampa Bay Rowdies

7:30 p.m. New York Red Bulls II vs Indy Eleven

8 p.m. Nashville SC vs Charleston Battery

Of course, we’ll be bringing comprehensive coverage of the Hounds playoff run — including reports from practices, features, like Matt Gajtka’s One-on-One with Robbie Mertz, columns, previews, predictions and on-site game coverage.

Last night, Gajtka and PSN contributor Matt Grubba broke down the Hounds-Legion matchup and predicted the rest of the East quarterfinals on the latest edition of Pgh Postgame: