Riverhounds to host Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew in US Open Cup’s Round of 16

Photo courtesy Ed Thompson

It took eight years, but the wait is over.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will be hosting a US Open Cup match against a Major League Soccer club at Highmark Stadium, as they’ve been drawn to take on Columbus Crew, in the National Tournament’s Round of 16.

The match will take place on Wednesday, May 24, at 7 p.m. — at Highmark Stadium.

Northeast@NewYorkRedBulls (MLS) v @fccincinnati (MLS)@RiverhoundsSC (USLC) v @ColumbusCrew (MLS)

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) May 11, 2023

Pittsburgh advanced in the Open Cup on Tuesday night, pulling off a 1-0 ‘Cup-Set’ win against MLS Supporter Shield leaders New England Revolution.

FINAL: Riverhounds SC 1, New England Revolution 0 (US Open Cup – 4th Round)

The Hounds have history with Columbus in the Open Cup, in 2019 (1-0 loss to the Crew).

In addition, the clubs were once affiliation partners (in 2016 and 2017), and often will face each other in the preseason.

As you may recall, the last time Pittsburgh hosted a MLS club, was against DC United in June 2015.  It was a memorable match that went to extra time, played before an overflow crowd, but Pittsburgh lost, 3-1.

RIVERHOUNDS GIVE DC UNITED A FIGHT, FALL 3-1 IN EXTRA TIME

Of the 16 teams remaining, 14 are Major League Soccer clubs, with just the Riverhounds SC and its Eastern Conference foe Birmingham Legion FC remaining from the USL Championship.

Ironically, the Hounds will face Birmingham on Saturday night at Highmark Stadium in league action.

Remaining tournament round windows:
Round of 16: May 23-24
Quarterfinals: June 6-7

(big break because of that other lame cup)

Semifinals: August 23
Final: September 27

— TheCup.us (@usopencup) May 11, 2023

#USOC2023 ⚽️🎟️ Info https://t.co/5AyBOROe2r

— Pittsburgh Soccer Now (@pghsoccernow) May 11, 2023

 

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Fun Hounds’ Open Cup Factoids

• In the Highmark Stadium era (since 2013), the Hounds have posted an 12-8 overall record in the Open Cup. (this includes its 2nd round forfeit win vs Rochester NY FC).
• All-time, the Hounds are 17-17 overall in the Open Cup.
• The club the Hounds have faced the most in Open Cup?  None other than former Old Guard Shield rival Rochester (losses in 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010).  The forfeit win in 2023 technically was its first ever against Rochester in the competition.
• Other clubs the Hounds have faced more than once in the Open Cup
  • Chicago Fire (2001 & 2014)
  • DC United (2003 & 2015)
  • Michigan Bucks (2006 & 2012)
  • RWB Adria (2013 & 2014)
  • FC Cincinnati (2018 & 2022)
  • Maryland Bobcats (2022 & 2023)
• In seven matches vs MLS opponents, the Hounds have posted a 2-6 record
  • The Hounds’ wins vs MLS foes came vs Colorado Rapids (2-0) on June 27, 2001, at Bethel Park Stadium and vs New England Revolution, 1-0, on May 9, 2023, at Gillette Stadium.
  • Three of their losses came in matches that went to Extra Time (3-2 loss vs Chicago in 2001, 3-1 loss vs DC United in 2015 and 2-1 loss at FC Cincinnati in 2022)
• Against lower division teams, the Hounds have mixed success with an overall record of 10-7
  • After losing to Fourth Division Chicago FC United in 2017 and amateurs’ Landsdowne Bhoys in 2016, the Hounds have rebounded in the Bob Lilley era with wins against the Erie Commodores (2018) and Dayton Dutch Lions (2019), Maryland Bobcats (2022 and 2023).
  • In the Bob Lilley era, the Hounds are 7-3 in the Open Cup, with losses coming to FC Cincinnati (in 3rd Round in 2018 and 3rd Round in 2022) and Columbus Crew (in 4th Round in 2019). Wins have come versus Erie, Dayton, Indy Eleven (2019), Maryland Bobcats (2022 & 2023), Rochester (2023) and New England (2023).