Riverhounds clinch USL Championship playoff berth for sixth consecutive season

Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC didn’t play on Saturday, but for the sixth consecutive season, the club has clinched a spot in the USL Championship playoff tournament, thanks to Indy Eleven’s 1-0 victory over The Miami FC.

The Hounds have now qualified for the postseason in each of Head Coach Bob Lilley’s six seasons at the helm.

The 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 squad to clinch 👏@RiverhoundsSC has locked up a spot in the 2023 playoffs! 🔒 pic.twitter.com/oy4IQcosP0

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) September 3, 2023

Despite clinching a playoff berth, idle Pittsburgh’s lead in the Eastern Conference dwindled to one game, as the Tampa Bay Rowdies defeated the Hartford Athletic, 2-1, despite the Athletic having lost seven rostered players due to being positive with COVID-19.  Third place Charleston Battery is facing New Mexico United, on the road late Saturday.

The Hounds (14-5-9, 51 points / 28 matches played) and Rowdies (15-6-5, 50 points / 26 matches played) each clinched playoff berths on Saturday night. The Battery (13-7-8, 47 points / 28 matches played including Saturday vs New Mexico) can also inch closer to a playoff berth and to the Hounds with a win on Saturday.

While Louisville (43 points / 27 matches) and Indy Eleven (41 points / 28 matches) are making a late push, for all intents and purposes, it appears that it will be a three- team race to see who can finish at the top of the table.

Pittsburgh returns to action next Saturday, when they host Loudoun United FC, at Highmark Stadium, while the Rowdies have a mid-week clash at Memphis, then return home to face Louisville next Saturday.