Preview and Scouting Report: Riverhounds face Loudoun United FC in what amounts to a likely playoff elimination match

In the dog days of the Summer, when the Pittsburgh Riverhounds were scraping, clawing and pushing to get back into the playoff picture despite sitting as far as six or seven points behind, they knew they had to take things one match at a time.

By all intents and purposes, that’s what they did.

There were some bumps, setbacks and dropped points, but for the most part, they’ve done what they’ve had to do to get to this point — with two weeks left to go — have a chance to earn their way to a seventh straight postseason appearance in the USL Cup Playoffs.

When looking at the schedule even back in the Summer, that the Hounds’ clash at Loudoun United FC on Saturday night was going to be where they needed to get with a fighter’s chance to get in the playoffs.  After all, Loudoun have been one of the teams the Riverhounds have been chasing all season long.  Now, they’ll meet for the second time this season, in a match that could very well decide the fate of both teams’ playoff chances.

With the Hounds and Loudoun — along with North Carolina and Birmingham all tied with 42 points and Hartford lurking with 40 points and a game in hand, the playoff picture will be much clearer after all five play Saturday.

But the Hounds’ match with Loudoun is the only one pitting two of those teams against each other, meaning a win makes either one a favorite to clinch, while a draw could put both teams at risk.

Saturday’s contest is easily the biggest match between two clubs who’ve been doing battle since 2019, when Loudoun entered the Championship as DC United’s reserve team, but have since become an independent entity.

In the grander scheme, while the Hounds have been trying to chase down Loudoun this season, it’s Loudoun who have always been trying to get on a level playing field with Pittsburgh.

Though the Hounds have an excellent record at Loudoun, going 6-1-0 in seven trips — and 12-1-1 all time head-to-head, that is less-than-instructive given Loudoun’s marked improvement since becoming an independent club and not a DC United reserve side. And with Loudoun holding an 8-5-3 record at Segra Field this season, the Hounds’ final road trip of the 2024 regular season will not be an easy one.

Loudoun United FC: A Closer Look

In the first meeting between the two clubs, despite holding the lead in the second half, Pittsburgh had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Highmark Stadium, as Pittsburgh also failed to convert on chances to put the match away, Loudoun also showed its quality as the match played out.

Hounds settle for draw against Loudoun, make it three unbeaten

As you might imagine, with Pittsburgh taking an early lead they went into caution mode throughout the match, and it would come back to bite them.  Loudoun being a relatively strong possession team (fourth in USLC in passing accuracy at 83% and third in total passes – 15,715) who typically line up in a 3-4-3, it was the visitors who dominated possession (67/33) while pushing and being on the front foot for the equalizer, which they did find in the second half.

Ahead of that match, here’s the post of our Preview and Scouting Report: Re-energized Riverhounds look to keep momentum going vs upstart Loudoun United FC

As all teams do through the course of a long season, Loudoun has made adjustments with its personnel and starting lineups, but overall, they’ve rolled out a consistent group week-after-week.  In fact, one of the things that Head Coach Ryan Martin, in his fourth year at the helm, has been able to do since they’ve become an independent squad, is provide more roster continuity.

Last weekend against Rhode Island, Kalil ElMedkhar, former Pitt Panther Yanis Leerman and goalkeeper Hugo Fauroux all recorded their 50^th appearance for Loudoun United FC.  Another league veteran, Florian Valot, who has provided invaluable leadership, is two assists away from 50 career USL Championship assists.

Fauroux, along with defenders Tommy McCabe and Kwame Awuah are the only three LUFC players who have played in every one of the club’s 32 regular season matches.

There’s a trio of former Hounds on the Loudoun roster, including Robby Dambrot, Christiano Francois and Tommy Williamson, who have been in and out of the starting lineup, but are certainly part of Martin’s rotation.

In terms of form, LUFC are coming off a 0-0 draw on the road against Rhode Island FC last weekend, as they’ve been a bit inconsistent down the stretch of the season, with a 2W-4L-2D mark in its last eight matches.

“They play a good style and made strides in the past few years,” Robbie Mertz, Riverhounds midfielder, said in July ahead of the first match.

“They’ve added more consistency, with many of the same players. Loudoun’s always been a tough match-up for us, even when they were sitting in the basement. It’s never an easy game against Loudoun, and I am sure that (Head Coach) Bob (Lilley) would tell you the same thing. If you throw in that little bit more experience and consistency they’ve added, and it’s going to be an even tougher game. We’re aware of that.”

Here’s How Loudoun United FC Lined Up Last Week vs Rhode Island (0-0 draw) 

Match-Ups To Watch and Hounds Projected Lineup

Here’s what Bob Lilley said after the first match with Loudoun.

“Loudoun is a good team, but I felt like we needed to press more. We turned them over a number of times, but we were too cautious with our pressing actions.”

The Hounds can’t play cautiously as they did in the first Loudoun match, or it will be a long ride back home from Northern Virginia late Saturday night.

“We have to find a way,” Lilley added.

“A team that is going to make the playoffs has to find that identity. Hopefully we understand that, and we fight like hell to put ourselves in position to win every game.”

The Hounds have played with a lot more urgency, for the most part, in this run of 14 matches with just one loss.  The past two weeks, at Miami (a 4-0 win) and at home against a very strong Charleston team, they never really took the foot off the gas.

Pittsburgh has also diversified its attack since the first meeting, by adding Bertin Jacquesson to the mix, who has scored four goals and added two assists in four matches.

If there’s any one defender in the USL Championship who knows Bertin Jacquesson well, it’s Yanis Leerman, Loudoun defender and former Pitt teammate of Jacquesson on the 2022 College Cup squad.  Leerman wore the captain’s armband for Loudoun when the teams clashed at Highmark in July.  Robby Dambrot is also another Loudoun defender who knows a lot of the players on the Hounds side, having been in Pittsburgh with the Hounds in 2022.  Dambrot was also teammates with Hounds’ leading goal scorer, Edward Kizza at Pitt.

Bottom line here is there’s a lot of familiarity among the two teams and neither side will be willing to give an inch.

The tactics will be interesting to watch, as both teams will likely be pushing very hard to get the first goal, as a draw may not be good enough for either side.  Pittsburgh scored early in the first match, as well as the past few weeks.  In fact, scoring the game’s first goal hasn’t been an issue for the Hounds during this 14 match streak without a loss, as they’ve scored first in every single match, even the loss to Tampa Bay.

How’s this for a crazy statistic.  The last time the Hounds trailed in a match BEFORE the 90th minute, was at Las Vegas, in late June, 16 matches ago.

Pittsburgh has allowed stoppage time goals in four matches that led to draws and one loss, while also conceding late (after the 60th minute) second half goals that led to ties against Loudoun and Birmingham during this stretch.

The Hounds will need to keep doing what they’ve done the past few weeks, is get out to early leads, but also sustain the pressure and as Lilley pointed out — continue to press.  Otherwise, the more time Loudoun has time on the ball, the more they’ll grow comfortably and control tempo.

For this match, it’s unlikely we’ll see the return of Junior Etou, who’s been such a key playmaker on the left wing this season, as the Congo International is questionable with a hamstring injury.  Defender Illal Osumanu will also have to sit out serving a suspension for accumulation of yellow cards (8).

Pittsburgh has the depth and experience to manage without those two players, as Lilley will lean on a strong back line grouping that includes center back trio of Luke Biasi, Pat Hogan and Sean Suber, and can be tactically flexible, playing three or four in the back.  If they’re also going to need to rely on its press from the start to the finish of the match, look for a potential rotation of forwards.

How the Hounds lined up last week vs Charleston (2-0 win): 

Eric Dick
Luke Biasi
Illal Osumanu (Pierre Cayet 76’)
Pat Hogan
Sean Suber
Langston Blackstock
Jackson Walti
Danny Griffin
Robbie Mertz (Dani Rovira 88’)
Edward Kizza (Kenardo Forbes 88’)
Bertin Jacquesson (Bradley Sample 74’)

John K’s Projected Starting Eleven 

• Eric Dick
• Luke Biasi
• Dani Rovira
• Pat Hogan
• Sean Suber
• Langston Blackstock
• Jackson Walti
• Danny Griffin
• Robbie Mertz
• Edward Kizza
• Bertin Jacquesson

Bench options:

• GK – Jacob Randolph, Gabriel Perrotta
• D – Jake Kent-Loop, Pierre Cayet
• MF – Aiden O’Toole, Bradley Sample, Nate Dragasich, Pablo Linzoain (USL Academy)
• F – Babacar Diene, Kazaiah Sterling, Emmanuel Johnson

Questionable (Hamstring) – MF Junior Etou

Out/Yellow Card Accumulation Suspension – D Illal Osumanu

Match info

Riverhounds (10-10-12) vs. Loudoun United FC (11-12-9)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 19
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Segra Field, Leesburg, Va.
Odds: Hounds +145 / Draw +220 / Loudoun +160 (FanDuel)
TV: KDKA+
Streaming: ESPN+
Live statistics: USL Championship Match Center
Live updates: @RiverhoundsSC on X/Twitter
Match hashtags: #LDNvPIT and #HOUNDTAHN

John Krysinsky

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).