FINAL: Riverhounds SC 0, Louisville City FC 0

USL Championship Week 9

FINAL:  Riverhounds 0, Louisville City FC 0

Match Statistics: USL Championship Match Center

Instant Match Summary

On short rest, the Riverhounds SC and Louisville City FC battled in a USL Championship league match that ended up in a hard-fought scoreless draw at Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday night.

Head Coach Bob Lilley was pleased with a performance where his club were focused defensively for 90 plus minutes.

“Tonight we didn’t give up a late goal. We got ourselves into the game pretty early. That’s hard to do here,” Lilley said.

“They want to press right away, but we were active and wanted to get forward and make runs behind.”

Once again, Riverhounds goalkeeper Eric Dick, following his standout performance in Wednesday’s US Open Cup victory against New York City FC, was outstanding in goal, registering four saves, matching the same total for Louisville City FC keeper Damian Las, as both teams tinkered with chances but for the most part were limiting chances.

The hosts generated a few more shots, but the match was fairly even across the board (Shots edge to LouCityFC 12-10, on frame it was 4-3).

With the result, the Hounds (2W-4L-2D, 8 points) finally pick-up a point in league play for the first time in over a month, while Louisville (5W-0L-3D, 18 points) remain unbeaten, but drop three points behind Eastern Conference’s front-running Loudoun United FC (21 points).

The Hounds were the first team to shut out Louisville at home in regular season play since July 2023.

Hounds Head Coach finally had the opportunity to pencil in both of its biggest attacking off season signings, Bertin Jacquesson and Augustine Williams, in the starting eleven for the first time this season.

While the Hounds had chances to break the ice, in going along with how things have transpired in league play for the past month-plus, failed opportunities were prevalent, especially for Williams.

With the addition of Jacquesson on the field, plus midfielders Danny Griffin and Robbie Mertz at the top of the attack along with service from wingers Luke Biasi and Perrin Barnes, the Sierra Leone native was working diligently in trying to beat and get behind Louisville’s last line of defenders.

In what was a fairly positive sign, compared to previous outings, Williams ended up with four shots in the match — but each time — he came up empty.

Early on, Mertz generated a solid chance for the Hounds, ripping a shot from the top of the box in the 8th minute, which forced Las into making a diving save.

Late in the first half — the action picked up a bit.

Hounds goalkeeper dove to his left to deny a 25-yard drive by Jansen Wilson, who had the game-winner in the teams’ last meeting in 2024.

One of Williams’ best chances came on a sequence shortly later, as the Hounds’ forward got loose on a breakaway but was caught from behind to see his shot attempt denied in the 44th minute.

Siri, define "locked in" 🔒@Tophcity | #LOUvPIT pic.twitter.com/MmlrjE1L4n

— Louisville City FC (@loucityfc) May 11, 2025

Pittsburgh picked out a few more moments to break through in the second half, and again it was Williams on the receiving end.

In the 47th minute, nice feed from Barnes came to Williams’ foot with space between Louisville’s center backs, but the shot attempt from the edge of the box was blocked by former Hound and Pitt standout, Arturo Ordonez.

In the 79th minute, one last quality chance came for Pittsburgh when Aidan O’Tooleplayed Williams behind the defense again, this time down the right side from in the Hounds’ own half. Williams carried into the box, but Las came off his line and cut down the angle to make the save when Williams shot before the defense could close in.

Louisville had its own late chances, the best coming from a free kick in the 90th minute when Aiden McFadden rose to head the ball from the center of the box. The header was going wide of goal, but it looped high enough that players for both teams had a chance to keep it in play. Dick and Louisville’s Kyle Adams scrambled for the ball, and though Dick got a hand to it first, it was ruled the ball had crossed the line for a goal kick before anyone touched it.

Next up for the Riverhounds, they’ll stay on the road, taking a trip to face the reigning USL Cup champions, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, next Saturday, May 17, at 9 p.m.

Look for a more detailed recap and reaction to follow along with John Krysinsky’s Takeaways and Player Grades to come on late Sunday/early Monday. 

Match Day Updates and Commentary

Look for updates along with analysis of the match here as these clubs renew acquaintances for the 11th season.

FINAL — PITTSBURGH 0, LOUISVILLE CITY FC 0

90′ ++ SUB — Riverhounds SC. Max Broughton replaces Perrin Barnes because of an injury.

90′ – Attempt missed. Aiden McFadden (Louisville City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Evan Davila following a set piece situation.

87′ – Attempt missed. Aidan O’Toole (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Junior Etou with a cross.

84′ – Louisville gets a free kick in a dangerous spot, but before the kick comes our third change. Bradley Sample now on for Robbie Mertz.

80′ – Louisville makes its final substitution. Evan Davila is the new player on for Jansen Wilson. Hounds still have up to three changes at their disposal.

77′ – High boot by Wilson catches Etou, and he’s going to need a moment. Free kick for the Hounds, but our guys seem perplexed at no card. Definitely a different level of enforcement than we’ve seen in recent matches.

75′ – Suber in with a good block to deny Goodrum a chance in the box. Both teams have been well-positioned to prevent shots from reaching goal tonight.

72′ – Hounds subs. IN: Junior Etou, Aidan O’Toole OUT: Luke Biasi, Bertin Jacquesson

Louisville also makes a change: Amadou Dia on for Manny Perez.

63′ – Griffin with great change of direction on the ball to spring Williams down the left-side channel, but Lou City retreats to block the chance. Quick transition the other way & Griffin has to make a business decision, giving a foul and taking the card.

54′ — Augi Williams is fed nice ball between the two CBs from Barnes — but shot is blocked by Ordonez.

46′ — SUBS for Louisville

 IN Goodrum, Ordóñez, Lambert

OUT  A. Perez, Jones, Moguel Jr.

HALF — PITTSBURGH 0, LOUISVILLE CITY FC 0 

Thru 45 — it’s Even Steven

• Shots: PIT 5-5 (2-2)
• Possession: LOU 54/46

33′ – Ydrach up to head a Mertz free kick. He puts it on goal, but no replay of Wednesday night’s finish, as Damian Las catches to save.

20′ — the Hounds have been the more active side in getting forward.  It’s been 50/50 possession and Pittsburgh have the edge in shots (5-2, 2-1 on frame).  Still nothing to show for it.

15′ – Emanuel Perez of Louisville gets the match’s first yellow card. Well done by Vacter to dispossess the Lou City player, who pulls back our man and earns the booking.

11′ – Good recovery defending by Vacter to prevent a chance for Louisville after Suber got caught wrong-footed on the ball.

8′ – Barnes picks out Mertz with the right pass, and Mertz’s side-footed effort forces Las to dive and parry wide.

7:35 pm — They’ve kicked off!

7 pm — here’s starting lineups for both squads.

As predicted, this is the first time this season that both of the Hounds two big off season attacking additions are in the starting lineup.

What’s At Stake

The Riverhounds have little time to savor its big Open Cup victory earlier this week, as they are headed Westward along the Ohio River to Kentucky, where they’ll face one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, Louisville City FC, at Lynn Family Stadium (7:30 p.m. kickoff).

Despite Saturday’s daunting match-up against of the league’s perennial top clubs, the Hounds have fared well against Louisville City, posting a 4-3-1 record in the Bluegrass State since Bob Lilley took the reins in 2018.

Back in league play, the Hounds can really use a positive result — having lost three straight matches including last week’s 2-1 loss at home to North Carolina FC.    The Hounds (7 points) are now sixth in the Eastern Conference table, sitting seven points behind North Carolina (14 points) and they’re 10 points behind Louisville.

The biggest issue for Pittsburgh has been generating pressure and quality chances in the final third, as the club’s 4.27 Expected Goals mark is the lowest in the Championship so far this season.  Against NYCFC, the Hounds went back to bread and butter of Lilleyball — as they were willing to absorb pressure and rely on more efficient, quick pressure on counters when getting forward.

While it’s still relatively early in the season, if the Hounds want to make a run to get into the mix as a top four team in the conference, a result in the Derby City would be a step in the right direction.

Louisville is sitting just one point behind surprising Loudoun United FC (18 points) in the table.  The hosts would savor a win against the Riverhounds, along with some help, which would put them back in a familiar place — at the top of the table.

Scouting Report: Louisville City FC 

On the opposite side, Louisville was a bit unfortunate Wednesday to come up a goal short in their Open Cup match against Minnesota United FC despite having more chances in the contest.

Coach Danny Cruz appeared to be less compelled to rotate players, having last played against Lexington on May 1 in the newly minted (and mint julep-ed) “Kentucky Derby Derby,” but now they will be facing the same three-day turnaround as the Hounds.

The Lou City squad — which has been slightly revamped from a record-breaking regular season in 2024, is very potent.  They’re also solid defensively, with a back line anchored by former USLC Defender of the Year for the Hounds and Pitt standout, Arturo Ordóñez.

They have no shortage of attacking options with Ray Serrano leading the team with three goals, alongside a pair of players with double-digit goal seasons in their Championship past, Phillip Goodrum and Adrien Pérez.

Goodrum, if you recall has been well traveled but if finding his place with this group too.  Last season, he helped eliminate the Hounds from the US Open Cup, when he was with Tulsa, with a brilliant goal that was the difference in that match.

Riverhounds Personnel / What to Watch For

Look for more squad rotation to be in full effect as Lilley opted to go with a few players on Wednesday who have not played big minutes this year — mixing up the lineup effectively which saw the most impactful minutes from bench players this season.

Only Charles Ahl (ankle) remains out of the lineup and lands on the club’s injury report.

The Hounds will likely be banking on services of some players with fresher legs as Augi Williams was an unused substitute, and Junior Etou and Aidan O’Toole were not in the 18, leaving all ready for this match up at Louisville.

Bertin Jacquesson‘s workload increased to 45 minutes in his return from injury, and the club got productive first professional starts out of Guillaume Vacter and Max Broughton in a winning effort.

Could this be the first time we see Williams and Jacquesson on the field at the same time?  That could help open things up for Williams, who has struggled this season to score goals — with just one coming in the season opener at North Carolina.

Otherwise, with the way the squad has rotated the past two matches, and injuries being less of a concern, there’s no reason to expect nothing but a very strong lineup.

John K’s Projected Riverhounds Lineup 

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).