Pittsburgh Riveters SC

FINAL: Riveters 3, Steel City FC 1 (USL W League)

by
Colton Coreschi
June 11, 2025

USL W-League – Great Forest Division

FINAL: Steel City FC 1, Pittsburgh Riveters 3

Instant Match Summary

A beautiful June evening saw a fantastic match in the first-ever edition of the Battle of the Bridges, as a new derby in Pittsburgh women’s soccer got underway. Ultimately, it was the Riveters that emerged victorious on Steel City’s home turf, 3-1, after an action-packed ending to a tough-fought game.

The first half was a rapid, back-and-forth affair with each team enjoying periods of attacking pressure in turn. Steel City would put the first shot across the bow of the visiting Riveters, as a defensive lapse led to Emily Cooper alone on goal for the hosts. She would pull her shot just wide, but it was a sign of things to come from both sides.

Shortly afterwards, Steel City would be handed another chance as a defensive turnover was pushed out wide to Margaret Wilde. Her shot also made it beyond Nelles in the Riveters’ goal, but similarly beat the far post and was left as another missed early chance.

Unfortunately, they’d be made to rue those opportunities. Just beyond the 20-minute mark, it was Anna Korney forcing a defensive turnover by Steel City along the left side of their defensive box. She turned with the ball and promptly looped a curler over the Steel City keeper and off the crossbar and in to give the Riveters the opening goal and a 1-0 lead.

After a second chance was narrowly missed by Korney, and then a subsequent close effort from Tanum Nelson, the hosts fought back and stemmed the tide, generating several chances of their own. But the Riveters would step up and totally flip the script just moments later.

In the 36th minute, a short corner was taken by the Riveters to Abi Hugh on the far side of the field. Hugh would dribble a few yards forward before rocketing a pinpoint accurate cross to the head of Olivia Damico, who simply had to nod it goalwards and into the back of the net to double the visitors lead.

Despite a few more corners and shots narrowly off-target, the halftime whistle would blow with the Riveters maintaining their 2-0 lead through the first 45 minutes.

The second half was a slower affair as the warm weather and tired legs started catching up to each side. The last ten minutes of the match, however, would see a flurry of late action.

As Steel City pushed to come back into this one, their efforts down the left wing would finally come to fruition. After some substantial build-up play for perhaps the first time in the half, the hosts would fire a fantastic cross into the center of the box where Margherita Memoli was waiting. Her head would re-direct it beyond Nelles in goal and the Riveters lead was reduced down to one.

Steel City would almost get a second on a corner just as stoppage time began, but in fact it would go the other way. After the corner was cleared, it would be pushed towards the Steel City goal. As the host’s keeper was slow off her line, Sabrina Bryan was able to beat her to the ball, round the keeper to an open net, and finish the chance and game.

The final whistle would blow moments later, putting a cap on the first Battle of the Bridges with the visiting Riveters triumphant. The win, combined with Cleveland’s loss earlier, puts the Riveters in pole position for the Great Forest division and its playoff spot. The two sides will meet again to close out the Riveters season when Steel City comes to Highmark Stadium later this month.

Stay tuned for a rapid recap at the end of the match with more comprehensive coverage to come on PSN post-game.

Match Day Updates

Follow along with live match updates here

Fulltime – Steel City FC 1-3 Pittsburgh Riveters The visitors come away with the first win in derby history as they claim the first leg of the Battle of the Bridges this year. A late flurry of action made it interesting, but the Riveters seize control of the division.

90+1′ – GOAL, RIVETERS! The Steel City corner is cleared away and Sabrina Bryan chases down the loose ball and rounds the keeper! The open net beckons and she finishes it and likely this game. 3-1 to the visitors!

90′ – Another chance as Salisbury’s shot is blocked, Steel City corner. Taken deep and headed towards goal, but cleared off the line! Another corner coming but cleared away.

86′ – GOAL, STEEL CITY FC! This one is not over as the hosts come back to life! Margherita Memoli heads home a great cross and beyond the reach of Nelles. It’s 2-1!

83′ – Big chance for Steel City as the build-up ends with Cooper having a chance to get it beyond the Riveters keeper, but it goes wide. Cross comes back in, is cleared to the top of the box, and the ensuing shot is blocked.

80′ – Final subs for the Riveters tonight as they try to see out the 2-0 lead.

79′ – A yellow card, first of the night, and it goes to the Riveters’ Annamarie Williams.

71′ – Another pair of subs for the Riveters.

68′ – Rough collision near midfield as Cooper and Vozar collide as they try to compete for a clearance. Both appear okay and we’ll restart after a brief stoppage.

66′ – Brief stoppage as Steel City make their second stoppage and third sub of the match.

65′ – Free kick for the Riveters on the right wing here. In-swinging, and it ends up heading towards goal after a mid-air collision, not sure who put it that way – wrangled by the Steel City keeper easily.

60′ – A stoppage for a pair of subs from each side as both get fresh legs on at the hour mark.

52′ – Corner for the Riveters after a deflected cross, taken centrally but too close to the Steel City keeper who comes up big in the box.

46′ – Second half underway, the Riveters with the most dangerous lead in soccer (2-0). They’ve been cleaner lately, but second halves have proved problematic at times this year, can Steel City fight back?

Halftime – Steel City FC 0-2 Pittsburgh Riveters. The high-pressing visitors head to the locker room with a two-goal lead. Steel City fought back and threatened several times, but the Riveters managed to make the most of their chances. Not a decided game by any means.

45+1′ – A defensive turnover and Ali Hugh was in on goal. Her left-footed shot was slightly scuffed and wound up an easy grab for the Steel City keeper to keep it at 2-0.

42′ – Stop me if you’ve heard this before, it’s a Riveters corner. Taken short and deflected, follow-up effort in but ultimately out for a goal kick.

40′ – A tough-angled effort for Kennedy Neighbors from the right side of goal just beats the far post, but much closer than you’d have thought given the difficulty.

38′ – Forget Battle of the Bridges, it’s Battle of the Corners. Another for Steel City here. It’s taken centrally, loose in the box for a moment but a Riveters boot clears it away.

36′ – GOAL, RIVETERS! A short corner taken to Abi Hugh and she rips a pinpoint accurate cross to Olivia Damico, who has the easiest nodded header of her life to make it 2-0 for the visitors. A crucial goal as the momentum was swinging back towards 50/50.

34′ – And yet, it’s the Riveters who now earn another corner, pressure swinging. It’s put deep, headed in the direction of goal but wide of the far post.

32′ – Dangerous run into the box on the right for Steel City, shepherded away from goal by the Riveters defense, but out for another corner. Taken short, dribbled in, and a right-footed curler just clears the crossbar. More Steel City pressure developing.

31′ – Taken to a dangerous spot, punched away and the clearance takes a wicked deflection, but ultimately gets pushed out of danger.

30′ – Steel City starting to battle back a bit, garnering more possession and getting into the Riveters third. It remains 1-0 to the visitors, but the next goal will have a lot to say about how this match goes. Case in point, a Steel City corner coming up!

25′ – Another Riveters corner as the pressure continues to mount. Taken far post, headed towards the net by Bella Vozar, but easily caught in net for Steel City.

24′ – A centered ball finds Tanum Nelson at the top of the 18-yard box, but her left-footed effort is well over the crossbar and out for a goalkick.

22′ – Another huge chance as Olivia Damico rips a pass across goal from the right side. It fizzes by the outstretched Korney who almost got a second in mere moments. All momentum the Riveters way now.

21′ – GOAL, RIVETERS! Anna Korney forces a turnover on the left side of the Steel City defense, promptly turns, and curls a beautiful effort bar-down and into the back of the net! The visitors lead, 1-0!

19′ – Corner Riveters after a deep throw-in is covered by the Steel City defense. Headed away, and it’s cycled back to the top of the box, but one pass too many and it’s handled by the keeper.

13′ – A Riveters turnover is pushed out wide to Wilde for Steel City, who gets a strong left-footed shot off and clears Nelles in goal, but also clears the far post. Closer though for the hosts!

11′ – And now a corner for Steel City after a cross from the right is deflected out. Taken centrally, but punched by Pauline Nelles out of the box.

9′ – Another Riveters corner after a fast-paced break forward. Taken too long and booted up the left wing and clear.

6′ – Corner for the Riveters as a backpass goes badly wrong for Steel City. Abi Hugh takes deep, headed back out for another corner. Hugh will jog across the field to take again – recycled after a clearance but ultimately booted to safety.

3′ – Early defensive turnover for the Riveters leaves Cooper in on goal for Steel City, but she pulls her shot well wide and the opportunity passes. Early warning across the Riveters bow, though!

1′ – Kickoff and we are underway at Founders Field! Riveters in their road yellows and Steel City in their home blues. All to play for here in the Great Forest division!

0′ – A beautiful June evening for the inaugural Battle of the Bridges at Founders Field. The two sides sitting one-two in the Great Forest Division and seeking to take control of their playoff destiny with a win tonight.

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