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Pittsburgh Riverhounds

FINAL: Riverhounds SC 0, FC Tulsa 0, Pittsburgh wins PK shootout, 5-3 for first-ever league title

USL Championship Final

FINAL: Riverhounds 0, FC Tulsa 0

(HOUNDS WIN PK SHOOTOUT TO WIN USLC TITLE, 5-3)

MATCH STATS — USL Championship Match Center

PSN Coverage Team — John Tranchina, Reporting (on-site)

 

Instant Match Summary

For the first time in its 26-year history, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds captured a league title, doing it once again as they have all postseason with a defensive masterclass performance, playing Western Conference top-seed FC Tulsa, to a scoreless draw through 120 minutes of regulatation, then pulling out a third penalty kick shootout win in the postseason at ONEOK Field in Tulsa, OK, on Saturday afternoon.

All five Hounds’ who stepped up to the spot converted their chances, while goalkeeper Eric Dick capped an outstanding performance by making a save in the second round, denying Stefan Lucic.

The Hounds came out with a strong first half performance, then had to weather storms through the second half and into extra time, as Dick came up with five saves to keep his 16th clean sheet of 2025 and fourth of the postseason.

In winning the USL Championship playoff tournament, the Riverhounds did not allow a goal in the run of play in four matches, three which went the full 120 minutes.

Look for more coverage to come including post-match reaction from ONEOK Field. 

Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) — Eric Dick; Luke Biasi (Illal Osumanu 80’), Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach; Junior Etou, Bradley Sample (Jackson Walti 80’), Danny Griffin, Perrin Barnes; Robbie Mertz, Charles Ahl (Chase Boone 89’); Augi Williams (Bertin Jacquesson 106’)
FC Tulsa lineup (3-4-3) — Tyler Deric; Lamar Batista, Delentz Pierre, Ian; Travian Sousa (Abdoulaye Cissoko 91’), Giordano Colli, Jamie Webber (Trevor Amann 113’), Lucas Stauffer (Harvey St. Clair 91’); Kalin ElMedkhar (Stefan Lukic 70’), Taylor Calheira, Alex Dalou (Owen Damm 70’)
Scoring summary
None
Discipline summary
TUL — Alex Dalou 57’ (caution – persistent infringement)
TUL — Ian 69’ (caution – reckless foul)
TUL — Jamie Webber 74’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Danny Griffin 94’ (caution – tactical foul)
Penalty kick shootout summary
PIT (Goalkeeper: Dick) — Jacquesson, Mertz, Boone, Suber, Ydrach
TUL (Goalkeeper: Deric) — Calheira, Lukic (saved), Colli, Batista

Match Day Live

Follow along here as we’ll provide pre-match updates, post starting lineups, in-match commentary and more!

PENALTY KICK SHOOUT — HOUNDS WIN — 5-3 

Beto Ydrach hits the clincher!

All five Hounds (Jacquesson, Mertz, Boone, Suber and Ydrach) convert their kicks

Eric Dick makes cold stone save to deny Lucic!!!

SCENES

— John Morrissey (@usltactics.com) 2025-11-22T19:58:18.641Z

2nd Period of ET
PITTSBURGH 0, FC TULSA 0
HERE WE GO AGAIN!! BUCKLE UP!!
 
It’s going to penalty kicks.
 
Hounds hung on in that last period of extra time — stayed well organized but didn’t have enough to generate any shots.

112′ — Let this sink in folks — neither side has surrendered a goal in this postseason. correct if wrong but by our calcuations… Tulsa streak over 700 minutes Hounds over 650 minutes

105′ — SUB for HOUNDS

  • IN — Bertin Jacquesson
  • OUT — Augi Williams

1st Period of ET

END OF 1st PERIOD OF ET — PITTSBURGH 0, FC TULSA 0

Field has been tilted in favor of Scissortails — Hounds have been sitting deeper, but Eric Dick came up clutch again with big saves

100′ — Good work by Barnes to win a corner — but Mertz’ ball in is grabbed in air 
96′ — ERIC DICK WITH SAVE!!
Ball chipped into the box, and Dick off his line to just beat Lukic to it! A second ball in, and Eric controls after absorbing contact!

Great header by Taylor Calheira to set up Stefan Lukic for the Scissortails only for Eric Dick to come through with another big stop. #USL-C

— Nicholas Murray (@njemurray.bsky.social) 2025-11-22T19:18:33.222Z

91′ — TULSA SUBS — Two more changes at the start of added extra.

  • IN: Cissoko, St Clair
  • OUT: Sousa, Stauffer
2nd half 

END OF REGULATION — PITTSBURGH 0, FC TULSA 0

The Tussle in Tulsa will Rage on into Extra Time!!
Scissortails have slight edge (51/49) on ball & in shots (12-5, 3-1 on target)
 
It’s been a defensive masterclass on both sides, really, with only a few dangerous moments
https://twitter.com/icelation/status/1992309146105053596?s=20

88′ — HOUNDS SUB Chase Boone comes on for Charles Ahl Remember — Boone scored late in the Hartford win so he has some sub-power in him too.

80′ — First Hounds Subs
  • IN — Jackson Walti and Illal Osumanu
  • OUT — Bradley Sample and Luke Biasi
Looks like Biasi had been slowed down by a knock.
Walti’s had some good moments as sub late in season — maybe can be difference maker?
76′ – Scrum in front — on TUL corner — Eric Dick can’t punch it and it nearly goes in but floats to top of netting. A scramble of a corner kick taken toward the near post. It looked like Tulsa’s Ian was the one who popped the ball high.

73′ — YELLOW CARD — Jamie Webber goes in the books for Tulsa!

70′ — TULSA SUBS — Two changes

  • IN: Damm, Lukić
  • OUT: ElMedkhar, Dalou

Substitutions for @fctulsa.bsky.social, including the introduction of Stefan Lukic into the game.The Serbian ranks second in the #USL-C this season with six goals off the bench, including two game-winners this postseason.

— Nicholas Murray (@njemurray.bsky.social) 2025-11-22T18:41:11.039Z

65′ — Free kick for Hounds — Mertz swings in to top of box — Sample again is the target but he header goes wide and high.

59′ — as second half plays on — continues to be a grudge match with plenty of whistles slowing things down. The Hounds may have to make a set piece count!

49′ — Hounds getting a bit more going on right width — Perrin Barnes active early but can’t make a few runs count.

46′ — No changes for either side as second half starts up

HALFTIME — PITTSBURGH 0, FC TULSA 0
1st half 
Both teams with chances in what’s been a hard-fought battle. Even as it felt like the expected slugfest — it’s pretty even contest.
 
Possession is 50/50, Tulsa with 6-4 (2-1 on target) edge in shots

44′ – SO CLOSE! Danny Griffin keeps the ball alive with the overhead kick, and Augi Williams DID stay onside, but went too far right with his chance on the turn.

39′ — SAVE — ERIC DICK WITH QUICK REACTION!
 
Kalil ElMedkhar’s header from close range nearly went in under the bar, but Hounds GK swats it away.

37′ — Another foul on Tulsa sets up Hounds free kick.  This one to center of box which is redirected — looks like off Tulsa defender (or Bradley Sample??) and scrapes by outside of right post

35′ — Etou dragged down on left corner after some nice build-up — and it’s the 8th foul for the Scissortails who are trying to impose their physicality in this match.

If Pittsburgh can keeping using Augi Williams as the anchor to set up winger-wingback interplay in the channels before Tulsa can set, they're in *very* good shape.

— John Morrissey (@usltactics.com) 2025-11-22T17:51:22.369Z

30′ — Etou gets a deflected ball come to his feet following a Mertz cross — but his shot is way off!

22′ — HOUNDS CHANCE!! Saved by Deric!  Augi WIlliams is fed a nice ball and gets room behind last defender on right — and shot from just inside right side box is tip saved and goes out for corner! Charles Ahl with the over the top, direct ball from midfield.

20′ — Good defending and communication by Hounds who nearly get caught in transition.

17′ — TULSA GETS A LOOK…  Bad giveaway by Junior Etou in defensive third and build-up play between Webber and Dalou nearly puts Tulsa on the board, but the attempt ends a hair over the crossbar.

13′ –CORNER HIT! Luke Biasi cross in from the right side gets over Tulsa keeper Tyler Deric
 
Hounds finally get some decent, patient build-up there and almost found a sneaky moment there!

Almost an opening goal from what would have been the most unlikely source. Pittsburgh's Luke Biasi's floated ball goes over everyone and hit the woodwork before Tulsa can clear. #USL-C

— Nicholas Murray (@njemurray.bsky.social) 2025-11-22T17:32:48.983Z

5′ — sloppy play to start — but mostly Hounds on the ball

12:13 p.m. ET — They’ve kicked off!

11:45 a.m. — another look at how they’re lining up…

11:05 a.m.  — STARTING LINEUPS

No changes to Riverhounds starting lineup from the last two weeks

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Pre-Match Blotter

John K’s Projected Riverhounds Starting XI 

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