Opportunistic Riverhounds top Louisville City, 2-0

FINAL: Riverhounds 2, Louisville City FC 0

Match Stats: USL Championship Match Center 

In a high-stakes clash between the Eastern Conference’s most decorated franchises of the last decade, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds visited Lynn Family Stadium looking for a pivotal road result.

Following a week where both sides sought redemption after recent losses, the Black and Yellow were able to capitalize and add another to the win column.

The contest centered on Pittsburgh executing on the few offensive chances they had, as well as a superhuman goalkeeping performance by Nico Campuzano.

With top-of-the-table aspirations on the line, the result keeps Pittsburgh in the hunt for a top-four seed.

The game was Rob Vincent’s first time facing LouCity in a head coach role.

Lynn Family Stadium played host to about 10,000 fans, but the Hounds proved ready for the hostile atmosphere.

An early chance for Pittsburgh paid off, as a set piece by Robbie Mertz turned into a goal by Trevor Amann. The Hounds were able to defend that lead for the rest of the first half, despite facing heavy pressure from Louisville’s front.

Unlike last week’s slow-paced matchup against Phoenix, Saturday’s contest was defined by frenetic action. Louisville went on the aggressive after Pittsburgh’s initial goal, taking multiple shots inside the 18; but Hounds goalkeeper Nico Campuzano answered the challenge, making five saves in the first half alone.

At half, LouCity had nine total shots, with three being inside the box. They controlled possession in the first half, at 64%. The Hounds were a tad less aggressive, but took the 1-0 lead into halftime and nearly scored again on a shot from Sam Bassett that bounced off the top bar.

Bassett found redemption a few minutes into the second half, taking a gutsy shot down the middle for a goal. Pittsburgh pulled ahead 2-0.

Discipline broke down somewhat for a frustrated LouCity team in the second half, as they were shown two yellow cards. A lot of the purple pressure in the second half came from the sides, and they struggled to attack down the middle.

Campuzano suffered an injury scared late in the game, but recovered in time to make back-to-back saves on the next Louisville possession.

The LouCity offense looked somewhat disjointed, and numerous open looks were off-target.

Entering tonight’s match, the Hounds were 5-0 against LouCity in Kentucky. They are now 6-0, with LouCity suffering their first back-to-back league match losses since July of 2023. Notably, the Hounds have the most wins of any visiting team at Lynn Family Stadium (3), the most wins in Louisville overall (6), and are the only current USL Championship team with a winning record in Louisville.

The 2-0 result also marks Pittsburgh’s first clean sheet of the season. They will face Charlotte Independence in the USL Cup on May 15th, before resting on a bye week and returning to the Steel City for a match against Miami FC on May 30th.

Key Moments

1st Half

2′ – Corner kick for Louisville

7′ – Ball stolen away by Pittsburgh

8′ – Set piece by Robbie Mertz, bounces into the box, scored by Trevor Amann. Pittsburgh pulls head 1-0.

11′ – LouCity corner kick

13′ – Ahl drives to the box, saved by Faundez

16′ – Shot attempt by Louisville, saved by Campuzano

21′ – Ahl out of bounds; Louisville Gaines possession

22′ – Shot by Taylor Davila for LouCity, wide right

27′ – Strong shot down the middle by Louisville, diving save by Campuzano

28′ – Shot by Perez of LouCity, saved at the right post by Campuzano

30′ – Another save by Campuzano on a shot from Jansen Wilson

35′ – Shot crossed into the box by Ahl, saved by Faundez; knocked out by Louisville, setting up corner kick for Mertz

36′ – Goal is ruled foul on Pittsburgh, no goal

39′ – Shot crossed in, leaping save by Campuzano

39′ – Deep shot by Sam Bassett nearly scores, but bounces off the top bar

40′ – Corner kick for LouCity

42′ – Jansen Wilson drives into the box from the left side, stumbles out of bounds after some contact from Jackson Walti.

44′ – Shot into the box by Totsch, saved by Campuzano with two hands

45′ – Substitution: Evan Davila and Christ Donovan come in for LouCity

47′ – Three straight headers by Pittsburgh

2nd Half

51′ – Penalty on LouCity sets up quarter kick by Robbie Mertz. Defended by the boys in purple.

52′ – Sam Bassett finds redemption, taking a similar shot to the one he took in the first half that goes for a goal.

56′ – LouCity corner kit, punched away by Campuzano.

57′ – Shot attempt by LouCity goes over the top bar.

59′ – Crossed into the box by Amman, shot by Ahl is no good

59′ – Corner kick by Mertz

61′ – Pittsburgh substitutions: Etou replaces Viera, Osumanu replaces Souza

61′ – Carlos Miguel of LouCity shown the yellow card

62′ – LouCity free kick

66′ – Throw in by Pittsburgh

67′ – Etou knocked down by Totsch, who gets a yellow card

71′ – Crowded box on a LouCity attack, saved by Campuzano

72′ – Campuzano saved a header, falls to ground with apparent ankle injury

72′ – LouCity substitution: Serrano comes in for Duncan

74′ – LouCity substitution: Dia comes in for Moguel

77′ – Pittsburgh substitution: Larsen replaces Ahl

80′ – Shot by McFadden is wide left

81′ – LouCity shot goes over the bar

87′ – LouCity Substitution: Huerman comes in for Adams

90′ – Pittsburgh substitution: Garcia comes in for Bassett

94′ – Amann knocked down with apparent face injury; yanked forcibly to his feet by Showunmi

Starting Lineups:

Riverhounds SC

GK: Nico Campuzano

DEF: Owen Mikoy

DEF: Victor Souza

DEF: Lasse Kelp

DEF: Perrin Barnes

MID: Jackson Walti

MID: Robbie Mertz

MID: Charles Ahl

MID: Max Viera

FW: Sam Bassett

FW: Trevor Amann

Bench

• Mike Sheridan
• Junior Etou
• Illal Osumanu
• Jorge Garcia
• Eliot Goldthorp
• Aldi Flowers-Gamboa
• Brigham Larsen

Louisville City FC

GK: Danny Faundez

DF: Sean Totsch

DF: Kyle Adams

DF: Carlos Moguel Jr.

MF: Manny Perez

MF: Aiden McFadden

MF: Taylor Davila

MF: Zach Duncan

FW: Tola Showunmi

FW: Jansen Wilson

FW: Mukwelle Akale

Bench

• Hugo Fauroux
• Amadou Dia
• Evan Davila
• Quenzi Huerman
• Chris Donovan
• Sam Gleadle
• Ray Serrano
• Thomas Weinrich

Kevin Hutchinson