Double Trouble: Trevor Amann and Albert Dikwa propel Riverhounds past Loudoun United, 2-0, in USL Cup Finale

A fairly heavily rotated Pittsburgh Riverhounds side closed out their Prinx Tires USL Cup campaign with a 2-0 win against Eastern Conference foes Loudoun United FC at F.N.B. Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Riverhounds’ attack was led by a pair of goals from its starting forward duo, Trevor Amann and Albert Dikwa, while goalkeeper Mitch Budler earned the clean sheet with three saves.

“We did want to make sure we responded with a good performance,” Rob Vincent, Riverhounds Head Coach, said.

“We felt like we were creating the more dangerous chances.”

While neither side could advance past the Group F stage in the USL Cup due to results elsewhere in the bracket, the match served as a vital laboratory for Rob Vincent to examine his bench before an upcoming three-match league gauntlet.

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Match Summary & Key Moments

First Half Breakdown

In the 4th minute, Albert Dikwa had a great chance on goal, with a strong shot to the top-center of the net. The keeper jumped up and punched it away. Jackson Walti got another chance on it, but the shot went wide right. Walti had another chance in the 9th minute, but the shot went over the net.

Loudoun largely controlled possession early, spreading the ball around their back line. Pittsburgh struggled to break the chain of possession and get chances. Walti was a constant, physical presence in the midfield. He was aggressive, with three shot attempts in the first 16 minutes.

Pittsburgh’s first big chance came when Trevor Amann got fouled by the Loudoun keeper, setting up a PK. Amann scored on it shooting to the left of the keeper and giving the Hounds a 1-0 advantage.

Hounds GK Mitch Budler made an athletic save in the 22nd minute, blocking a Loudoun shot that was crossed into the box.

Loudoun kept up with their keep-away style of play, maneuvering around the Hounds. Physicality intensified around midfield, with a lot of battles for headers.

Amann was a highlight on the front line, showing aggression and creating chances. The Hounds had an amazing chance on a goal kick late in the half, but Bandré dove to the right post to make the crucial save.

Amann got fouled again, and Noah Adnan for Loudoun got the foul.

• Key Moments:

  • 17′ — Trevor Amann fouled by the Loudoun keeper, chopped down on a shot attempt
  • 19′ — Amann scores on the penalty kick, puts the Hounds ahead 1-0
  • 35′ — Another chance on an Amann header, hit over the box
  • 39′ — Amann scores on a header, but the goal is called offside and taken away
  • 43′ — Junior Etou chopped down, yellow card given to Mazzaferro for Loudoun
  • 45′ — SUB (PIT): Charles Ahl comes in for Etou

Second Half Adjustments

Pittsburgh got more aggressive in the second half, getting more physical and generating more chances. There was more physicality in the midfield, and Pittsburgh found more fluidity with their passing.

In the 66th minute, Albert Dikwa found the back of the net, giving the Hounds a 2-0 advantage.

Loudoun kept attacking, and had a good chance in the 75th minute. But Pittsburgh made some late subs to ice the game.

Loudoun had another quality chance in the 83rd minute but got snuffed out by Budler, who ended up having a great game.

Despite the game being a technically meaningless outing, Pittsburgh showed a strong effort in rebounding from their disappointing Fourth of July performance. The roster showed its depth by keeping a clean sheet at home.

• Key Moments:
  • 53′ — Loudoun gets it into the box, blocked by Campuzano
  • 58′ — Hounds free kick, foul on Dikwa
  • 61′ — SUB (PIT): Victor Souza comes in for Guillaume Vacter
  • 61′ — SUB (LDN): Pacifique Niyongabire comes in for Andrés Souper
  • 61′ — SUB (PIT): Eliot Goldthorp replaces Trevor Amann
  • 66′ — Albert Dikwa goal assisted by Charles Ahl, Hounds go up 2-0
  • 71′ — SUB (PIT): Robbie Mertz comes in for Danny Griffin
  • 71′ — SUB (LDN): Sean Young replaces Salvatore Mazzaferro
  • 71′ — SUB (PIT): Owen Mikoy replaces Perrin Barnes

Late Drama — Not So Much

There was not much intensity late, as Pittsburgh had the game well in hand. Walti and Barnes remained strong presences defensively, and Loudoun struggled to find answers and create a late spark. Pittsburgh held on for the three minutes of stoppage time and secured the USL Cup win.

Post-Match Reaction: From the Press Box (Trevor Amann & Head Coach Rob Vincent)

“I think it’s good for us as a team to get a result tonight,” Amann said. “(We want to) try to always focus on what’s next…continuing to build on these performances like tonight and then hopefully we get results in the end.”

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Match Takeaways & Notes

1. The Next Man Up Test: What did the Hounds squad rotation look like?

   • Trevor Amann got the start at forward, but so did Albert Dikwa as for the first time this season the Hounds went with both off season target forward additions in the same starting lineup. Sure enough, Rob Vincent’s experimentation with this double forward set up paid off as each scored a goal.

2. Did anyone step up and have a big game?
   • In his first start since returning from injury, Guillaume Vacter played 61 minutes, with four defensive contributions, four clearances and three recoveries
   • The USL Cup match provided Mitch Budler to earn a start, where he wasn’t too busy but did pick up three saves.
   • The two highest rated Hounds according to FotMob.com, were Dikwa (8.0) and midfielder Jackson Walti (7.9).  Walti was sharp, with 86% passing accuracy, with nine passes into the final third and six defensive contributions.

3. Are Loudoun as helpless as their record indicates?

• • The visitors did generate three shots on frame and with Pittsburgh leading most of the match, held the possession edge (55/45), but once again it was another comfortable margin for Pittsburgh in this series, which stretching back to 2018, has seen the Hounds now post a 14W-2L-2D record.

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