Riverhounds Match Day Notebook: Regular season finale vs Birmingham

USL Championship Match Day 30

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (12-11-6, 42 pts) vs. Birmingham Legion FC (6-12-11, 30 pts)

Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. EDT

Location: F.N.B. Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Broadcast: SportsNet Pittsburgh+ / CBS Sports Golazo Network

PSN Coverage Team: John Krysinsky (Reporting) | Ed Thompson (Photography) — follow on PSN’s Twitter & Instagram Stories

Key Match Storylines

Setting the Scene: Finishing Strong at Home

After a whirlwind week balancing local high school coverage, it is officially Match Day on the Mon for the regular season finale!

The Riverhounds return to F.N.B. Stadium to host a Birmingham Legion FC squad that Rob Vincent noted a few weeks ago would be entering the late-season stretch in a completely different mental space than teams like Rhode Island or Hartford. With Birmingham eliminated from postseason contention, the Hounds face a dangerous opponent playing with zero pressure and nothing to lose.

For Rob Vincent’s squad, tonight is all about maintaining sharp tactical rhythm and momentum. Fresh off Eliot Goldthorpe’s miraculous 95th-minute acrobatic equalizer in Rhode Island—where the Hounds scraped out a 1-1 draw despite being heavily outplayed—Pittsburgh has proven once again that its championship-tested resolve remains fully intact when the margin for error shrinks to zero.

More on Birmingham

The Hounds will be eager to bounce back against a Birmingham Legion FC squad that earned a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh back on April 12 in Alabama.

Though Birmingham was eliminated from postseason contention weeks ago, they haven’t backed down late in the year, coming off a 2-1 midweek victory over Brooklyn FC behind a brace from Sebastian Tregarthen. With dangerous weapons like top scorer Romario Williams (7 goals), Ronaldo Damus (6 goals), Tregarthen (6 goals), and former Hound Tyler Pasher (5 goals), Legion FC presents a potent front line that will test Pittsburgh’s backline early.

Fall soccer continues to favor the Hounds, who boast a 16-3-6 record in October regular-season matches dating back to 2019. Furthermore, Pittsburgh holds a dominant 5-0-1 all-time home record against Birmingham, including five league victories and a memorable 2019 playoff romp.

Playoff Seeding & Destination Outlook

Louisville City FC’s midweek win in Jacksonville locked up the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, officially taking first-round home-field advantage off the table for Pittsburgh. However, seeding positioning—and the vital right to potentially host later playoff rounds if higher-seeded teams suffer early upsets—remains on the line tonight.

How the Seeding Shakes Out:

• 5th Seed: The Hounds finish 5th with a win over Birmingham OR a draw combined with a draw between Hartford and Rhode Island.

• 6th Seed: Any other combination of results locks Pittsburgh into the 6th seed.

Depending on final results across the league tonight, the Hounds are set to travel to either Detroit City FC (3rd, 50 pts), Charleston Battery (2nd, 50 pts), or Louisville City FC (4th, 46 pts) for Round 1 of the postseason.

3. Injury Report & Squad Health

The Hounds technical staff carries an unchanged availability report from last week’s road trip:

• Albert Dikwa (“Chico”) (FWD): QUESTIONABLE (Upper Body / Calf). Continued working through individual progressions this week.

• Lasse Kelp (DF): QUESTIONABLE (Lower Body).

• Max Viera (MF): OUT (Knee).

4. Tactical Outlook & Projected Starting XI

Tactical Approach:

Rob Vincent will want his primary unit operating at full throttle to establish control early. Expect Pittsburgh to play on the front foot in a fluid 4-4-2 / 4-2-3-1 hybrid, aiming to dominate possession through the double pivot of Griffin and Walti while using Mertz and Ahl to supply width and create high-percentage service for Trevor Amann.

Projected Starting XI:

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).