Pittsburgh Riverhounds MatchDay: Hounds Host Charlotte Eagles In Key Contest

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are back home along the banks of the Monongahela River at Highmark Stadium when they host the Charlotte Eagles on Thursday in a 7 p.m. match.

This evening’s contest is the first in a home-and-home series between the two clubs this season. For those in the Steel Army unable to make to the South Side, it will be streamed live on the USL Pro’s YouTube channel.

The Hounds (3-10-5, 14 points) are coming off of a 2-0 shutout on the road at the hands of the Oklahoma Energy FC this past Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Eagles (5-10-3, 18 points) begin a two-game road trip in Pittsburgh and Dayton after a 1-0 home defeat against expansion club Sacramento Republic FC. Charlotte is in 10th place in USL PRO standings, just four points ahead of the Riverhounds. The top eight teams will advance to the playoffs.

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The Eagles are led by midfielder Jorge Herrera, who has five goals on 27 shots while fellow midfielder Drew Yates is the leader in assists with five. Both have played in all 18 matches this season. Thomas Thompson is second on the team in shots with 24 and has put up two goals and two assists in 17 games.

Charlotte head coach Mark Steffens will have to choose who has the hot hand as both goalkeepers, Brock Duckworth and Alex Kann each have two wins this season. Duckworth has three shutouts and 25 saves to Kann’s one shutout and 20 saves.

The Hounds are looking for their second win at home this season, and a victory could get them out of the cellar as they are just two points behind Arizona United SC (5-9-3, 16 points).

Pittsburgh remains seven points out of the last playoff spot held by Oklahoma City Energy FC (6-7-3, 21 points) with nine matches still to be played. After tonight they have five contests on the road and four at home.

The Hounds hit the road and visit Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah to take on the Real Salt Lake Reserves of the MLS Reserve League on Friday, July 25 at 7 p.m. ET. They will close out the month with a visit to Bonney Field in California on Sunday, July 27 for a match with USL Pro opponent Sacramento Republic FC (10-6-2, 32 points) at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Riverhounds Reinforcements: Pittsburgh will be without striker Collins John, who was released by the team this past week to return home to Europe. John scored four goals and had one assist this season. He also added a goal and an assist in two U.S. Open Cup matches.

Jose Angulo earned honorable mention for USL Pro Team of the Week honors for Week 17.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds U-23 squad picked up their second win of the season when they shut out the Great Lakes Division first-place Michigan Bucks 2-0 on Wednesday at Highmark Stadium. The Hounds U-23 (2-9-1) are back in USL PDL action on Friday at home when they host third-place Forest City London (4-4-4) at 7 p.m.