U.S. Open Cup – First Round
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C) vs. Steel City FC (NPSL/USL2)
INSTANT MATCH SUMMARY
After 69 years, the Pittsburgh Derby returned with enough drama to fill another seven decades.
While the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC secured a 2-1 victory and a spot in the U.S. Open Cup’s second round, the night belonged as much to the amateur spirit of Steel City FC, who pushed the professionals to the final whistle at a chilly Highmark Stadium.
After the match both coaches had differing takeaways from the match, and it wasn’t what you might typically expect.
The victorious Riverhounds Head Coach Rob Vincent was disappointed in his team’s intensity and execution, while Steel City FC’s Dan Brower was proud of his club for standing toe-to-toe with the USL Championship title holders.
“We’re million miles away from where we want to be,” Vincent said in the post match press conference.
“From minute one, there was a lack of intensity. We wanted to drive the tempo. Make it hard for them. Press properly. Move the ball quickly. We didn’t do that. It was really poor.”
“We showed our fight,” Brower said.
“And that’s what Steel City is all about.”
Match Summary
The Hounds exerted their professional pedigree early in the 7th minute, with captain Danny Griffin pouncing on a corner kick scrum to poke home a 1-0 lead. It looked like the “reset” the Hounds needed, but Dan Brower’s Steel City side refused to follow the script.
Following a second-half brace from Hounds substitute Charles Ahl in the 66th and 73rd minutes (the latter a blistering strike into the right side), the match seemed settled at 2-0. However, the “magic of the cup” sparked to life in the 76th minute when Carlos Santamaria—Steel City’s standout debutant—was fouled just inside the box. Nick Graeca stepped up and coolly slotted the penalty to make it 2-1, sending the Highmark crowd into a frenzy.
The final ten minutes were a chaotic blur. Steel City’s hopes took a hit in the 86th minute when Will Afawubo was sent off after a second yellow card, leaving them with 10 men. Despite the disadvantage and seven minutes of stoppage time, the amateurs never stopped pressing, forcing the Hounds to scramble to the finish line.
⏱️ LIVE MATCH TRACKER
We are here live at Highmark Stadium — as the first match between two Pittsburgh teams in the US Open Cup (proper) is finally happening. Follow along with our live updates here…
2nd Half Updates
FINAL — RIVERHOUNDS 2, STEEL CITY FC 1
The Hounds move on to the Open Cup’s second round but Steel City FC never stopped pushing, pressing and fighting for 90-plus minutes.
90′ — Seven minutes of stoppage time added.
86′ — RED CARD! Will Afawubo is sent off after his second yellow card for a hard challenge! SCFC down to 10 men!
84′ — Ahl straddles the edge of box — drives a shot saved by Dominguez
77′ — GOAL!! STEEL CITY FC
Nick Graeca slots the PK into the right.
76′ — PENALTY!!
Carlos Santamaria is fouled just as he gets inside box. Steel City with a PK coming!
73′ — GOAL!! RIVERHOUNDS 2, STEEL CITY 0
Charles Ahl picks up a loose ball and blasts it into the right side.
70′ — HOUNDS SUBS
IN — Brigham Larsen, Bradley Sample
OUT — Mertz, Walti
66′ — STEEL CITY SUBS —
IN — 77 Afawubo and 17 Boehm
OUT — Koah and Prex
66′ — GOAL — HOUNDS 2, STEEL CITY 0
Charles Ahl is there to drive it into the back of net.
59′ — SUBS — HOUNDS
OUT — Griffin, Goldthorp,
IN — Barnes, Bassett, Ahl
54′ — Steel City charges forward again. Diagonal ball for Hadran — who breaks into box and is denied by solid tackle but ball goes out for corner.
51′ — Chance for Steel City! Dylan Sumner has room at top of box — lets a low liner to the inside of near post and Hounds’ Nico Campuzano dives to make the save.
HALFTIME REPORT
After 69 years of waiting, the first half of the all-Pittsburgh U.S. Open Cup derby has lived up to the physical, high-intensity billing.
At the break, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC hold a 1-0 lead over Steel City FC, thanks to an early opportunistic strike from captain Danny Griffin.
The Breakthrough
The Hounds wasted no time asserting their professional pedigree. In the 7th minute, a corner kick scrum resulted in the ball falling to the feet of Danny Griffin, who poked it home to give the Hounds the early advantage. It was the exact “reset” Rob Vincent called for after a scoreless, shotless first half in Tampa Bay last weekend.
First Half Key Moments
7′ — GOAL (PIT): Danny Griffin capitalizes on a loose ball in the box following a corner. 1-0 Hounds.
26′ — YELLOW CARD (STC): Debutant Carlos Santamaria receives a booking for a tactical foul, leaning into the back of Eliot Goldthorp to break up a midfield transition.
34′ — SAVE: Robbie Mertz unleashes a diagonal “laser” from inside the box, but Steel City’s Martin Dominguez stays big to punch it away.
38′ — THE SCARES: Steel City nearly found an equalizer when Amann got behind the Hounds’ backline on a long ball. While the Hounds’ defenders paused for an offside flag that never came, Dominguez sprinted off his line to deny the point-blank chance.
While the Hounds have dictated the tempo with 55% possession and a dominant 8-0 shots advantage, Steel City FC has refused to bunkered down. Dan Brower’s side has maintained an aggressive high press since the opening whistle, successfully disrupting the Hounds’ build-up play for large stretches of the half.
Since the opening goal, the match has leveled out into a gritty, end-to-end affair, with Steel City proving they can physically compete with their professional neighbors.
Halftime Stats:
HALF — RIVERHOUNDS 1, STEEL CITY 0
The Hounds capitalized on the early opportunity from corner kick scrum — to take an early lead off Danny Griffin’s foot. Otherwise, the pros have dictated terms with 55 percent possession and a decisive 8-0 shots advantage while also generating a couple other solid chances in a match where they’ve fended off Steel City FC’s high energy efforts to press and disrupt things.
38′ — Amann gets behind the Hounds line on a long ball over top — SCFC defender have hands up for off side — but play on and Dominguez comes way off line to deny Amann chance.
34′ — Chance! Mertz with diagonal run as he gets into box unleashes a laser — right at Dominguez who punches it away
29′ — Good build-up with diagonal ball over to right for Hounds’ Max Viera — who has his shot saved (didn’t look like it was going in) by Martin Dominguez.
26′ — YELLOW CARD — Newest Steel City midfielder Carlos Santamaria — drawing back to slow down Eliot Goldthorp at midfield with a hard lean in the back.
20′ — Steel City not sitting back by any means. They started the match in a high press and have kept it up. Since the goal it’s been pretty even match.
7′ — GOAL!! RIVERHOUNDS 1, STEEL CITY FC 0
7:05 p.m. — match has kicked off — Hounds in home all-black kits with gold trim and Steel City FC in all white kits.
6:30 p.m. — Starting Lineups have been posted! Hounds going with a pretty strong XI and solid 18. Steel City with a strong mix of local players and a few new additions. The most recent being Carlos Santamaria, who helped lead NC State to NCAA College Cup last season.
Former #Rapids96 mid Sam Bassett on the bench for #RiverhoundsSC in their #USOC2026 matchup with Steel City FC.
— Soccer_Rabbi, Mark Asher Goodman (@rabbimarkasherg.bsky.social) 2026-03-25T22:56:05.907Z
PRE-MATCH BRIEFING
The Stakes: A 69-year wait ends tonight for the all-Pittsburgh Derby in the Open Cup. The winner advances to the Second Round of the 111th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The Narrative: Professional rotation vs. Amateur ambition.
The Opposition: Dan Brower’s Steel City FC brings a “Pro-Am” roster featuring Martin Dominguez (SMU/Oregon State) and a heavy Robert Morris University contingent.
📋 THE LINEUPS
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS (3-4-2-1)
STEEL CITY FC (4-3-3)
Player
High School
Academy / College Affiliation
Club
Aldi Flowers-Gamboa
Plum
Current Hounds Academy Player
Hounds
Warren Agostoni
Latrobe
Current Hounds Academy Player
Hounds
Robbie Mertz
Upper St. Clair
University of Michigan
Hounds
Ryan Schoemer
Norwin
Current Steel City Academy Player
Steel City
Nick Niebauer
Butler
Current Steel City Academy Player
Steel City
Michael Bishop
Allderdice
Current Steel City Academy Player
Steel City
Sean Regan
Fox Chapel
Current Steel City Academy Player
Steel City
Zander Pliza
Hampton
Pitt-Greensburg
Steel City
Luke Kost
Trinity Christian
Geneva College
Steel City
Logon Poppert
Central Catholic
Current Steel City Academy Player
Steel City
Nathan Prex
Seneca Valley
Lebanon Valley College
Steel City
Cam Territo
South Allegheny
Western Illinois University
Steel City
Nick Graeca
DuBois
John Carroll University
Steel City
Clint McElheny
Shaler
Robert Morris University
Steel City
Nolan Hutter
Montour
University of Dayton
Steel City
Steel City have added some talented players to its roster for 2026 which could be X-Factors in this match and for their pending USL League Two campaign.
These players include:
Martin Dominguez (GK) – A marquee addition between the posts. Unlike many local keepers, Dominguez brings experience from elite NCAA programs — SMU and Oregon State (ACC & Pac-12). His shot-stopping ability at the professional-trialist level is what Steel City needs to survive an early Hounds barrage.
Dylan Sumner (MF/F) – The 2024 NEC Player of the Year. Sumner is a prolific goal-scorer who successfully transitioned Mercyhurst to Division I. He’s clinical, experienced, and has the “clutch” gene—scoring 14 goals in 2023. If the Hounds’ backline sleeps, Sumner will find the net. Sumner is now a coach at Point Park.
Joel Sangwa (DEF) – A physical, modern center-back. Sangwa brings MLS NEXT Pro experience from Nashville SC’s affiliate, Huntsville, where Danny Griffin played briefly along with Sean Suber. His familiarity with professional speed of play means he won’t be rattled by the Hounds’ press, and his aerial dominance (6’0″+) is key to neutralizing the Hounds’ set pieces.
Jervel Tobierre (DEF) – Tobierre brings a level of veteran leadership that amateur sides often lack in the Open Cup. His ability to organize the backline under pressure will be vital during the inevitable Hounds waves of pressure. Tobierre is also a coach now at Slippery Rock.
Steel City FC Roster
Goalkeepers (GK)
Defenders (DEF)
Joel Sangwa: University of Akron (Former Huntsville City FC / MLS NEXT Pro)
Jervel Tobierre: University of South Carolina Aiken (Former captain / St. Lucia youth international)
Will Afawuba: Robert Morris University (Key defensive starter)
Nolan Hutter: University of Dayton (Montour HS alum)
Clint McElheny: Seton Hill University (Shaler HS alum)
Victor Koah: Robert Morris University (Kinetic Academy roots)
Michael Bishop*: Allderdice HS (Steel City Academy Homegrown)
Sean Regan*: Fox Chapel HS (Steel City Academy Homegrown)
Zander Pliza*: Pitt-Greensburg (Hampton HS alum / Academy Homegrown)
Midfielders (MF)
Anass Hadran: Robert Morris University (2024 All-Horizon League)
Dylan Sumner: Mercyhurst (2024 NEC Player of the Year)
Grant McIntosh: Duquesne University (Plano, TX / Dallas MLS Next Pro) — UPDATE — A key contributor to 2025 Steel City FC squad that won USL Great Forest Division, Grant will be unable to play in this match.
Nick Graeca: John Carroll University (DuBois HS alum)
Cam Territo: Western Illinois University (South Allegheny HS alum)
Luke Kost*: Geneva College (Trinity Christian alum / Academy Homegrown)
Logon Poppert*: Central Catholic HS (Steel City Academy Homegrown)
Will Dunda: Geneva College (All-PAC selection)
Forwards (F)
Nathan Prex: Lebanon Valley College (Seneca Valley HS alum)
Nick Niebauer: Butler (Steel City Academy Homegrown / WPIAL standout / MLS Nest Pro)
Ryan Schoemer*: Norwin HS (Steel City Academy Homegrown / WPIAL standout)
Sam Boehm: Regional standout (Connecticut College)
Coaching Staff
Dan Brower: Head Coach
Steve Rerick: Assistant Coach / GK Coach
Mike Gardner: Assistant Coach
Mike Sapsara: Assistant Coach
*Denotes Homegrown/Steel City Academy player status.
