USL Championship — Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
FINAL: #4 Riverhounds 0, #5 Hartford Athletic 0 (Pittsburgh win PK shootout, 4-2)
Match Statistics: USL Championship Match Center
Rapid Recap
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC survived and advanced by defeating Hartford Athletic in USL Championship Eastern Conference in a match that went the distance, ultimately decided by a penalty kick shootout, where the home side prevailed, 4-2.
Goalkeeper Eric Dick made the initial save in the shootout, denying Hartford’s first attempt from former USL Most Outstanding Player and Golden Boot winner, Hadji Berry. From there, Pittsburgh’s shooters, Robbie Mertz, Bertin Jacquesson, Augi Williams and Sean Suber connected on the clincher.
“We have to prepare for anything. It was definitely a cagey game. But we had to keep fighting,” Rob Vincent, Riverhounds Acting Head Coach, said shortly after the match.
In advancing in the USL Cup Tournament, the Hounds will now host Detroit City FC, who stunned the Players Shield Winners, Louisville City FC, 1-0, earlier in the evening.
The first half of the match started with the visitors looking to get forward quickly — generating a few dangerous moments in the first two minutes.
Hartford took the opening kick and generated an early chance, from outside the box, when midfielder Marlon Hairston ripped a chance from just outside the box.
Moments later, Hartford got forward quickly, with Samuel Careaga with a burst to the edge of the endline — found room to drive a low shot into goal.
Hounds fans would breathe a sigh of relief — as Green and Blue were offside.
“We looked really nervous. Hoping we can get through that spell,” Vincent added.
“There’s always going to be a lot of energy. We had to do our best to keep our emotions in check.”
As the proceedings began to get chippy as both sides were flying around in the first 10 minutes, Luke Biasi was caught behind Hartford’s Michee Ngalina, then made contact — drawing the match official to pull out the book for a yellow card. The Hounds’ most carded player this season is was already put into the books early in the match.
For the next 10 to 12 minutes, the match saw numerous stoppages, culminating with Dick’s knock down of Hartford’s Joey Farrell as both went up for a high ball at far post.
Pittsburgh’s best chance of the half came when Robbie Mertz’s free kick sent to back post connected with defender Beto Ydrach, who redirected a blazing header low toward the inside right post but a diving save by Hartford keeper Antony Siaha.
The first half played out with the Hounds really getting more comfortable on the ball — owning the possession edge by a 64/36 differential.
The second period things shifted to a tighter affair with the Hounds having a slight edge in shots for the last 45 (3-2) — and the same carried through in extra time, with no decisive moments or chances — giving way to the match being decided on penalties.
For Pittsburgh, it was the fourth penalty kick shootout in the postseason in the Highmark Stadium era and the first which they prevailed at home.
Look for a more detailed recap to follow in this thread, plus reaction here and on Pittsburgh Soccer Now’s social media platforms.
Match Day Updates
Check out the latest match updates, in-game commentary, social media highlights and more from Highmark Stadium below as PSN’s John Krysinsky will be anchoring coverage…
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PK SHOOT OUT — PITTSBURGH WINS PKs 4-2
Sean Suber clinches it.
PIT 4th
SEAN SUBER CLINCHES THE PK SHOOTOUT WIN!! @RiverhoundsSC 0 @hfdathletic 0
Pittsburgh advances to Eastern Conference Semifinal Round next week — HOSTING @DetroitCityFC who upset Louisville City today.
We'll have much more to come from Highmark!!!
— Pittsburgh Soccer Now (@pghsoccernow) November 2, 2025
END OF SECOND PERIOD OF EXTRA TIME – PITTSBURGH 0, HARTFORD 0
109′ — Foul! Junior Etou goes flying over to evade defender but there’s contact. YELLOW CARD goes to Hartfords Josh Belluz
END OF FIRST PERIOD OF EXTRA TIME — PITTSBURGH 0, HARTFORD 0
91′ — HOUNDS SUB — As extra time starts, Bertin Jacquesson comes in for Bradley Sample.
END OF REGULATION! PITTSBURGH 0, HARTFORD 0
Neither side could find breakthrough as stoppage time dragged. Hounds only had three shots in 2nd half while Hartford had two — so all that emotion and energy in early portions of the match has given way to a slower pace.
90’+6 — Junior Etou is fouled on left side. Set piece from Mertz — ball in center of box is cleared away as Hounds D Sean Suber nearly gets a clean header on it.
90′ + 3 — Hounds Chance!! Ydrich gets to endline then sends a hard low cross for Mertz right at goal box — but one-time shot chance is blocked.
90” — YELLOW CARDS!!! — Hartford Marlon Hairston is booked after a hard collision with Augi Williams. Hard to tell if there was any intent. The bench — not happy with the call erupts — and HC Brendan Burke is also carded
88′ — HOUNDS SUB!
It’s a defender for defender swap — as Guillaume Vacter comes out for Illal Osumanu
85′ — Jackson Walti has room outside the box — but he sails it way too high.
84′ — just looking at live stats — just ONE shot for each team in 2nd half — neither on target. Lots of play in midfield.
83′ — Hartford counter sees ball into box and soft but very high header that sails to Hounds GK Eric Dick
79′ — HOUNDS SUB!
This time — Charles Ahl comes off with Jackson Walti coming on. This will force the midfield rotation to shift a bit. Look for Danny Griffin to come up higher in attack.
63′ — HOUNDS SUB!
Luke Biasi — sitting on yellow card — gives way to Perrin Barnes
58′ — TWO YELLOW CARDS! We’ve reach peak chippy-ness — as skirmish takes place after whistle when Mertz is down on ball and wouldn’t get up. At the end of it — official handed out a card to Mertz and HFD GK Antony Siaha.
55′ — Back to physical play — Augi Williams get knocked to ground but official lets it go and the crowd roars about as loud as it has all night
52′ — Hartford gets forward nicely — ends with Ngalina at the top of the box sending a shot that missed wide right.
HALF — PITTSBURGH 0, HARTFORD 0
After an emotional, intense, physical first 30 minutes, the Hounds have taken control of the match — both on the ball *64/36 poss edge) & limiting Hartford’s chances (all four-outside box)
45’+2 — Hartford’s Sebastian Anderson right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. First shot from Hartford in a while.
43′ — YELLOW CARD — Beverly Makangila
32′ — Danny Griffin shot a bit too high. Came from Augustine Williams cross.
29′ — FREE KICK — Great chance — Mertz’ ball to back post connects with Beto Ydrach — header to inside right post — but great diving save by HFD keeper -Antony Siaha
26′ — Match finally settling down a little bit — as Hounds starting to exert more time on the ball with some solid build up play. Hounds currently have 60/40 possession edge.
12′ — Absolutely ZERO flow to this match as there’s been quite a few whistles over the last few minutes. Latest collision — Eric Dick knocks down Hartford attacker when going up for high ball at far post.
8′ — YELLOW CARD — Luke Biasi — behind Hartford’s Michee Ngalina. Biasi makes contact after getting behind Hartford’s Michee Ngalina. Hartford free kick is cleared away. Hounds’ most carded player this season is already in the books and will need to keep his play in check.
2′ — Goal waved off!!! Hartford again gets forward quickly but Samuel Careaga who buried the shot was offside.
1′ — Hartford coming out fast — chance saved by Hounds GK Eric Dick. It was none other than Marlon Hairston with the chance.
6:36 — It’s a strange kickoff time — but nonetheless — we’ve kicked off!!
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Hounds lineup with few surprises. In fact, no changes from how they lined up the past few weeks of the regular season.
Couple people asking what my thoughts were and how it’s going to go. As discussed on Sounding Off on Soccer podcast with play-by-play announcer for this match, Joe Malfa, it will be a contrast of styles. The Hounds will have to be aggressive when opportunities present and keep match titled in its favor. If they score in the first 15 minutes of the match — I like their chances.
Starting Lineups
Injury Report: Hounds only list Aidan O’Toole (knee) as out.
PSN’s Riverhounds vs Hartford Playoff Content
With home playoff match vs Hartford, Riverhounds will look to chip away postseason demons
Preview: The Epic Drama that is a rematch with Hartford Athletic
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).
