Riverhounds Set To Face D.C. United In U.S. Open Cup Match
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Preview provided by Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds host a Major League Soccer opponent at Highmark Stadium for the first time tonight when D.C. United takes the field in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Head coach Mark Steffens has led the Hounds into the tournament's last 32 teams with home wins over USL Premier Development League amateurs West Virginia Chaos and the North American Soccer League's Tampa Bay Rowdies. This is the first round of the competition to feature teams from the MLS level.
Tonight's game carries particular meaning for D.C. United's General Manager Dave Kasper. The Bridgeville, Pennsylvania native served as the Riverhounds' inaugural vice president and general manager when the team was founded in 1998 before leaving for MLS in 2001.
"To go back not only to see the new stadium, because I haven't seen it yet, but to play a match there against the club that I had a part in building is unbelievable," Kasper told Riverhounds.com earlier this week.
All seats for tonight's game have been sold. Limited spaces remain in the Club Level and standing areas. Please call the Highmark Stadium box office on (412)-325-7241 for ticket inquiries.
The game will also be streamed live on Riverhounds.com.
Pittsburgh's recent 6-game unbeaten run ended last Saturday in a 2-1 loss at Charlotte Independence in the USL's Eastern Conference. Lebo Moloto put the Hounds ahead at halftime with his second league goal of the season before Carlos Alvarez and Jorge Herrera turned the game in Charlotte's favor.
Moloto left the field late on after straining his left hamstring. The 25-year-old South African will miss tonight's game and is doubtful for Saturday's USL clash with F.C. Montreal.
Matt Dallman remains sidelined with a hip flexor injury and rookie forward Amara Soumah misses out after twisting his right ankle in training last week.
Hounds captain Danny Earls is available tonight despite being sent off in Charlotte for a deliberate handball offense. The Irishman will serve his suspension Saturday in USL play.
Steffens will choose between Ryan Hulings and Calle Brown for his starting goalkeeper. Matt Lampson joined the team in Charlotte at the weekend after the Hounds arranged a short-term loan from the Columbus Crew. Lampson is not available for the U.S. Open Cup competition.
D.C. United also suffered a single-goal loss on the road last weekend. Brazilian designated player Kaka notched the only goal in Orlando City's win over the Eastern Conference leaders on Sunday night.
Current United head coach Ben Olsen led the Black and Reds to a third U.S. Open Cup trophy two years ago with a 1-0 win at Real Salt Lake in the final. Olsen was on D.C.'s playing staff when it beat the Charleston Battery in the 2008 final. Bruce Arena guided the franchise to its first cup win in 1996 at the expense of the Rochester Rhinos.
The Hounds have met D.C. United once before in U.S. Open Cup play. Goals by Mike Petke and Dema Kovalenko steered the MLS franchise to a 2-1 win at the Maryland SoccerPlex in July 2003. Brazilian forward Thiago Martins scored the Hounds' consolation goal.
Pittsburgh holds a 1-3-0 all-time record in Open Cup play against MLS sides. The sole victory came in a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids at Bethel Park High School in June 2001. Alfredo Ulloa and Phil Karn were the Hounds' goal scorers.
Chicago Fire ousted Pittsburgh from last year's competition at the fourth round stage by virtue of a 2-1 lead when bad weather halted play after 49 minutes.
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