PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC advanced to the Fourth Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday as a pair of second-half goals by Edward Kizza and Burke Fahling led the hosts to a 2-0 victory against Maryland Bobcats FC at Highmark Stadium.

The victory marked the second consecutive win for the Hounds against the Bobcats in the Open Cup, and booked Pittsburgh’s first trip to the Fourth Round since 2019.

The Hounds entered the match with a handful of players making their first starts for the club, and the team put out a strong performance with 58 percent of possession and a 22-6 edge in shots. The hosts were unable to find a breakthrough, however, as Tola Showunmi shot wide after good work by DZ Harmon midway through the half before Fahling forced a pair of saves by Bobcats goalkeeper Alex Sutton with consecutive shots in the 36th and 38th minute.

The Bobcats threatened early in the second half, and their leading scorer, Darwin Espinal, weaved into the penalty area to force one of three saves by Hounds goalkeeper Christian Garner in the 57th minute.

The Hounds then went to the bench with 20 minutes to play, with Kizza one of those introduced, and last year’s hero in the club’s USL Championship Playoffs victory at Birmingham Legion FC came through again. Luke Biasi chipped a ball from the right side to the back post, where Showunmi rose to head the ball back in front of goal for Kizza to power home with nine minutes left to play.

Pittsburgh added a second goal to put the game away as Academy signing Anders Bordoy found himself with room to shoot from the top of the penalty area. Sutton made the initial save, but Fahling was in the right spot to put home the rebound, sealing a place in Thursday’s draw.

MINNESOTA UNITED FC 3, DETROIT CITY FC 1: Detroit City FC appeared in with a chance of a second consecutive year with an upset of an MLS squad at Keyworth Stadium after taking an early lead, but a volley of finishes by Minnesota United FC midway through the second half sent then Loons into the next round.

Le Rouge made an ideal start as in the fifth minute a turnover of possession saw the hosts shift the ball to Yazeed Matthews, who scored his second goal of the tournament with a precise low shot from 20 yards that clipped the inside of the left post and found the back of the net. Detroit carried its lead to halftime, and early in the second half held onto its advantage as goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher made three impressive saves.

Minnesota finally broke through on the hour-mark, though, as Franco Fragapane shot home from the left side of the penalty area off a pass by Cameron Dunbar. Three minutes later the Loons took the lead as Emmanuel Iwe’s shot deflected home, and there was another deflection on Luis Amarilla’s goal in the 66th minute that effectively iced the contest.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 2, HARTFORD ATLETIC 1: Former USL Championship standout Dave Romney provided the winner for the New England Revolution after Hartford Athletic had battled back from a halftime deficit through Antoine Hoppenot before falling at Gillette Stadium.

Hartford went inches away from an early lead in the seventh minute when Juan Pablo Torres lobbed a ball across midfield that was misplayed by a Revolution defender, creating a three-on-two for Antoine Hoppenot. The playmaker found Prince Saydee, whose first-time shot rang off the post, offering a reprieve for the hosts.

New England took the lead in the 13th minute, however, when Justin Rennicks headed Damián Rivera’s corner kick home at the near post. The visitors continued to press, though, with Saydee providing pressure with five shots overall on the night. The Athletic came closest to pulling even before the break shortly before halftime as a low cross wasn’t cleanly handled by New England goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. Revolution defender Joshua Bolma tried to clear, but the ball hit teammate Omar González and redirected off the left post before Jeciel Cedeño’s effort on the rebound was blocked by Bolma.

Hartford pulled level seven minutes into the second half when Hoppenot capitalized on a cross by Saydee after the Liberian winger had created space past a pair of defenders. The Athletic were unable to find the lead after that, however, and with 14 minutes to go Romney provided the decisive finish as he tapped home a cross by Carles Gil from close range.