PITTSBURGH – One of the USL Championship’s newer rivalries will be renewed for a second time in the postseason when No. 4 seed Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC hosts No. 8 seed Detroit City FC in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix with Le Rouge aiming to spring another surprise after its opening round victory at Louisville City FC. Kickoff at Highmark Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Here’s what you need to know.

How They Got Here

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (12-10-8, 44pts) – The Hounds advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since the 2022 season with a 4-2 victory in a penalty shootout against Hartford Athletic this past Saturday at Highmark Stadium. Goalkeeper Eric Dick made a key stop to open the shootout before his teammates reeled off four consecutive goals from the spot, with Sean Suber scoring the decisive finish to close the fourth round. The result saw the Hounds maintain its solid home record, with the side having gone 8-3-3 at Highmark in the regular season, allowing only 12 goals and tying for the league-lead with eight shutouts across the regular season and playoffs. Pittsburgh has yet to advance to an Eastern Conference Final in the USL-C’s modern era, however, a hurdle it will be eager to clear this time around.

Detroit City FC (9-11-10, 37pts) – Le Rouge earned their second trip to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in three seasons after recording the biggest upset in USL Championship Playoffs history with a 1-0 win against No. 1 seed Louisville City FC this past Saturday. Devon Amoo-Mensah scored the only goal of the game while Carlos Saldaña posted a three-save shutout as the visitors earned victory despite a 36-point differential between the sides in the regular season standings. Saldaña’s performance came in his first start since September 27, deputizing for Carlos Herrera, who had started the prior five games but was absent against Louisville. The result marked DCFC’s second upset of a No. 1 seed in the postseason, having previously defeated the Hounds in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2023, a result they will be aiming to emulate as the sides meet again at Highmark Stadium.

All-Time Series

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC holds a 3-2-5 advantage in the series against Detroit City FC, with the teams having split three meetings this season with Detroit taking victory in the USL Jägermeister Cup group stage before the Hounds went 1-0-1 in the regular season series between the teams.

Opta Says

4 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has conceded only four goals in the first half of games at home this season across the regular season and playoffs, the fewest of any team in the league.

6 – Detroit City FC’s goal against Louisville City FC was its sixth from corner kicks this season, accounting for three-quarters of the club’s eight set piece goals overall in the regular season and playoffs.

Players to Watch

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Robbie Mertz: The longtime Hound put in a strong performance against Hartford, completing 46 of 50 passes and recording three shots and five chances created across the 120 minutes, and will look to have a similar influence on his side’s attacking performance this time out.

Detroit City FC – Shane Weidt: The defensive veteran put in a monster display in Louisville, recording 16 clearances and two blocked shots while winning 3 of 3 ground duels and 4 of 4 aerial duels to help his side post a shutout, and he’ll be a key figure again as Detroit tries to earn another road victory.

Uniforms

Discipline Report

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – No suspensions

Detroit City FC – No suspensions

Officials
REF: Natalie Simon
AR1: Chris Schurfranz
AR2: Art Arustamyan
4TH: Atahan Yaya