PITTSBURGH – The defending Eastern Conference title-holders will try to advance to a second consecutive USL Championship Final against one of the league’s original members playing in its first Conference Final when No. 4 seed Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC hosts No. 7 seed Rhode Island FC in the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix on Saturday night. Kickoff at Highmark Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 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 recorded a second consecutive victory in a penalty shootout to advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in club history last Saturday night, eliminating Detroit City FC 4-3 from the spot as Beto Ydrach scored the decisive goal in the fifth round after the sides ended scoreless after regulation and extra time before a club-record crowd of 6,220 at Highmark Stadium. Pittsburgh’s shutout allowed the side to advance despite the side having yet to score this postseason, with its 422-minute shutout streak across the regular season and playoffs now the club’s fourth-longest in the USL Championship era. Pittsburgh’s stellar defensive performances have seen the side allow only 0.71 Expected Goals Against across 240 minutes in the postseason, and now the side will try to reach the USL Championship for the first time with another packed house behind them.

Rhode Island FC (10-12-8, 38pts) – Rhode Island advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for a second consecutive postseason with a 2-0 victory against North Carolina FC last Saturday night as Albert Dikwa scored a pair of late goals to lift the visitors to victory at First Horizon Stadium. RIFC is looking to claim the Eastern Conference for a second consecutive year, which would make the side the first to win consecutive conference titles since the Tampa Bay Rowdies won the Eastern Conference in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. RIFC has produced remarkable road success in its short postseason history, advancing in five consecutive road games against Eastern Conference opposition, and now will try to continue that streak as it looks for the second piece of silverware in club history.

All-Time Series

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC holds a 3-0-1 advantage in the regular season against Rhode Island FC, including a sweep of this year’s matchups in USL Championship play, but RIFC took a 1-0 victory at Highmark Stadium during the group stage of this season’s USL Jägermeister Cup for its first win in the overall series.

Opta Says

7 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has conceded seven goals from open play in 17 home games across the regular season and playoffs.

21 – Rhode Island FC has scored six goals from outside the penalty area across the regular season and playoffs, accounting for 21 percent of its goals in the USL Championship.

Players to Watch

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Beto Ydrach: The Puerto Rico international has put in two strong defensive displays in the Hounds’ opening two playoff games while also proving a threat from set pieces with a club-high 0.83 Expected Assists on three chances created and four shots in the postseason so far.

Rhode Island FC – Albert Dikwa: The 2023 USL Championship Player of the Year when he played for the Hounds, Dikwa recorded his first postseason brace against North Carolina FC last Saturday and will be trying to score for the first time against Pittsburgh since joining Rhode Island prior to the 2024 season.

Uniforms

Discipline Report

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – No suspensions

Rhode Island FC – No suspensions

Officials
REF: Nabil Bensalah
AR1: Tom Felice
AR2: Bennett Savage
4TH: Jeremy Scheer