Photo courtesy Chris Cowger / Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
PITTSBURGH – Beto Ydrach scored the decisive goal as No. 4 seed Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC advanced 4-3 in a penalty shootout against No. 8 seed Detroit City FC before a sellout crowd of 6,220 fans at Highmark Stadium after the sides had played to a scoreless draw through regulation and extra time in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix.
The Hounds had to rally from the spot as Detroit took a 2-1 advantage through the second round after Robbie Mertz’s shot was saved by Carlos Saldaña, but Le Rouge’s Devon Amoo-Mensah and Ryan Williams each hit the woodwork in the third and fourth round, allowing goals by Augustine Williams and Sean Suber to put Pittsburgh ahead. While Michael Bryant converted for DCFC to open the fifth round, Ydrach’s shot to the top-right corner send Pittsburgh to its first Eastern Conference Final in club history.
Pittsburgh had produced more danger throughout the 120 minutes of regulation and extra time, recording the first opportunity within the opening two minutes as Bradley Sample forced a good low save by Saldaña with a shot to the left corner. Williams found the net for the hosts in the second half, only for his header to be chalked off for a foul prior to the finish as the game remained scoreless at the end of regulation.
Detroit’s best chance of the game came early in extra time when Jordan Adebayo-Smith got in behind the Pittsburgh defense but was denied by Eric Dick as he quickly came off his line to save near the edge of his penalty area. The Hounds’ Bertin Jacquesson then hit the woodwork with a flicked header in the second period of extra time, but in the shootout the hosts came good to secure a historic win before a club-record crowd.
Takeaways
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The hosts managed the game impressively, tilting the field in their favor while recording 104 final third entries to 62 for Detroit, but for the second week needed to keep their nerve from the penalty spot to book a first trip to the Eastern Conference Final.
Detroit City FC: Just as they did in Louisville, Le Rouge bent but didn’t break as Carlos Saldaña recorded a three-save shutout, but the visitors were unable to grab a decisive finish across the 120 minutes and then let their advantage in the shootout slip away as their season came to an end.
Key moment
Puerto Rico international Beto Ydrach converted from the spot in the fifth round of the shootout to send the Hounds into the Eastern Conference Final after being the lone player not to take a shot in Pittsburgh’s win a week ago.
Key stat
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has recorded four consecutive shutouts – including two which have gone through extra time – to post a 422-minute shutout streak entering the Eastern Conference Final.
USLChampionship.com Player of the Match
Sean Suber, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – The center back was on point in the penalty shootout for a second consecutive week and was sterling in defense, making eight clearances and nine recoveries while completing 93 of 100 passes.
Scoring Summary
No Scoring
Penalty Shootout
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Bertin Jacquesson, scored; Robbie Mertz, saved; Augustine Williams, scored; Sean Suber, scored; Beto Ydrach, scored
Detroit City FC – Sebastian Guenzatti, scored; Kobe Hernandez-Foster, scored; Devon Amoo-Mensah, missed; Ryan Williams, missed; Michael Bryant, scored