Nov 4, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

Highmark Stadium will once again be electric on Saturday night when Pittsburgh hosts Detroit City FC in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the USL Championship Playoffs.

The Riverhounds and Hartford Athletic played to a scoreless draw, and after 120 minutes plus stoppage time, the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal match went to penalty kicks.

The Hounds won the penalty shootout, 4-2, as Bertin Jacquesson, Robbie Mertz, Augi Williams and Sean Suber converted for the home club. Pittsburgh keeper Eric Dick saved Hartford’s first attempt in the shootout, and the visitors missed on their fourth opportunity to send the sellout crowd into a frenzy.

“We talked about it during the week, obviously we had to plan for penalties,” said Riverhounds acting head coach Rob Vincent. “We said we didn’t want it to go that far. But we had some really good penalties, Eric (Dick) came up big with the save, and then the four guys who scored, with some real pressure, stepped up and delivered. I guess, at this point, it’s just win any way you can and need to.”

Dick made three saves (in regulation and extra time) for the clean sheet, which was his 27th with the Hounds, moving him past Hunter Gilstrap for second in team history.

Pittsburgh’s victory, coupled with Detroit City upsetting top-seed Louisville City FC, ensured the fourth-seeded Hounds would be the home team for another playoff match.

The match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and will be streamed live on ESPN+. The local broadcast details will be finalized and announced shortly.

Pittsburgh is eager to play in front of its home fans for a second-straight week.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be on a lot of teams in my career, but I get chills every night walking out here,” said Dick when asked about playing another home match in the postseason. “Not only the backdrop, but these fans, they’re relentless and so supportive and so behind us, and it’s such a weapon to have.

“We as players recognize that, and we’re so grateful and thankful for that, and it makes us want to play better for them. Now we get another week with them, and we know they’re going to come out in full force again, and we’ve very much looking forward to it.”

In recent years, Detroit has played spoiler against the top-seed, as it upset the Hounds, 1-0, in 2023 at Highmark Stadium after Pittsburgh won The Players’ Shield for the best record in the league.

Pittsburgh is 3-2-5 all-time against Detroit, but the team from the Motor City won the lone playoff match between the clubs.

Saturday’s game will be the fourth meeting this season between the Hounds and Detroit.

Detroit won the first match, 1-0, at home on April 26 in the USL Jägermeister Cup before Pittsburgh earned a 2-0 victory at home on June 7 and the teams played to a scoreless draw on July 18 in Detroit.

The winner of the match will advance to face the winner of No. 3 North Carolina FC and No. 7 Rhode Island FC in the Eastern Conference Final. The Hounds would host a third playoff match if Rhode Island wins, but would be on the road if North Carolina wins.

Pittsburgh has qualified for the USL Championship Playoffs eight years in a row, which is the longest streak in team history, and the second-longest active streak in the league behind Louisville City FC, who has earned a postseason berth 11 seasons in a row.

Suber put the final penalty kick past Hartford keeper Anthony Siaha, who was also credited with a clean sheet after making three saves, with a low conversion to help the Hounds advance in the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

Suber favor plays another home match than travel to Louisville.

“We haven’t played them in a few months, so we’re going to have to look back and see what their form is right now,” said Suber on facing Detroit in the conference semifinals. “But it’s better than playing Louisville away, for sure. Back at the crib, it’ll be a good atmosphere once again, and we’re excited for it, for sure.”