The Pittsburgh Riverhounds, one of the most historic teams in the USL Championship, won the first championship in club history after a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over FC Tulsa on Saturday, following a 0-0 draw in regulation. With two of the league’s best defenses in the finals in Tulsa, chances were limited, but neither team was able to take them as they extended long shutout streaks into the finals. Tulsa goalkeeper Tyler Deric correctly guessed four of those Pittsburgh penalties, but couldn’t save any, showing how fine the margins can be in a game of this magnitude.
Coaching only his seventh game for Pittsburgh after manager Bob Lilley was placed on administrative leave, interim manager Rob Vincent achieved cult status in Pittsburgh by going undefeated in those games. At 35, Vincent also became the youngest coach to win the championship. Juan Guerra, winner with Phoenix Rising in 2023 at 36 years, eight months and 37 days, was the former record holder which has now fallen.
Lilley has led the Riverhounds to a playoff berth in every season since being hired in 2017, but he had never won a playoff game with the club, which rallied under Vincent and managed to achieve something special.
Pittsburgh’s defense only allowed five of Tulsa’s 17 shots to be on target during the game, and although Pittsburgh only put one shot on target, they did just enough. Even when it came to penalties, goalkeeper Eric Dick was ready for whatever came his way as the Riverhounds won three penalties en route to the USL title.
Tulsa may be disappointed not to win in front of their home fans, but they are a club that is heading in the right direction. They finished 10th in the Western Conference last season and head coach Luke Spencer managed to lead the Scissortails through a shootout to win the first league title in the club’s history. They will be back on this stage in what will be a final of teams on the rise.
